New family-run restaurant serving delicious, authentic Sicilian cuisine in the heart of Swansea

When Tyrone Rees moved to Sicily with his family when he was 15, he didn't speak a word of Italian. Unsurprisingly, he felt that he was stuck on a "new planet" and, having been born and raised in south Wales, saw life on the largest island in the Mediterranean as vastly different to what he was used to. But, over time, he slowly adapted to his new daily life and became involved in his local community.

For several years, Tyrone’s stepfather ran an ice-cream parlour and a restaurant in Sicily and Tyrone always enjoyed working for the family business. At age 18, he met his future wife, a Sicily-native, and the Welshman called the Italian island home for 33 years and the couple were pleased to be able to raise their children there.

But a decade ago, the economic situation in Italy became difficult, Tyrone says, and he and his wife made the decision to move back to the UK. In 2022, they opened a Sicilian restaurant in Port Talbot and, following its success, the couple have now opened a second Sicilian restaurant – this time in Swansea city centre. For the latest Swansea news, sign up to our newsletter here

SWANSEA: Uplands venue Verve 37 announces sudden closure with 'funky' new café and bar set to replace it

FOOD: The brilliant reaction a huge US TV star had to Welsh cakes

"Bella Ciao is a new independent Sicilian restaurant on Castle Street. It replaced Café Continental which had been there since 1954 but had closed down," Tyrone, now 60, explained. “We had to completely refurbish it and turn it into our restaurant and we’ve now been open two weeks."

"It's our second restaurant and it seats 50 people. Our first restaurant is in Port Talbot, that’s a 64 seater and we’ve had it two years now," he continued.

"We serve a range of authentic Italian and Sicilian dishes, with loads of gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options – we can do gluten-free pasta, for example. Everything is home-made, we make our Bolognese, all our sauces, it’s all home-made. We’ve got pizza, pasta, risotto and steaks on the menu and it’s all traditional and authentic."

"My stepfather was Italian, he brought me up with my mother from when I was six months old. When I was 15, he wanted to move back to Sicily so we moved there and he ran the family business: an ice-cream parlour and a restaurant. I lived out there for 33 years, got married and had my children there."

"But about 10 years ago my wife and I, she's Italian, we decided to move back to the UK with the family. The economy out there [Sicily/Italy] wasn't the same as it was," he added.

"We opened Bella Ciao in Port Talbot two years ago. The name comes from a popular Italian song, the song can be quite political but I'm not political myself: I just named the restaurant after it because I like the song and it’s popular! Bella Ciao is now open in Swansea too – we’re family-run.

"My wife, Domina, is the manager of the Swansea restaurant, my son Giovan is the head chef – and I’ve got my little grandson, he’s 13, in the kitchen sometimes as pizza chef!"

Reflecting on the restaurant's Sicilian menu and influences, Tyrone said: "Sicily is such a beautiful place, I’m still in love with it: it’s fantastic, the friendliness, the hot weather. When we first moved there it was really difficult, it felt like a new planet – but we slowly, slowly, slowly adapted."

Tyrone now considers himself both Welsh and Italian and looks forward to welcoming new customers to his new Swansea restaurant.

"Bella Ciao is now open in Swansea and it's open Tuesdays to Sundays. We’re shut on Mondays as we have the day together as a family – we always have," he explained. "Family is so important and I’ve always told my kids, every week we must have a day together as a family, so that's why we’re closed on Mondays!"

Bella Ciao is located on Castle Street in Swansea city centre and is open Tuesdays to Sundays from 12pm, with last orders at 10pm. As well as the standard menu, the restaurant also offers a special lunch menu with two courses from £11.95 (select dishes, certain times – enquire with staff for more information).

Want less ads? Download WalesOnline’s Premium app on Apple or Android