The capital city of Malta, Valletta has many superb (and expensive) fine dining restaurants. Try Giannini for a journey through time via local cooking, or go lunchtime celebrity spotting at Da Pippo.
The small fishing village of Marsaxlokk has retained its old-world charm, despite becoming a popular tourist destination. Come here for fresh seafood at informal coastal restaurants – just pick your live fish from the trays and say how you want it to cooked. There’s also a great fish market here on Sundays.
Fashionable St. Julian’s has a number of outstanding rooftop restaurants, where the cuisine always comes with a view. Try Zeri’s, overlooking the beautiful Portomaso harbour.
Many apartment-hotels provide good self-catering facilities, so you can try cooking the fresh produce. Arkadia Foodstore in Portomaso Shopping Complex is a good place to buy local specialities to try making whist you are on holiday.
Many of Gozo’s restaurants are housed in converted farmhouses, with lovely courtyards and a sense of heritage The food also feels traditional, like at Jeffrey’s in L-Gharb or the six-course menu at Ta’ Frenc in Xaghra.
If you don’t want a heavy lunch and want to stay out in the sun, most hotel pools also have snack bars that serve simple food to keep you going whilst you soak up the sun and enjoy a cool beverage.
One of the most iconic dining experiences in Malta is to enjoy a meal on a coastal promenade, watching the world go by. Try Waterbiscuit or anywhere along the St. Julian’s to Sliema promenade for a wonderful evening.
Most of Malta’s large four and five-star hotels have restaurants that are open to non-residents. The hotels arrange extensive buffet spreads and barbecues that are excellent value for a big meal out. The Sunday lunchtime buffet at the Hilton Malta is legendary.
Many of the small Maltese cafes are so good that they would be called a bistro in the UK. You can find them all over Malta and while the sandwiches are tasty, it’s the coffee that will have you going back for more.
In cities like Mdina and Valletta you’ll find traditional wine bars that serve delicacies from across Malta and Italy. These are great for a treat, with Bottega Cent’Anni an ever popular choice.
It wouldn’t be a holiday to Malta without having at least one meal from the small cafe-taverns you can find dotted about in the smaller villages. These are authentic and memorable places to enjoy a meal.
