Malta’s food culture mirrors its vibrant past, a marriage of Italian, North African and British influences with delicious results and a very distinctive cuisine. The country is famed for its traditional dishes like pastizzi, honey rings, rabbit stew or Stuffat tal-Fenek, as well as its wines, the vast majority of which never leaves the country’s shores. Read on for the best places to grab something to eat for a taste of Malta and its specialities.
Restaurants and Bars
One of our favourite restaurants in Malta, Legligin serves up multi-coursed tasting menus sourced fresh from the market, with its menu depending on what’s on offer at the market that day, from seasonal fish and vegetables to rabbits and chicken. Situated in a cosy traditional house in Valletta, Legligin not only provides excellent quality meals made using great produce, it does so at a great price.
Opened in Valletta in 1906 as a confectionary by Sicilian Vincenzo Rubino, this restaurant today acts as a traditional Italian trattoria providing an insight into the Sicilian aspects of Maltese cuisine. Try the spaghetti rizzi (sea urchins), pan-fried rabbit, aljotta (fish soup) or fettuccine with Maltese sausage. Good quality and good prices.
Across the water from Valletta in the commercial centre Sliema, Il-Merill is a charming somewhat hidden restaurant not far from the seafront. Serving traditional Maltese dishes, Il-Merill also provides excellent quality fresh seafood and daily specials that we thoroughly recommend. The restaurant also has a very good Maltese wine list and freshly made desserts. Again, great prices and a brilliant ambience.
Right on the seafront in Sliema with a beautiful view of Valletta just outside, multi-award winning Hammett’s is both our favourite restaurant and favourite bar in Malta. With a sharing plates basis, Hammett’s food and cocktails are inspired by the country and serve up a taste of the island in a reinvented way. The bar also has a great wine selection and is a good place to get to grips with the flavours of the island in a casual yet classy setting. We heartily recommend the meat platter and the Korean style cauliflower, as well as the bajtra prickly pear cocktail.
Back in Valletta, 67 Kapitali is the best place in Malta for sandwich and beer lovers. Made using traditional Maltese ftira (not to be confused with Gozitan ftira, which is more like pizza), 67 Kapitali’s sandwiches are made using local ingredients and paired with local craft beers. Try the beautiful Fungus Rock or share one of their platters.
A Sliema institution over 90 years old, Hole in the Wall is a tiny former stables turned pub and live music bar offering affordable cocktails, wines and beer for a taste of Malta’s alternative nightlife.
A Maltese pastizzerija chain with shops around the island, Jeff’s offer a good selection of traditional Maltese bakes. While we recommend Jeff’s, you’ll be in for a pastry treat at any pastizzerija on the island. Try a pastizzi, filled with peas or cheese, or timpana, honey rings or anything else that takes your fancy. We were surprised how similar a lot of the bakes tasted back home in Wales.
Specialties and Snacks
First and foremost rabbit is a big deal in Malta so make sure to try stewed rabbit in Malta, beautifully rich with tender rabbit that comes right off the bone that it’ll make you wonder why it’s not as common outside of Malta. Bajtra is another interesting local speciality, a liqueur made from prickly pears that are abundant on the island and that goes very well in cocktails.
Also try Maltese and Gozitan ftira, Qagħaq ta' L-Għasel (honey rings traditionally served at Christmas but now common year-round) and ġbejna, an interesting hard cheese. Sicilian classics like arancini and cannoli are also widely available while no trip to Malta is complete without enjoying a glass of Kinnie (like bitter black lemonade), a bag of Twistees and a bottle of Cisk (the national beer, they also do a widespread low-carb variety).
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