Malta has an excellent food scene, from casual bakeries and harbour-side pizza to serious fine dining. These are some of my favourite recommendations:
Close to Canaima / Three Cities
- Terrone — Birgu: A very good option close to Canaima, located in Birgu itself. Terrone is known for Mediterranean food, seafood and a relaxed but polished atmosphere. This is one of the easiest choices if you want a proper dinner without travelling far from the yacht.
Best for: dinner close to Canaima, seafood, Mediterranean food. - Don Berto — Birgu: A convenient waterfront restaurant in Birgu with harbour views. Good for an easy lunch or dinner when you want to stay local and enjoy the marina atmosphere.
Best for: casual dinner, harbour views, easy walking distance.
Valletta
- Sotto Pinsa Romana — Valletta: Excellent Roman-style pinsa in Valletta. A good choice if you want something more relaxed than fine dining but still very satisfying. The dough is light, crispy and different from regular pizza.
Best for: casual dinner, Roman pinsa, groups, easy Valletta meal. - Ta’ Nenu / Nenu the Artisan Baker — Valletta: A good place for traditional Maltese food in an old bakery setting. Try Maltese ftira and classic local dishes if you want something more authentic than standard tourist-restaurant food.
Best for: Maltese food, ftira, casual local experience. - Noni — Valletta: A Michelin-starred restaurant in Valletta with a creative take on Maltese and Mediterranean cuisine. Book ahead.
Best for: special dinner, refined Maltese cuisine, tasting menu. - Under Grain — Valletta: Another Michelin-starred Valletta restaurant, with a more elegant fine-dining atmosphere. Good for a special evening if you want a polished tasting-menu experience.
Best for: fine dining, date night, special occasion. - ION Harbour — Valletta: One of Malta’s top fine-dining restaurants, located at Iniala Harbour House with Grand Harbour views. This is a high-end experience and should be booked well in advance.
Best for: luxury dinner, tasting menu, harbour views, special occasion.
Sliema
- Picasso — Sliema: A stylish restaurant in Sliema / Tigné with Mediterranean, seafood, Sicilian and Lebanese influences. Good if you are already in Sliema or want dinner with a more modern, waterfront feel.
Best for: seafood, Mediterranean food, Sliema dinner. - Little Argentina — Sliema: A relaxed Argentinian steakhouse in Sliema. Good choice if you want steak, grilled meat, empanadas and Argentinian wine.
Best for: steak, meat lovers, casual dinner.
Rabat and Mdina
- Grotto Tavern — Rabat: A beautiful restaurant in Rabat, close to Mdina, set in a historic Maltese building with a natural cave. It is one of the more atmospheric restaurants on the island and works well if you combine dinner with an evening walk in Mdina.
Best for: romantic dinner, atmospheric setting, Rabat / Mdina visit. - De Mondion — Mdina: A classic fine-dining restaurant inside Mdina, with views from the Silent City. A good choice for a special dinner after visiting Mdina.
Best for: fine dining, Mdina, romantic evening, special occasion.
Gozo
- Mekren’s Bakery — Nadur, Gozo: A local Gozitan institution. Mekren’s is not fancy, but it is exactly the kind of place people remember. Go for traditional Gozitan ftira, pizza, qassatat and fresh bakery food. Best as a casual stop while exploring Gozo.
Best for: Gozitan ftira, casual lunch, takeaway, road-trip food. - Maxokk Bakery — Nadur, Gozo: Another famous Gozitan bakery in Nadur, often compared with Mekren’s. Excellent for traditional ftira and casual takeaway food.
Best for: Gozitan ftira, casual Gozo stop, takeaway.
Practical tips
Book ahead for popular restaurants, especially on weekends, in summer and for Michelin-listed places.
For Valletta, the ferry from the Three Cities can be a scenic option, but check the timetable before relying on it for dinner. For Sliema, Rabat, Mdina and most evening plans, Bolt, Uber or eCabs are usually the easiest transport options.
For casual restaurants, dress code is usually relaxed. For fine dining, smart casual is safer.