Where to eat in Malta

Maltese cuisine is characterised by Mediterranean features with Arabic and British touches. Olive oil, tomatoes and cheese are widely used in the main dishes of Maltese cuisine. Tea is also quite typical on the island, a legacy from the period of British colonisation. Some of Malta's most typical desserts also have Arabic and Turkish influences.

Among all these influences, Italian cuisine is an important part of Maltese food. Every kind of pasta can be found in most restaurants, a must in Malta!

Malta's typical dishes

• Pastizzi: Malta's most famous food is pastizzi. You'll find this kind of pastry filled with cheese or peas in almost every shop in town. This puff pastry treat is a perfect choice for a snack or lunch.
• Maltese Rabbit Stew: A rabbit or hare stew with peas, carrots, tomatoes and other vegetables.
• Timpana: The Italian influence on Maltese cuisine is evident in timpana. Timpana is a giant macaroni filled with minced meat, tomato and cheese curds. The Maltese eat it as an aperitif, so you'll find it in every patisserie in Valletta.
• Minestra: A vegetable stew that is quite common as a first course, cooked from potatoes, onions, carrots, cauliflower, beans and other vegetables.
• Cheeses (Gbejniet): Maltese cheeses are world famous. The best known is gbejniet, a sheep's cheese typical of the islands of Malta and Gozo.
• Bigilla: Known as 'Maltese hummus', this dish serves as a side dish or snack in Maltese cuisine. It consists of mashed purple beans, sometimes accompanied by Maltese cheese.
• Lampuki: Although fish is not one of Malta's main culinary attractions, sea bream or lampuki is quite common throughout the archipelago, especially in Marsaxlokk.
• Imqaret: Imqaret is the quintessential Maltese dessert. This fried pastry filled with dates is a delicacy that you can't fail to try in restaurants and street shops. It also makes an excellent gift to take back home.
• Kannoli: For those with a sweet tooth, Malta offers kannolis. Kannoli is a sweet tube filled with ricotta cheese and served with cream or chocolate.
• Helwa Tat-Tork: The main accompaniment to teas and coffees in Malta is helwa tat-tork. It comes from Arabic cuisine and consists of ground almonds with honey.
   

The best places to eat in Malta

Depending on where on the island you're staying, you'll find different areas and restaurants where you can eat typical Maltese dishes. You won't have any problem trying all the dishes mentioned above, as they are served in almost every restaurant in the country.

If you're staying in Valletta, the best places to sample Maltese cuisine are Strait Street and Merchants Street, two of the capital's most important streets. The Is-Suq tal-Belt food market is where you'll find all kinds of food and a supermarket.

Another of the most famous towns to eat in Malta is Marsaxlokk. Its fishing tradition makes it the best place on the island for fish and other Maltese delicacies.

In St Julian's, the best restaurants are concentrated around Balluta Bay and Spinola Bay. Most establishments have terraces and the views are unbeatable.