🍽️ Malta Food and Dining Guide

From pastizzi at dawn to rabbit stew on Sundays — discover the rich unique flavours of Maltese cuisine

Must-Try Maltese Dishes

You have not visited Malta until you have tried these

🥐

Pastizzi

The national snack — flaky pastry filled with ricotta or mushy peas. Costs 30-50c from any pastizzeria. Eaten at any hour of the day.

🐇

Fenek

The national dish. Slow-cooked rabbit with garlic, wine and herbs. Find it in traditional restaurants especially on Sundays.

🥖

Ftira

Ring-shaped sourdough stuffed with tuna, capers, olives and tomatoes. The perfect Maltese lunch. Found in every bakery across the islands.

🧀

Gbejniet

Small rounds of sheep or goat cheese — fresh, dried or marinated in oil and pepper. Gozitan varieties are considered the finest.

🍲

Stuffat tal-Qarnit

Octopus stew slow-cooked in wine tomatoes and spices. A Maltese Friday staple and absolute must-try for seafood lovers.

🍮

Imqaret

Deep-fried date pastries scented with aniseed and citrus. Often sold from street stalls especially at village festas across Malta.

🍷

Kinnie

Malta unique bitter orange soft drink made since 1952. Try it on its own or mixed with spirits — a truly Maltese experience.

🥘

Bragioli

Beef olives — thin slices of beef rolled around a filling of breadcrumbs bacon and herbs, then braised slowly in red wine.

Best Restaurants in Malta

🍽️

Noni

Valletta Contemporary Maltese EEEE

Michelin Bib Gourmand. Chef Jonathan Brincat creative take on Maltese classics in an atmospheric Valletta townhouse. Book weeks ahead.

🍽️

Nenu the Artisan Baker

Valletta Traditional Maltese EE

The definitive ftira restaurant. Incredible freshly-baked Maltese bread with traditional toppings in a beautiful old bakery. Lunch only.

🍽️

Rubino

Valletta Classic Maltese EEE

One of Valletta oldest restaurants serving honest Maltese cooking since 1906. Rabbit stew, octopus and traditional puddings done perfectly.

🍽️

Ta Frenc

Gozo Fine Dining EEEE

Gozo finest restaurant in a converted farmhouse. French-influenced cuisine using the best Gozitan ingredients. Exceptional wine list.

🍽️

Ta Rikardu

Gozo Gozitan Traditional EE

Famous for Gozitan rabbit, home-produced gbejniet cheese and local wine poured straight from the barrel. Utterly authentic.

🍽️

Bahia

Marsaskala Seafood EEE

Celebrated seafood restaurant overlooking Marsaskala bay. The freshest fish in Malta simply and perfectly cooked.

🍽️

Is-Suq tal-Belt

Valletta Food Market E-EE

Valletta beautiful Victorian food market now filled with artisan food stalls. Perfect for exploring Maltese ingredients.

🍽️

Cafe Cordina

Valletta Cafe and Patisserie E

Malta most famous cafe established in 1837. Gorgeous Belle Epoque interior, excellent pastizzi and coffee. A Valletta institution.

🍽️ Book a Malta Food Tour

Taste pastizzi, ftira, gbejniet and more with a local foodie guide in Valletta or Gozo.

Browse Food Tours on Viator →

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ℹ️Prices and event details were correct at the time of writing and may since have changed. Always check directly with the operator, venue or organiser before you travel or book. TripMalta.com accepts no responsibility for any errors or omissions.