🍽️ 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

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Noni

Valletta Contemporary Maltese EEEE

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

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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.

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Rubino

Valletta Classic Maltese EEE

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

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Ta Frenc

Gozo Fine Dining EEEE

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

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Ta Rikardu

Gozo Gozitan Traditional EE

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

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Bahia

Marsaskala Seafood EEE

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

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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.

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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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