Mediterranean cuisine

Although Malta is incredibly small, you can find a wide variety of restaurants, cafes and takeaways ranging from typical Maltese food to Japanese sushi and oriental cuisine.

Expensive 5-star restaurants are present in many towns such as Sliema, Mellieha, Mdina and Valletta. In these cases, varied gastronomy. Many of the restaurants on the Maltese island specialize in typical Mediterranean food, especially Italian (seafood, pasta, meat). A great element here is the mix of Mediterranean recipes with Maltese ingredients, as most of the vegetables, meats and fruits are locally grown and selected on the spot. The variety of fish found in Maltese waters can be seen in most restaurants, having been purchased that morning from the local fisherman. These restaurants often include incredible venues, delicious food, and of course excellent service.

Although there are some high class restaurants that specialize in typical Maltese food, there are many occasions when Maltese food is prepared at its best in a more informal setting. Local pubs, known as ‘kazini’, often serve excellent examples of Maltese food, such as ‘Hobz biz-zejt’. Hobz biz-zejt literally translates to ‘bread with oil’ and is usually made with traditional Maltese bread that is dipped in oil, spread with tomato paste, and filled with anything from tuna, olives, capers, onions and the like. .

A very popular meal throughout the year is ‘Fenkata’, where Maltese families go to very informal and usually small specialized bars and restaurants to eat a rabbit meal. It usually consists of a first plate of spaghetti with rabbit sauce, followed by rabbit (usually fried in garlic and tomatoes) and finally nuts and sweets. Another dish that is sometimes served before the rabbit, but can also be found in many typical Maltese restaurants, is ‘Bebbux’. Bebbux is the Maltese word for snails, which is a delicacy in Malta. When visiting Malta or Gozo be sure to give it a try.

Small take-out establishments are also very popular and here, you can satisfy your hunger for just a few euros! Most of these take-out meals are no more than a few square feet, with enough space for an oven and a hob. They sell “pastizzi”, pizza by the slice, cakes and sausage rolls. Pastizzi (cheese cakes) are extremely popular in Malta and are ricotta-filled cakes that are deep fried and served hot. These can be purchased from small specialized vendors that fill most of the streets in Malta and Gozo.

Oriental cuisine and sushi are also very well accounted for throughout the island. The most common are the typical Chinese restaurants that specialize in dishes such as spring rolls and wontons, egg fried rice, noodles, sweet and sour pork, duck, etc. Sushi and Japanese cuisine have also become popular in recent years and can be purchased at take-out establishments or elegant formal restaurants. The Palace Hotel’s ‘TemptAsian’ is a unique establishment that brings together all oriental cuisine in an elegant restaurant with a menu to die for.

All over the island you can find pizzerias and other informal restaurants serving pasta, pizza, salads, meat, etc. Prices vary and are suitable for everyone’s pockets. These restaurants are ideal for families with diverse tastes, as the menus are often extremely versatile. Also, they often cater for both lunch and dinner.

Life in cafes, particularly in cities such as Valletta and Sliema, is extremely popular and provides the shopper, businessman or passerby the perfect opportunity to have a hot cappuccino, a frozen mojito or a cold glass of wine, accompanied but with a light salad, a plate. pasta, plate, sushi or perhaps a divine dessert, while enjoying the Mediterranean sun. Some cafes have developed that name because of a particular item on the menu, which people go out of their way just to tickle their taste buds!

Wine bars have become incredibly popular in recent years. International grape varieties grown on the islands include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Grenache, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Carignan, Chenin Blanc, and Moscato. The indigenous varieties are Gellewza and Ghirghentina, which are producing excellent wines with a distinct body and flavor. You can visit these places by candlelight and enjoy good wine, along with excellent sauces and dishes, including Maltese and Mediterranean delicacies, cold cuts and cheeses, as well as delicious fresh bread.