Maltese Food and Drink 

As Malta is just a short boat ride from Sicily, cuisine in Malta has a significant Northern Italian influence with many dishes based on pasta and vegetables.  Malta's cuisine is a blend of traditional dishes of its neighbour Sicily and the influences of the many foreigners who have invaded its shores, from Arabs, Italians and Spanish to the French and British. There are many restaurants dedicated to traditional Maltese cuisine, some are just family-run village bars, others are old courtyard restaurants.

Try the famous ‘pastizzi’ - a boat-shaped pastry that is served hot with fillings as varied as ricotta cheese and egg, peas, onions or anchovies. The Maltese eat these delicacies as a snack with tea and coffee. Another popular snack is ‘hobz biz zejt’: bread with oil. Lampuki pie is another famous speciality - made from the locally-caught dorado fish, mixed with spinach, cauliflower, chestnuts and sultanas - an unusual yet delicious combination.

As in most southern Mediterranean diets, meat was scarce, so fish was a major ingredient. A trip to Marsaxlokk fish market on Sunday mornings will show just how varied the catch is in the Maltese waters. Depending on the season you can sample cerna (grouper), dentici (dentex), swordfish, tuna and around early autumn, the famed Lampuka or dolphin fish. Look out for pasta, fish and rabbit with tomato and wine sauces, as well as deserts with ricotta, almonds and figs.

Local specialities include:

Minestra – a thick vegetable soup
Bigilla – a thick pate of broad beans and garlic
Hobz biz-zejt – a thick round of Maltese bread dipped in olive oil, rubbed with tomatoes and filled with tuna, tomatoes and capers
Pastizzi – a flaky pastry snack filled with ricotta or mushed peas
Kapunata – a Maltese version of ratatouille

Also, do try the local Maltese cheese – pickled buffalo mozzarella. A bit salty but delicious with a glass of perfectly chilled local wine!

Nightclubs, wine bars and casinos beckon with their own brand of entertainment. Paceville comes alive at night and offers all kinds of entertainment including a casino.

 Restaurants Guide