Malta Travel Guide

Malta — Food and Dining

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Cuisine

Malta is the hidden gem of the Mediterranean and has a fine reputation for its quality cuisine, borrowing heavily from its neighbors Sicily and North Africa. Although food from every part of the globe is to be found, local restaurants providing rustic home cooked family recipes are definitely worth seeking out. Particularly noteworthy are the places serving rabbit in the traditional way. The family get-together also plays an important part in the Maltese dining experience. Expect to see large multi-generational gatherings, especially on Sundays, enjoying their food and drink in a distinctly Mediterranean relaxed manner.

Things to know: Licensing hours of bars, restaurants and cafes are usually 0900-0100 and beyond. Most hotel bars close between 1300 and 1600 and then reopen after 1800.

National specialties:
• Timpana (Pasta with a bolgnese style sauce baked in pastry).• Bragoli (beef olives).
• Fenek (rabbit cooked in wine).
• Pastizzi (ricotta or pea filled savoury pastries).
• Lampuki Pie (Lampuka is a popular fish in Malta).
• Qara bali mimli (round pale green zucchini or courgettes stuffed with minced beef, cheese and parsley or with ricotta and grated sharp cheese).

National drinks:

• Kinnie (sparkling soft drink with a pronounced bitter orange flavor).
• Cisk lager (Malta's national beer).
• Maltese liqeurs, eg Bajtra which is distilled from prickly pears.

Tipping: 10 to 15% is expected in hotels and restaurants when not included in the bill.

Nightlife

Malta's nightlife is centerd around St Julian's more specifically, Paceville and also St Paul's Bay. There you will find several discos, bars and nightclubs to suit every age. There are three casinos in Malta where Roulette, baccarat and blackjack can be played. The principle one is The Dragonara Casino in Paceville while the others are found in Cottonera and St Paul's Bay. Three multiplex cinemas showing the latest releases are found in St Julian's, Valletta and St Paul's Bay. A further small arts cinema is to be found in the St James Cavalier Arts complex in Valetta. The Manoel Theater in Valletta is a delightful architectural gem and is reputed to be one of the oldest theaters in Europe. Performances are generally held until June and include concerts, opera and drama.