Valletta, Malta — Food and Dining
Restaurants in Valletta, Malta
Restaurants
Expensive
Giannini
Giannini is an excellent Italian/Mediterranean cuisine in a modern Valletta restaurant. Its location on top of an elevated bastion allows you to enjoy great views over the city and out to sea.
23 Windmill Street
Tel: 2123 7121.
Website: www.gianninimalta.com
Hibiki
Sit back and enjoy the spectacle of a knife juggling Teppanyaki chef preparing the very best Japanese food on the island with great elan.
Fortina Spa Resort, Tigné Seafront
Tel: 2346 6666.
Website: www.fortinasparesort.com
Moderate
Rubino
Set in a century-old shop decorated in traditional Maltese style, Rubino serves up excellent modern Maltese/Mediterranean cuisine.
53 Old Bakery Street
Tel: 2122 4656.
Website: www.giuseppismalta.com
TheCarriage
Book a seat on the terrace for innovative French and international cuisine with fine views over Valletta.
Valletta Buildings, South Street
Tel: 2124 7828.
Cheap
Ambrosia
This bistro-style Valletta restaurant serves fine Maltese, Italian and Spanish lunches during the week, and doubles up as a wine bar at weekends.
137 Archbishop Street
Tel: 2122 5923.
Nightlife
The center of Valletta falls very quiet when the last office workers and shopkeepers leave for the evening, and the only regular nightlife to speak of are events at the Manoel Theater and the St James Center plus a handful of bars. However, a buzzing new scene has recently opened on the Valletta Waterfront by the cruise passenger terminal just below the city walls. Here warehouses and facades have been artfully renovated and are now home to fashionable bars, restaurants, two clubs and shops. Large outdoor seating areas face onto the harbor.
Bars
Café Jubilee
Café Jubilee is a pleasant and friendly little bar, decorated Parisian-brasserie style, where you can get decent bar food and a late drink.
125 St Lucia Street
Tel: 2125 2332.
Website: www.cafejubilee.com
Trabuxu
In Valletta's city center is Trabuxu, a classic underground wine bar serving excellent food (including cheese and meat platters) and wines. The service is friendly and the place is full of Maltese character.
1D Strait Street
Tel: 2122 3036.
V5 Bar
Set in one of Malta's trendiest areas, the Valletta Waterfront, the stylish V5 Bar offers a nice selection of wines and beers, with indoor and outdoor seating. There's also a mechanical bull for those feeling adventurous. Theme nights include jazz, latino, country and western and classic rock.
Vault 5, Valletta Waterfront
Tel: 2122 8060.
Clubs
Paceville
For nightclubs and a larger choice of bars you have to go to St Julian's, 8km (5 miles) by road where Paceville (pronounced patch-ayville) is Malta's nightlife hub. The vast majority of clubs and bars here are aimed at vacationers in their late teens/early 20s. Havana serves up hip-hop, reggae and soul; Sabor plays chart-topping hits; BJs delivers jazz and Fuego Salsa Bar is the place to practice your sexy Latin moves.
Live Music
Maestro e Fresco
Just a few doors away from the Trabuxu bar is Maestro e Fresco, a bohemian-style wine bar which hosts live music most nights.
8-9 South Street
Tel: 2123 3801.
Q Bar
On the Valletta Waterfront, Q Bar is the best after-hours venue serving up Asian-fusion food, top DJs and live bands.
Vault 1, Valletta Waterfront
Tel: 2122 3018.
Website: www.qbar.com.mt
Sasha's Bar & Bistro
Sasha's Bar & Bistro is run by one of Malta's top musicians and offers a variety of live music most nights, from classical and jazz to pop and folk.
37 South Street
Tel: 2124 1396.
