Good to know
Good to Know
- Avoid restaurants within 100m of St. John's Co-Cathedral and popular tourist streets—food quality drops significantly at these tourist-trap locations. Seek backstreet bakeries and family-run bistros instead.
- Street food (pastizzi, ftira, ħobż biż-żejt) costs under €5 and represents authentic local eating. A street breakfast in Valletta typically costs under €5.
- Tipping is not mandatory but 5-10% cash is standard for good service at budget/mid-range restaurants; higher-end restaurants may add 10-15% service charge automatically—check the menu.
- Reservations strongly recommended for dinner, especially weekends. Mid-range popular spots in Valletta require 2-4 days advance booking; Michelin restaurants need 2-3 weeks in summer.
- Walk-ins work best at mid-range places during weekday lunchtimes. Evening dining is leisurely and relaxed; locals eat late (after 8pm). Do not expect rushed service.
- Maltese cuisine is traditionally meat-and-fish heavy but vegetarian options (pastizzi, ftira, pasta, vegetable dishes) widely available. Many restaurants adapt tasting menus for vegetarians on request.
- Cards accepted at 95%+ of mid-range and above restaurants, but some backstreet spots and street vendors cash-only. ATMs plentiful throughout Valletta.
- Traditional Maltese lunch occurs 12:00-2:30pm; dinner from 7pm onwards, often after 8pm locally.
- Lampuki (mahi-mahi) and seasonal fish are best August-December; lampuki pie specifically available September-November tied to legal fishing season.
Supermarkets
Is-Suq tal-Belt (Valletta Food Market)
- Type
- Renovated Victorian market hall with multiple food stalls
- Location
- Central Valletta
- Notes
- Quick, diverse, and affordable meals from various stall vendors
Budget
Café Jubilee
- Price Range
- €11
- Neighborhood
- City Centre/Republic Street area
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Mediterranean pasta, ravioli (signature: Nanna's Ravioli with goat cheese), salads, snacks
Aaron's Kitchen
- Price Range
- €15
- Neighborhood
- Central Valletta
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Maltese-Mediterranean cooking, fish soup, rabbit croquettes
Zero Sei
- Price Range
- €14
- Neighborhood
- Side street, Central Valletta
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Roman-style trattoria, homemade pasta, carbonara, seafood
Nenu The Artisan Baker
- Price Range
- €16
- Neighborhood
- Central Valletta
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Traditional Maltese, rabbit stew, ftira (Maltese flatbread), wood-oven bread
High End
Noni
- Price Range
- €75
- Neighborhood
- Republic Street (Upper City)
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Modern Mediterranean fine dining, lampuki preparations, local seafood, Gozitan produce
ION Harbour by Simon Rogan
- Price Range
- €125
- Neighborhood
- Birgu waterfront (near Valletta, across Grand Harbour)
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Two Michelin stars, seasonal tasting menu, farm-to-table philosophy, Grand Harbour views
Under Grain
- Price Range
- €110
- Neighborhood
- Rosselli AX Privilege boutique hotel, Merchants Street
- Cuisine Or Dish
- One Michelin star, contemporary tasting menu, refined seasonal ingredients
Mid Range
Rubino
- Price Range
- €40
- Neighborhood
- Old Bakery Street / Merchants Street
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Traditional Maltese institution, fenkata (rabbit stew), local fish, ox tongue
Ambrosia
- Price Range
- €42
- Neighborhood
- Archbishop Street
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Mediterranean-Maltese, fish dishes, refined technique with local ingredients
59 Republic
- Price Range
- €20
- Neighborhood
- Republic Street
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Clean, confident cooking, local fish done simply, short rib, truffle tagliatelle
Legligin Wine Bar
- Price Range
- €30
- Neighborhood
- Historic cellar, central location
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Maltese-style tapas, seasonal meze, fine wine selection
Delivery Services
Malta-based Food Delivery Services Available
- Notes
- Most mid-range and above restaurants accept card payments; check individual restaurant websites for delivery partnerships
Michelin Restaurants
ION Harbour by Simon Rogan
- Stars
- 2
- Cuisine
- Contemporary seafood-focused, farm-to-table
- Price Range
- €125
- Neighborhood
- Birgu waterfront (across Grand Harbour from Valletta)
Noni
- Stars
- 1
- Cuisine
- Modern Mediterranean, Maltese ingredients with French technique
- Price Range
- €75
- Neighborhood
- Republic Street, Upper City
Under Grain
- Stars
- 1
- Cuisine
- Contemporary fine dining, seasonal tasting menus
- Price Range
- €110
- Neighborhood
- Merchants Street, Rosselli AX Privilege hotel
Local Must Try Dishes
Stuffat tal-Fenek (Rabbit Stew)
- Where To Try
- Nenu The Artisan Baker, Rubino, or traditional Maltese restaurants
- Description
- Slow-cooked rabbit with tomatoes, garlic, wine, and herbs; considered Malta's national dish. Often served with crusty bread or potatoes.
Pastizzi
- Where To Try
- Pastizzerias throughout Valletta, Jeff's Pastizzeria, Caffe Cordina
- Description
- Flaky pastry parcels filled with ricotta cheese or mushy peas. Eaten warm, often as breakfast or snack. Cost approximately €0.35-1.50 per piece.
Ftira (Maltese Flatbread)
- Where To Try
- Nenu The Artisan Baker, bakeries and cafes throughout the city
- Description
- Local bread served traditionally or as open sandwich with Mediterranean fillings including tuna, tomatoes, capers, olives. Cost €3.50-5.
Lampuki Pie
- Where To Try
- Restaurants serving seasonal specials during August-December
- Description
- Seasonal fish pie (August-December) made with lampuki/mahi-mahi, spinach, olives, mint, capers, covered in golden crust.
ĦObż Biż-Żejt (Bread with Olive Oil)
- Where To Try
- Local bakeries, cafes, seafront kiosks
- Description
- Traditional sandwich with crusty bread, olive oil, tomatoes, capers, tuna or anchovies. Simple but flavor-packed.
Bigilla
- Where To Try
- Traditional Maltese restaurants, casual eateries
- Description
- Traditional dip made from mashed tic beans, garlic, herbs, olive oil. Eaten as spread with bread or Maltese crackers.
Gbejniet (Goat's Cheese)
- Where To Try
- Café Jubilee (Nanna's Ravioli), specialty restaurants
- Description
- Local fresh goat's cheese with distinctive flavor. Often used in ravioli and other dishes.
Octopus Stew (Stuffat tal-Qarnit)
- Where To Try
- Aaron's Kitchen, traditional seafood restaurants
- Description
- Tender octopus slow-cooked with tomatoes, garlic, red wine, herbs. Rich Mediterranean flavor.
Imqaret
- Where To Try
- Street food vendors, dessert menus, local festivals
- Description
- Deep-fried pastry filled with date paste, often anise-flavored. North African origin. Crisp outside, sticky-sweet inside.
Vegan And Vegetarian Dining
- Overview
- Valletta has a growing vegan and vegetarian scene with dedicated venues and options at most mid-range restaurants.
Venues
Soul Food
- Type
- Vegan/vegetarian Italian-inspired restaurant
- Neighborhood
- Central Valletta
- Description
- Largest vegan menu in Valletta. Plant-based pasta dishes, exotic platters, fresh salads, smoothies.
Balance Bowl
- Type
- Vegan restaurant and cafe
- Neighborhood
- Valletta
- Description
- Homemade vegan meals: burgers, sandwiches, wraps, juices, smoothies, raw cakes. Simple lunch menu, more special dinner options.
NO.43
- Type
- Salad-focused restaurant with vegan options
- Neighborhood
- Historic center of Valletta
- Description
- Amazing salad selection with diverse vegan options freshly served at reasonable prices. Diverse and colorful salad buffet.
Im Pasta
- Type
- Italian restaurant with vegan options
- Neighborhood
- Central Valletta
- Description
- Pasta dishes with vegan options available.
Coffee Circus Lisboa
- Type
- Cafe with vegan options
- Neighborhood
- Multiple locations in Valletta
- Description
- Non-dairy milk options, vegan snacks, specialty coffee locally roasted in Malta.
Halal Dining
- Note
- No documented halal-certified venues identified specifically in Valletta research; some Indian restaurants may accommodate requests
Gluten Free Dining
- Note
- Gluten-free options exist at most restaurants upon request, but no dedicated gluten-free venues documented for Valletta
International And Diverse Cuisine
International And Diverse Cuisine
- Italian restaurants (Zero Sei, multiple pasta-focused venues)
- Indian cuisine (Naan Bar with modern twist on traditional dishes)
- Asian fusion (AKI - Japanese Restaurant & Cocktail Bar)
- Pizza venues (Sotto Pizzeria)
- Mediterranean dining available across most restaurants
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this food & dining research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
- 1.malta-spirit.com
- 2.freemalta.com
- 3.tripadvisor.com
- 4.josiewanders.com
- 5.letygoeson.it
- 6.fredolsencruises.com
- 7.carnival.com
- 8.willflyforfood.net
- 9.careergappers.com
- 10.worldoffoodanddrink.worldtravelguide.net
- 11.27travels.com
- 12.wanderlog.com
- 13.veryvalletta.com
- 14.tarastravels.com
- 15.welcome-center-malta.com
- 16.guide.michelin.com
- 17.guide.michelin.com
- 18.axhotelsmalta.com
- 19.noni.com.mt
- 20.thetripverdict.com
- 21.wanderlog.com
- 22.finedininglovers.com
- 23.hubpymalta.com
More About Valletta
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.