Where to eat in Valletta: what to order and where
Valletta eats Maltese food shaped by Sicily, Italy and the sea: rabbit stew, pastizzi, ftira, fish pie and pasta. The capital has a small, good set of restaurants and a few old cafes. Book dinner, eat lunch somewhere simple, and have a pastizz for breakfast.
The short answer
- Best area to eat
- The side streets off Republic Street, and the lanes around St Dominic Street and Merchants Street.
- Order this
- Stuffat tal-fenek, a pastizz, ftira and fish when it is on.
- When to eat
- Lunch from 12:00. Dinner from 19:00, and the kitchens close earlier than in Italy.
- Book or walk in
- Book Rubino, Under Grain and Grain Street. Cafes and bakeries take walk-ins.
- Tipping
- Round up or leave about 10 percent if service was good.
What to eat in Valletta
- Stuffat tal-fenekRabbit stewed slowly in wine, garlic and tomato. The national dish, usually served with spaghetti or chips.
- PastizziFlaky pastries filled with ricotta or mushy peas, sold hot from a bakery for a euro or so. Eat them for breakfast.
- FtiraA ring of bread baked in a wood oven and filled with tuna, tomatoes, capers and olives. Order one for lunch.
- AljottaA thin fish soup with garlic, tomato and rice, eaten in winter and early spring.
- Lampuki pieA pie of the lampuki fish, with spinach, cauliflower and olives. The fish is in season from about late summer to autumn.
- BragioliBeef olives, thin slices of beef rolled around egg and breadcrumbs and simmered in a gravy.
- ĠbejnietSmall cheeses made from sheep or goat milk, eaten fresh, dried or peppered. Gozo is known for them.
- ImqaretFried pastry filled with dates, sold hot from street stalls and bakeries.
Where to eat in Valletta, by neighborhood
Merchants Street and St Dominic Street
The core of Valletta's modern restaurants, from tasting menus to rustic Maltese cooking. Book the better ones.
Republic Street
The old cafes and some tourist-facing places. Fine for a coffee and pastry, but look to the side streets for dinner.
The harbor end
Terraces and bars below the bastions at Valletta Waterfront and the Upper Barrakka lift, good for a drink at sunset.
Strait Street
A narrow lane of bars with live music at night. Eat elsewhere, drink here.
Places worth a booking or a queue
-
Rubino
€€€Maltese and Italian restaurant · Old Bakery Street
OrderThe daily Maltese dishes and rabbit
A small dining room in a building that opened as a confectionery in 1906, and has held a Michelin Bib Gourmand for several years. Classic Maltese and Italian cooking.
- Book
- Reserve online or by phone
- Closed
- Sunday
Confirmed open: rubinomalta.com
-
Under Grain
€€€€Fine dining · Merchants Street
OrderThe tasting menu
A one-Michelin-star restaurant with a modern Mediterranean menu in a boutique hotel on Merchants Street. A once-in-a-trip meal.
- Book
- Book well ahead in season
Confirmed open: horecamalta.com.mt
-
Grain Street
€€Modern Maltese restaurant · Merchants Street
OrderThe sharing plates
The relaxed sister of Under Grain, with a Bib Gourmand listing in the 2026 Michelin Guide. Good value for the area.
- Book
- Reserve ahead for dinner
Confirmed open: horecamalta.com.mt
-
Ta' Nenu the Artisan Baker
€€Traditional Maltese restaurant · St Dominic Street
OrderStuffat tal-fenek or a ftira
A restaurant built around a restored wood-fired oven, serving rabbit, ravioli and ftira with fillings.
- Book
- Reserve by phone or online
Confirmed open: tanenu.com
-
Caffe Cordina
€€Historic cafe · Republic Street
OrderA coffee and a pastry or a kannol
A cafe on Republic Street trading since 1837, with a vaulted interior and a terrace on the square. A good break from the sun.
- Book
- Walk in
Confirmed open: caffecordina.com
Food markets in Valletta
- Is-Suq tal-BeltA restored Victorian market hall with food stalls, a bar and a supermarket in the lower level. Good for a quick lunch and for groceries.Daily, from 07:00 to 22:00Source: guidememalta.com
How Valletta eats
- Meal timesLunch from about 12:00 to 14:30. Dinner from 19:00, and most kitchens stop taking orders by 22:00.
- TippingLeave about 10 percent if service was good, or round up. Check whether a service charge is already on the bill.
- ReservationsBook dinner at the well-known restaurants, particularly at weekends. Cafes and bakeries take walk-ins.
- BreakfastA pastizz and a coffee or a Kinnie, the local bitter orange soft drink, from a bakery is the usual start to the day.
Signs of a place to walk past
Menus with photos of the dishes by the door.
Staff on Republic Street calling you in from the pavement.
A fish priced with no weight or price per kilo on the menu.
Eating in Valletta: questions people ask
What food is Valletta known for?
Maltese cooking: rabbit stew, pastizzi, ftira, fish pie and aljotta. The food shows Sicilian and Italian influence.
Where is the best place to eat in Valletta?
For a special meal, Under Grain. For good value, Grain Street or Rubino. For a rustic dinner, Ta' Nenu.
Do you need to book restaurants in Valletta?
For the Michelin-listed places and for weekends, yes. For cafes, bakeries and Is-Suq tal-Belt, you can walk in.
How much do you tip in Valletta?
About 10 percent for good service, or round up the bill.
What is a pastizz?
A flaky pastry with a ricotta or pea filling, eaten warm from a bakery. It is the most common snack in Malta.
Is Valletta expensive for food?
It is cheaper than most Western European capitals. Lunch at a bakery or the market is very good value, and dinner prices rise in the busiest streets.