Our Pick of Maltese food

Maltese food has huge influence from its colonial past and also its location. The British, French, Sicilians, Romans, Arabs and Phoenicians all played a part in shaping the food of this country. Its close proximity to North Africa and its location in the middle of Mediterranean meant it was an important point in the major shipping routes since the ancient times and therefore Maltese food was evolved for centuries and absorbed the influence of many civilizations and cultures.

During our stay in the island in Malta we tried many local popular dishes and here are our pick of the best we tried while in Malta.

Pastizzi from Caffe Cornido

1. Maltese Pastizzi

Similar to Calzone or Empanada, the Maltese Pastizz (Pastizzi plural) is a popular savoury dish with flaky puff pastry casing filled with curried peas, curried ground beef or ricotta cheese. This is popular street food and best eaten hot with a cup of coffee anytime during the day. We tried Pastizzi from several places, but the Pastizzi at Caffe Cordina in Valletta was our favourite.

Bombette from Caffe Cornido

2. Bombette

Bombettes are deep fried dough balls stuffed with spinach, mozzarella cheese and ham. Another popular savoury snack best to eaten while hot with a cup of coffee.

Rabbit stew (stuffat tal-fenek) at Coogi's

3. Rabbit stew (stuffat tal-fenek)

Rabbit stew is considered as the national dish of Malta and is something that has been cooked in every Maltese kitchen for centuries and receipes handed down from one generation to another. The meat which has been marinated in local red wine simmers away for a couple of hours or longer in a rich wine and tomato sauce infused with bay, garlic and herbs. This is usually served with bread and wine in regular tumblers pointing to the ‘family and community spirit’ of this dish. A trip to Malta is incomplete without a taste of this this traditional slow cooked meal. We tried it at Coogi’s in Mdina.

Traditional Maltese Sausage Charcuterie ay Ta Doni in Rabat

4. Traditional Maltese Sausage Charcuterie

This traditional Maltese deli board is a mouth-watering mix of consist of smoked Maltese sausage (zalzetta tal-malti), smoked pork gammon slices, sheep cheese (Gbejna), semi sun-dried tomato, pickled egg, Bigilla (a traditional Maltese dip made from mashed beans), traditional tomato paste, Maltese olives, Galletti (Maltese Water Crackers) and olive oil.

• Maltese sausage or zalzetta tal-malti is traditional homemade Maltese sausage made with pork ground with garlic, peppercorn, coriander seeds, parsley and spices. This probably has roots in the English colonial era.

• Bigilla is a omnipresent traditional Maltese dip and made from beans, garlic, herbs like parsley, mint and oregano.

• Gbejna is a traditional local Maltese cheese made from goat’s milk and salt.

• Galletti also known as Maltese water cracker is a small, thin and savoury biscuit served as accompaniment in antipastis and platters and goes well with the bean dip Bigilla or tomato paste dip.

All the components used in this platter are traditional Maltese dishes on their own. The Maltese antipasti platter is widely available in traditional Maltese restaurants throughout the island and we tried this at Ta Doni in Rabat.

Seafood Pasta at Azure Window restaurant in the island go Gozo

5. Seafood Pasta

With abundant sea life and huge influence from Italy and proximity to it geographically, it is no surprise that you get some of the best sea food pastas in Malta! The use of local herbs and wines with fresh seafood creates some simple but showstopper dishes. Azure Window restaurant situated next to Azure Window visitor's car part of Azure Window is a great place to try this where we found the seafood pasta was made to perfection!

Bebbux at al-Majjistra Eat House in Mgarr in the island of Malta

6. Bebbux

Also known as bebbuxu (pronounced baboosh) this simple traditional Maltese appetizer dish is made with edible snails cooked in rich tomato sauce with herbs and garlic. Prepared during the rainy months when snails are foraged from the fields and forests and cleaned thoroughly before being cooked. Bebbux is mainly served with crusty bread and a glass of chilled beer or whisky. This dish can have a very polarised opinion – and snails may not be your thing- but if you are adventurous give it a go! We ate this in a small local restaurant in Mgarr called Tal-Majjistra Eat House.

Summienat al-Majjistra Eat House in Mgarr in the main island of Malta

7. Summien (Quails fried in garlic)

As the name suggests, this is a quail dish and is mainly available during quail hunting season in Malta. Quails are fried fried and then cooked in a red wine and balsamic vinegar-based sauce along with garlic and herbs and served with roasted potatoes and goes down well chilled beer. We ate this in a small local restaurant in Mgarr called Tal-Majjistra Eat House.

Aljotta at Roots Restaurant in Marsaxlokk

8. Aljotta (Maltese fish soup)

Aljotta is a traditional rustic fish soup of Malta and holds a very significant place in Maltese cuisine. It originates from the French fish soup bouillabaisse and is made using mahimahi fish in a tomato-based sauce. This light soup is served with herbs and lemon. We ate this at Roots Restaurant in the fishermen village of Marsaxlokk.

Konnoli from a street food stall in the village of Marsaxlokk

9. Kannoli

Imported from the island of Sicily, Kannoli is a popular traditional sweet dish available all around the island in cake and pastry shops. Kannoli has an outer crusty pastry hollow tube which is filled with ricotta, chocolate, cherries, citrus fruits and nuts. Though these looks small yet they are quite a mouthful and heavyduty!

Gelato from Amorino at Valletta

10. Gelato from Amorino

Malta is dotted with gelato shops and the most famous is Amorino! You have to queue up to get a bite of the beautiful richly flavourful gelato. The gelato is like a carved rose! These are heavenly to eat- smooth, cold and bursting with flavour, what more do you want in Mediterranean sun!

10 Experiences Not To Be Missed While In Malta

Sunset from Tigne Point

1. Sunset from over Valletta from Tigne Point beach in Sliema area: This is a hidden gem of Malta for the stunning views of Valletta at sunset yet not crowded! We only found a few locals at this spot, some were there just to take a swim. As the sun set and Valetta lit up, it was a magical feeling to see it from the other end! There are also some good restaurants around to wrap up your evening nicely!

St. John's Co-Cathedral

2. Visiting to St. John's Co-Cathedral: This is special for many reasons- the splendid and theatrical baroque architecture is to be seen to be appreciated. From ornate marble flooring to striking vaulted ceilings there are arts and embellishments everywhere. Also worth a visit to see the paintings of Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio.

Pastizzi at Caffe Cordina

3. Eating a traditional Maltese Pastizzi at Caffe Cordina: Founded in 1837 this place is one of the best spot to try Maltese Pastizzi. Very popular among locals and tourists, inside and outside seating areas are always teeming with people. The service does take time but who complains when you are sitting under the Mediterranean sun in a city like Valetta. We tried one of the best pastizzi along with a cup of coffee here.

Narrow alleyways of Mdina

4. Exploring the old city of Mdina: Build during 8th century by the Phoenician settlers the fortified city of Mdina is one of the top tourist attractions of Malta and has a charming but mysterious feel to it. Also called the silent city, the golden hue of the buildings, the brightly coloured doors framed by bougainvillea flowers just transports you to another world.

Dwerja Bay and broken Azure Window

5. Visiting Dwerja Bay in Gozo: Though the Azure window collapsed in 2017, this is still a place that is a must see in Malta, clear waters and the limestone cliffs make it truly Mediterranean.

Salt Pans of Xwejni

6. Visiting Xwejni Salt Pans: Oldest working salt pans that was started by the Phoenicians and still used by the Gozitans, the history and the passion of the people still keeping this century old method alive is worth appreciating.

7. Visit to Blue lagoon: The Blue Lagoon located on the island of Comino, is another must see place known for its crystal clear turquoise waters and jagged cliffs. Our plans were washed down due to the heavy rains unfortunately.

Popeye Village

8. Visiting Popeye Village: Photographs don’t really capture the feel of this place. It does look like it popped out of a storybook and it is definitely worth a visit to just see the village which is actually the film-set of the Robbie Williams starring musical of 1980

Fisherman village of Marsaxlokk and heerful luzzu

9. Visiting Fisherman village of Marsaxlokk: The colourful and cheerful luzzu (fishing boats) anchored on the bay, the blue waters of the Mediterranean and the general vibe of the place makes it a must see. The restaurants offer some delicious sea food and a walk around this place is very relaxing.

Limestone rock formation by wind

10. Visiting St Peter’s Pool: Though the drive through the narrow roads, the unusual car park can be a bit of a dampener, this inlet pool and the large limestone rocks carved into amazing shapes by years of sea wind make it a breath-taking place to see, swim and dive.

Things You Need To Know Before Travelling To Malta

A typical Maltese door in Valletta

Things you need to know before travelling to Malta

1. Getting there – The international airport of Malta is situated to the south of Capital Valletta and is well connected by direct flights from major European hub airports, North Africa and Middle East. Most of the major and budget European airlines fly directly to Malta. We flew direct from London Heathrow in Malta’s national carrier Air Malta.

2. When to go – Any time is a good time to go to Malta! It is a year-round destination. Though avoiding July and August would be better as it is the peak tourist season in Malta-prices are high, crowds are bigger! March to June and September to November are more suitable months as there are less tourists, soothing climate and greenery and also time for many local festivals. December to February are the coldest months of the year (150C average temperature) but still a nice time to explore the island nation. October and November may sometime bring storm and heavy rain to the island. During our trip to Malta in October we had heavy rain and storm for most of the days though the showers were short-lived.

3. Getting around – The islands of Malta and Gozo are quite small and can be covered by a car. The main island of Malta is 27 Km long and end to end travel by car takes an hour depending on traffic near the capital city of Valletta. Malta and Gozo have well connected local bus services but in majority of the cases the frequency and need change buses from one stop to another can be challenging. Our recommendation would be to hire a car in Malta as it is the best way to see both the islands. There are many car-hire companies at the arrivals in the international airport or in and around the capital city of Valletta. Traffic in Malta is only moderately heavy during office hours around Valetta and the more you go away from the main city area the lighter the traffic is. The small island of Gozo has even less vehicles on the road. One important point to mention is that there are only few multi-lane roads in the island of Malta and Gozo and most of the roads are single lane. Finding a parking spot in and around Valletta, Sliema, Gzira or Birgu may be challenging and road-side parking is hard to find though there are many big public car parks situated in and around the city area. Finding a parking spot in small towns and villages in the main Island of Malta and Gozo is not an issue though. Unlike the rest of European Union Malta has left hand driving.

4. Where to stay – As the main island of Malta is fairly small in size it not necessary to stay in the capital city of Valletta or places like Sliema, Gzira or Birgu. The hotel and flat rental prices in the capital city and surrounding area is higher compared to the rest of the island. So if you have the access to a hire car, then staying in places like in the north or central island is more economical-Valletta is only about 30 min to 45 min drive.

Gozo Channel Line Ferry

5. Travel Between the island of Malta and Gozo – Malta and Gozo are well connected by a 24-hour ferry service run by Gozo Channel line – you can therefore take your the car in the ferry. The frequency of the service is quite good (one in every 45 min) between 6 am to 6 pm and rest of the time there is one ferry every 1.5 hours. For more details on ferry timetable, service and prices visit the Gozo Channel Line website https://www.gozochannel.com. In the ferry basic food and refreshments are available.

6. Staying comfortable – For most part of the year the weather of Malta allows comfortable and light outfits. Only during the winter months of December to February additional layering is needed to keep comfortable.

7. Day trip to Blue Lagoon – The island of Comino located between the island of Malta and Gozo is home to one of the top tourist attractions of Malta – the Blue Lagoon. This is one of the best places for snorkelling and scuba diving on a nice and clear day. There are many travel companies in Valletta and in other places in Malta which run daily full-day or half-day trips to the island of Comino. It is not possible to drive to this tiny island and the only way to reach there is by a boats or ferries run by the travel companies. Depending on your budget you can also hire private tours to the island for an exclusive experience. On a sunny day, a full day trip to the blue lagoon is highly recommended. Because it is one of the top attractions of Malta, blue lagoon gets very crowded during high season. Majority of the tours are inclusive of the price of transport to and from the blue lagoon and lunch. In some, sunset dinner is included as well. We missed out on the visit to blue lagoon as we were hit by a thunderstorm on the day we wanted to visit!

8. What to buy – Jewellery stores selling silver filigree is a common sight in Malta and Triq Santa Lucja behind Misrah ir-Republica is a good place to visit if you want to buy these. You can also buy glass artifacts, ceramics and laces. We however got a bagful of Maltese pesto, sun-dried tomatoes and biscuits.