If you’re planning a trip to Malta, you’re in for a culinary treat. This Mediterranean island nation punches way above its weight when it comes to food culture, blending Sicilian, Arab, Spanish, and British influences into a unique and deeply delicious cuisine. The best part? You can eat incredibly well here without breaking the bank. This Malta food guide walks you through the must-try dishes, the best places to eat, realistic costs, and insider tips gathered from eating my way across this beautiful island. For a broader look at the island, check out our Ultimate Malta Travel Guide.
Why Maltese Food Deserves More Credit
When people think of Mediterranean cuisine, they often picture Greece or Italy. Malta gets overlooked, and honestly, that’s food tourism’s loss. Maltese food is a living history of the island’s cultural crossroads. You taste the Arab spice traders who ruled here for centuries, the Norman and Spanish rulers, and later British influences all coming together on a single plate. The official Malta tourism website has a great overview of the island’s culinary heritage if you want to dig deeper.
The foundation is simple and seasonal: fresh fish from the Mediterranean, locally grown vegetables, homemade bread, and time-honored recipes passed down through generations. There’s no pretension here—this is comfort food at its finest. A grandmother’s rabbit stew or a fisherman’s catch grilled over coals. And unlike some Mediterranean destinations, you won’t need to sell a kidney to experience authentic Maltese cooking.
Locals are genuinely passionate about food. Ask a Maltese person where to eat, and they’ll spend twenty minutes explaining why their favorite neighborhood pastizzeria is better than all the rest. That passion translates into quality. You’re eating food cooked by people who care. Learn more about Maltese cuisine’s fascinating history on Wikipedia.
Malta Food Guide: Must-Try Maltese Dishes
These are the non-negotiables in any Malta food guide. If you eat nothing else, eat these.
- Pastizzi — This is the national snack and your best friend if you’re traveling on a budget. These are flaky, crispy pastries filled with either ricotta cheese or mushy peas. They’re warm, golden, and cost just €0.50 to €1 each. You’ll find them at bakeries and pastizzerias everywhere. Eat them fresh from the oven, ideally standing at the counter while locals jostle you gently aside to order theirs.
- Ħobż biż-Żejt — This is Malta’s answer to bruschetta. A thick slice of ftira bread topped with tomato paste, fresh tuna, capers, olives, and sometimes anchovies. It’s simple, seasonal, and absolutely moreish. You’ll find authentic versions at bakeries and local markets for €2 to €4. Restaurant versions can be pricier.
- Stuffat tal-Fenek (Rabbit Stew) — This is Malta’s national dish, and for good reason. Rabbit is slow-cooked until it’s fall-apart tender in a rich wine and tomato sauce with olives and potatoes. It’s earthy, luxurious, and tastes like centuries of tradition in a bowl. In restaurants, expect to pay €12 to €18. It’s worth every cent.
- Ftira — A round, crusty sourdough bread with a soft, air-filled interior. It’s the backbone of Maltese food culture. Buy it fresh from a village bakery (ħobżiena) for under €1. Eat it with butter, jam, cheese, or tomatoes. You can also get ftira sandwiches filled with tuna, cheese, and vegetables for €3 to €5.
- Braġjoli (Beef Olives) — Thin slices of beef rolled around a filling of hard-boiled egg, parsley, and other herbs, then braised in tomato sauce until they’re incredibly tender. It’s a home-cooking classic that appears on many restaurant menus. Budget €12 to €16 in a mid-range restaurant.
- Lampuki Pie — A flaky pastry pie filled with mahi-mahi (lampuki in Maltese) and other seasonal fish. This is seasonal—best in September and October when lampuki are in season. It’s sublime: crispy pastry, tender fish, sometimes with a layer of hard-boiled eggs. €10 to €15 in restaurants.
- Imqaret — Deep-fried pastries filled with dates and sometimes spices. They’re sweet, crispy, and dangerously addictive. Street vendors sell them for €1 to €2, and they’re perfect for a mid-morning snack or dessert. Eat them while they’re still warm.
Street Food and Snacks: The €1–€3 Category
One of the greatest joys of eating in Malta is the quality of street food and snacks. You’re not settling for inferior food because it’s cheap—you’re getting genuinely delicious, freshly made items at prices that make you question why anywhere else is so expensive.
Crystal Palace in Rabat is arguably the best pastizzeria on the island. Locals will debate this passionately—and some will swear by Busy Bee in Valletta—but Crystal Palace’s pastizzi are legends. They’re open 24 hours, and at any time of day you’ll see locals queuing up. The ricotta filling is creamy, the pea filling is perfectly seasoned, and the pastry is shattering. Go at 8 a.m. or 2 a.m.; you’ll have an equally good experience.
Busy Bee in Valletta is another institution. It’s smaller and more frantic, which somehow makes the pastizzi taste even better. Both spots sell pastizzi for €0.60 to €0.80 each. While you’re in Valletta, our guide to Valletta’s hidden wonders will point you toward more great local spots.
Don’t overlook village bakeries (ħobżiena). Every town has at least one, often several. They bake pastizzi fresh throughout the day, and you can buy them still warm from the oven. Support local. Buy from the baker who’s been making pastizzi for thirty years, not the tourist-area chain.
Other street food worth seeking out: imqaret (date pastries), qubbajt (nougat), and prinjolata (a sugary, gooey pastry traditionally made for Easter but now available year-round).
Where to Eat in Malta: By Budget
Budget Friendly (€5–€15 per person)
Your best bets are village bakeries, pastizzerias, and small cafes in residential neighborhoods away from the main tourist drag (looking at you, Republic Street in Valletta). Order a pastizzi and a coffee for breakfast for under €3. Grab an ftira sandwich and a soft drink for lunch for €4 to €6. Have a pasta dish or grilled fish at a neighborhood spot for dinner for €8 to €12. This is genuinely delicious food, cooked by people who live here. If you’re planning to explore on a shoestring, our budget travel tips have you covered.
Mid-Range (€15–€30 per person)
This is where you get proper Maltese restaurants with white tablecloths but no pretension. Look for traditional trattorias and fish restaurants, especially in Marsaxlokk (a fishing village with stunning harbor views). You’ll get proper pasta, grilled fresh fish, rabbit stew, and other national dishes cooked by people with real skills and invested in their reputation. The food is excellent, the service is genuine, and you’ll feel like a local, not a tourist.
Splurge (€30–€60+ per person)
Waterfront restaurants in Valletta, Sliema, and St Julian’s. You’re paying for views, ambiance, and sometimes creative takes on Maltese classics. The food is often excellent, but you’re definitely paying a premium for the location and the experience. Good if you want a special dinner or celebration meal. Traveling as a couple? Our Malta travel guide for couples has the best romantic restaurant picks.
What to Avoid: Tourist Trap Restaurants
Steer clear of restaurants directly on Republic Street in Valletta and around Spinola Bay in St Julian’s. These spots have inflated prices, frozen or subpar ingredients, and mediocre execution. They trade on location and foot traffic, not on cooking quality. Walk two minutes inland, and you’ll find better food for half the price.
I’ve mentioned this, but it’s worth emphasizing: avoid restaurants in prime tourist zones. Republic Street in Valletta? Skip it. Spinola Bay in St Julian’s? Walk inland. These places charge €20 to €35 for a pasta dish that would cost €8 elsewhere, and the food is usually frozen or low-quality. Restaurants survive on tourism and foot traffic, not on repeat customers who care about quality.
How to identify a good restaurant: Does it have local customers at lunch? Are the dishes on the menu traditional or creative-sounding? Is the menu in three languages or five? Local restaurants have Maltese and maybe Italian and English menus. Tourist traps have menus in twelve languages. Walk into places where you’re the only tourist—that’s where the food is good.
Malta Food Guide: Best Markets and Local Spots
Marsaxlokk Fish Market is legendary for a reason. Head there on Sunday morning, and you’ll find stall after stall of fish so fresh it’s almost still wet from the sea. You’ll also find local fruits, vegetables, flowers, and souvenirs. Grab fresh fish for a picnic, or eat at one of the waterfront restaurants nearby (budget €15 to €25 per person for fish and wine). The energy is incredible—old fishermen, tourists, families. Go early to get the best picks.
Ta’ Qali Crafts Village isn’t just about crafts. There are food stalls scattered throughout, and you can sample local pastries, fresh produce, and other specialties. It’s a less chaotic alternative to Marsaxlokk if you prefer a slower pace.
Valletta Market operates daily near the bus terminus. It’s where locals shop for cheap, fresh fruits, vegetables, and everyday items. It’s less touristy than the other markets and a good place to grab produce to take to your accommodation.
Siġġiewi Market (Saturdays) is very local and very cheap. If you want to see how real Maltese people shop and eat, this is it. Fresh produce, local cheese, breads, and other staples at rock-bottom prices.
What to Drink in Malta
Kinnie is a local bitter orange soft drink that’s been around since 1952. It’s an acquired taste—slightly medicinal, deeply nostalgic for anyone who grew up here—and absolutely iconic. Try it ice-cold. You’ll find it everywhere (€2 to €3 for a bottle at shops). Some people love it; some think it tastes like orange-flavored cough syrup. You owe it to yourself to make the call.
Cisk is Malta’s most popular local lager. It’s clean, drinkable, and the beer of choice in bars and restaurants across the island. €2 to €3 in shops, €4 to €5 in bars. If you’re here, drink local beer.
Maltese Wine is criminally underrated. The main producers are Marsovin and Meridiana. Local whites pair beautifully with fresh fish—crisp, mineral, and affordable. A bottle at a restaurant runs €15 to €25; at a supermarket, €5 to €10. Worth trying even if you’re not a big wine drinker.
Bajtra is a sweet prickly pear liqueur. Try it as an after-dinner digestif. It’s syrupy and sweet, and it feels like sunshine in a glass. You’ll find bottles at duty-free, markets, and souvenir shops.
Supermarkets and Self-Catering Tips
If you’re staying in an apartment or just want to snack on local items in your accommodation, hit a supermarket. Lidl, SPAR, and Pama Shopping Centre are well stocked and ubiquitous. Here’s what to buy:
- Local Kinnie and Cisk (bring bottles home as souvenirs)
- Ġbejna (local fresh cheese, creamy and mild)
- Olives, capers, and sundried tomatoes
- Locally made pastries and qubbajt (nougat)
- Fresh bread and ftira from the supermarket bakery (though a village bakery bread is genuinely better and often cheaper)
Pro tip: Supermarket bread is convenient but not nearly as good as bread from a local ħobżiena. Spend €0.50 to €0.80 on real Maltese bread instead of €1.50 on a mass-produced loaf.
Quick Budget Breakdown
Budget traveler (~€17/day): Pastizzi and coffee for breakfast (€2). Ftira sandwich and soft drink for lunch (€5). Pasta or grilled fish at a neighborhood spot for dinner (€8). Snacks and drinks (€2–3). This is genuinely good food, and you’re eating like a local.
Mid-range traveler (~€44–49/day): Breakfast at a cafe (€4). Proper lunch at a mid-range restaurant (€15). Dinner with wine at another good spot (€25–30). You’re eating very well, in proper restaurants, with drinks included.
Splurge traveler (€100+/day): Fine dining, waterfront restaurants, premium wines, and treating yourself to experiences. The food is excellent, and you’re in for special meals.
This Malta food guide only scratches the surface of what the island has to offer. Malta’s food culture is one of its greatest treasures—unpretentious, generous, and genuinely delicious. Whether you’re a budget backpacker or a luxury traveler, you’ll eat incredibly well here. Trust the places locals recommend, avoid the obvious tourist traps, and let this Malta food guide lead you to the best meals on the island. Your palate—and your wallet—will thank you.
