Alcohol is freely available in Malta at restaurants, cafes, bars, roadside kiosks, and public events. The minimum drinking age in Malta is 17, however, it is not strictly enforced. While legally you are not allowed to drink openly on the street, it is very commonly done in Malta, especially at events and festivals.
Penalties for drunk driving (called drink driving in Malta) are unfortunately lax, with enforcement relatively rare.
There is something for every palate in Malta. The most common types of restaurants are Maltese, Italian, Mediterranean fusion, and Japanese/Asian fusion. Restaurant prices vary, and are more expensive in popular tourist areas (Valletta, Sliema, St. Julian's) than rural villages. Reservations are required during the summer months, on Sundays and on holidays, and are recommended in popular restaurants during the winter. Restaurants in Malta do not typically have a dress code.
Rabbit (fenek): Rabbit stews and pastas are a local specialty in Malta, typically served at traditional Maltese restaurants geared towards tourists.
Bragioli: An olive and beef roll unique to the island.
Ravioli: Ricotta ravioli, served in a butter and sage or tomato sauce, is a common dish in Malta.
Ftira: Although the word ‘ftira' typically refers to a small flatbread common in Malta, it is also used to refer to the tomato, tuna and caper sandwich made with this bread, served at cafes and roadside kiosks.
Bruschetta: The most common starter on a menu in Malta is undoubtedly tomato bruschetta (followed closely by octopus salad and fried mushrooms).
Pizza: Served at almost every restaurant in Malta. Typical toppings include Maltese sausage, Gozo cheese, prosciutto, olives, capers, anchovies, corn, ham, eggs, and marrow (zucchini).
Timpana: A pasta casserole dish found on traditional Maltese menus, made of macaroni, tomato sauce, corned beef, and sometimes eggs.
Aljotta: A Maltese fish soup, common to many restaurant menus on the island.
Stuffed marrow (small, round zucchini): Usually stuffed with a vegetable or meat and tomatoe sauce.
Stuffed olives: Green olives stuffed with a tuna mixture are a popular snack in Malta.
Ross il-forn (baked rice): Rice baked with vegetables in a tomatoe sauce, a hearty winter dish served at traditional Maltese restaurants.
Lampuka/Lampuki: A fresh white fish, popular in the late summer and early autumn.
Broad beans: Beans cooked in butter and herbs are a common (and delicious) side dish at Maltese meals.
There are few vegetarian restaurants in Malta. However, Mint café (Sliema) and Angka Café (Marsa) have many vegetarian options. Almost all menus in Malta offer at least a couple vegetarian options (normally pastas or salads), and most restaurants in Malta also offer gluten free options.
Tipping is not required in Malta, but is recommended for exceptional service. For lunch or casual meals, round up to the nearest €5 or €10 (e.g. for a €8 meal, round up to €10). For dinner or formal meals, tip 10%-15%.
Cafes and kiosks are prevalent throughout Malta and Gozo, ranging from chic seaside cafes with free WiFi and plush décor, to cheap and cheerful self-serve kiosks located on the side of the road or on the seafront that serve chips, beer and pizzas.
Expect to pay:
For a truly local fast food experience, visit a pastizzeria (found on practically every corner in every village!) which serve up hot pastries (such as the famous pastizzi) and hot pies filled with cheese, sausages, vegetables, peas, rabbit, beef, chicken, or spinach and tuna. Pizza is also commonly available by the slice. Imqaret - hot, deep fried date squares - are also popular fast food desserts.
Prices for these fast food dishes range from €0.40-€2 each.
Malta's most posh restaurants are located in Valletta, Sliema, St. Julian's, Mellieha and Bugibba, and around Malta's large resorts, such as the Hilton/Portomaso, Radisson Blue St. Julian's, and Corinthia.
Trip Advisor and RestaurantsMalta.com are great resources for local reviews of restaurants.
Great Maltese restaurants:
Great Italian restaurants:
Great Asian restaurants:
Great Indian restaurants:
Other great restaurants:
Great pubs and cafes:
Update 25/05/2013
Babbel is an international success with millions of active subscribers and ranked as the world's #1 innovative company in education.
Learn and review on your own schedule: Mobile, tablet or desktop compatible, with lessons about 10-15 min.
Expert-made courses: Learn the basics or focus on topics like travel, culture, or business.
Start speaking right away: Learn to speak a new language naturally and conversationally.
Every learner is different: Each course is based on your native language and personal interests.
Remember everything: Babbel employs proven cognitive techniques that move new vocab to your long-term memory.
Refine your pronunciation: Practise speaking and improve your pronunciation with speech recognition technology.
Registration with Babbel is completely free of charge and the first lesson in every course is FREE to try (Depending on the language you choose, that's 30-80 free lessons!).
If you want full access to Babbel's courses, simply choose a subscription that works best for you. Buy with confidence: 20-day money back guarantee!