Traditional Maltese Foods: 10 Popular Foods to Try in Malta
If you’re a foodie going on a holiday to Malta, I’m sure you’ll be on the hunt for as many Maltese traditional foods as possible. I’m a foodie myself, and I’m here to help you!
I’ve compiled a guide on Maltese foods and some of the most popular dishes that you absolutely must try during your visit.
What is Maltese food?
Maltese food, or the food that’s typical in the islands of Malta and Gozo, is the result of many foreign influences over centuries of history.
Some of the most prominent influences in Maltese food start with the Phoenicians and the Romans, and later include those from Italian (particularly from nearby Sicily), Spanish, North African, and British cuisines, ingredients, and culinary techniques.
10 Traditional Maltese Foods to Try in Malta
1. Ftira
The Maltese ftira is a semi-flat bread made with flour, water, and salt – similar to a ciabatta. It is typically served as a sandwich, filled with ingredients such as tuna, olives, capers, onion, tomato, or other vegetables. It can easily be made vegetarian, or vegan.
As an integral part of Maltese culture, ftira sandwiches are a convenient snack to eat on the go, or to bring to the beach. You will find them available in every corner, from sandwich shops in Valletta to the small beach bars on the sand. They are usually very cheap, and generously sized!
Looking for vegan food spots in Malta? Check out my list of the Best 12 Vegan Restaurants in Malta!
2. Pastizzi
Pastizzi are Malta’s national snack. They’re diamond-shaped flaky pastries, typically filled with ricotta or mushy peas. However, you may find them filled with other ingredients, such as anchovies, corned beef, or apples.
When done well, they should be crispy – and they are the tastiest when still warm. Pastizzi are often eaten as a snack or as an appetiser.
The best place to eat pastizzi in Malta? Is-Serkin – Crystal Palace Bar, in Mdina/Rabat.
3. Maltese Rabbit Stew (Stuffat tal-Fenek)
Considered Malta’s national dish, the Maltese rabbit stew is a communal meal where typically a whole rabbit is marinated in wine, and then stewed with herbs and vegetables, until tender.
It is common to serve the stew with pasta (usually spaghetti) or potatoes. Olives and capers, always present in Maltese cuisine, may be added to the dish to enhance the flavours.
4. Bragioli (Beef Olives)
Contrary to what their name might suggest, Beef Olives is a dish that actually doesn’t contain olives at all.
Bragioli is a very popular Maltese dish that consists of beef wrapped around a mixture (stuffing) that can contain minced beef, eggs, herbs, and breadcrumbs. The finished parcels are then simmered in a tomato sauce. Because of their rounded shape, the meat parcels earned the name of beef olives!
You must know that there are many variations of this dish – perhaps one per household. If you order it at a restaurant, keep this in mind. Sometimes pork can be used instead of beef, and the stuffing can sometimes also contain bacon, sausage, or even hard-boiled eggs (like in the photo above).
Looking for halal restaurants in Malta? Check out my list of the Best 15 Halal Restaurants in Malta.
5. Maltese platter (Platt Malti)
The best way to get an introduction to Maltese traditional cuisine is to sit down with a glass of wine or a Kinnie, and enjoy a Maltese platter (platt Malti).
Platt Malti is essentially a platter with samples of different local Maltese ingredients and foods, usually served as an appetiser. It can include Ġbejna cheese (a small, round sheep’s milk cheese), Maltese sausage (Zalzett Malti), Bigilla (a thick dip of broad beans, olive oil, and chili flakes), olives, sun-dried tomatoes, dried fruits, nuts, and kunserva (a traditional tomato spread, usually served with crackers or bread).
I had the above gorgeous platter by the water in Gozo, at Churchill Restaurant.
6. Maltese Octopus Stew (Stuffat tal-qarnit)
If you’ve been anywhere in the Mediterranean, you know that octopus is a staple in many coastal cuisines here. The Maltese octopus stew is unique in that the typical herbs and spices used in Malta really shine through, making it different from other seafood stews that you might have tried elsewhere.
Typically, it is made with onions, red wine, olives, capers, and tomatoes – potatoes are thrown in as well if it is served as a one-pot meal. It’s seasoned with marjoram and thyme, and can even come with raisins or walnuts.
I tried this stew at Gozitan Restaurant in St Julian’s, and it was cooked to perfection!
7. Imqaret
This traditional pastry is a clear trace of the Arab influence in Malta’s culinary heritage. Its name, Imqaret, is of Arabic origin and refers to its typical diamond shape, although you may also find them shaped like rectangles.
Imqaret is filled with a mixture combining dates, citrus, and spices. It is often finished with powdered sugar and sometimes it’s served paired with a scoop of ice cream on the side. Yum!
8. Aljotta
Being an island, Malta also has plenty of traditional fish dishes. Aljotta is a fish soup that is especially popular during Lent (a Christian religious period in the six weeks before Easter, when eating meat was traditionally forbidden).
The soup is commonly made with small rockfish, using the head and tail of the fish, which are strained out before serving. The soup also includes onions, garlic, tomatoes, aromatic herbs like basil and mint, and rice.
When I had this soup at Nenu the Artisan Baker, they served it with a crunchy puff pastry lid on top. The soup traditionally comes with a wedge of lemon to squeeze in when eating.
9. Kinnie
Kinnie is the national soft drink of Malta, and you must order it at least once during your visit. It’s a refreshing and bittersweet carbonated drink made with bitter orange and wormwood extracts. It is often drunk straight, but it can also be mixed with alcohol.
Kinnie was first introduced in Malta by the Simonds Farsons Cisk brewery in 1952 (who also produce the popular Cisk Lager), and continues to be produced locally to this day.
10. Timpana
Timpana is one of the many variations of baked pasta dishes in the Mediterranean, like the Greek pastitsio.
This Maltese pasta casserole is made with a combination of puff pastry sheets, macaroni or penne pasta, and filling ingredients like beef, pork, chicken liver, bacon, grated cheese, eggs, tomatoes, stock, and butter. It is common to serve timpana with a fresh side salad.
What are the prices for food and drink in Malta?
To understand the cost of food in Malta, you should understand that the minimum wage (in 2024) is 925 Euros per month, or just over 11,000 Euros per year. This is on par with other EU countries like Greece, Lithuania, and Portugal. Additionally, the majority of the Maltese population reside in the central and southern parts of the island, close to the capital, Valletta.
As such, food and drink in Malta can be very affordable in many parts, when you compare it to other European countries. You will certainly notice this if you stop at the small beach bars and local cafes for a ftira or pastizzi.
But in the central and more touristic areas, like in Valletta, you may notice that food prices are not far off from those in other European destinations, especially in trendier cafes and bars. Obviously, if you look hard enough, there are always more expensive high-end and fine-dining options that can push the limits even further.
For reference, it is common to find ftira for 3 Euros on average, and other sandwiches for 4-5 Euros. You can find croissants and espresso coffee for as little as 1.5 Euros each. Beer, depending on the brand, can be cheaper than 3 Euros. The best pastizzi on the island cost less than 1 Euro each.
If you’re looking for an itinerary to visit Malta, check out my 7-10 Day Itinerary to Visit Malta Without a Car.
Where to try traditional foods in Malta?
If you’d like to go on a foodie adventure in Malta and sample all the popular foods, you can do it on your own, or with a guided tour.
Maltese food tours in Valletta
If you’d like to learn a bit about the history of the island and its influence on the local food, you can book a food tour in Malta. These tours often include a local guide who shares some historic facts, and leads you through local markets and typical food spots, to sample Maltese street foods and specialities.
Choose from these best-rated food tours in Valletta:
Otherwise, you might consider venturing by yourself and trying out dishes at local restaurants that serve traditional Maltese food – see below the ones I visited during my trip:
Traditional Maltese Restaurants in Malta
Nenu The Artisan Baker
4.5 ★ | Maltese cuisine | Valletta and Mgarr | €€
Concept: Typical Maltese restaurant with a rustic interior and a small exhibit section honouring the art of baking bread. Besides serving traditional Maltese food and drink, the Valletta restaurant also welcomes visitors to book sessions to learn how to bake your own ftira!
What to order: The Aljotta soup, served with an impressive puff pastry lid.
Address: 143 St Domnic Street, Valletta VLT 1605, Malta
Contact: https://nenuthebaker.com/
Gozitan Restaurant
4.5 ★ | Maltese cuisine | St Julian’s | €€
Concept: Traditional Maltese restaurant serving local specialties with a pinch of Gozitan flavours. As a bonus, you’re provided with complimentary bread and dips as a starter, as well as a complimentary mix of typical Maltese desserts.
What to order: The rabbit stew, the “beef olives”, and/or the octopus stew.
Address: Triq Paceville, San Ġiljan, Malta
Contact: https://gozitan-restaurant.com/
Is-Serkin – Crystal Palace Bar
4.6 ★ | Coffee shop | Mdina/Rabat | €
Concept: Local typical coffee shop known for selling the best pastizzi in Malta.
What to order: The pastizzi! Apart from being very affordable, I can confirm that their pastries really live up to the hype. Due to frequent production in and out of the oven, you’re nearly always guaranteed warm, crispy, crunchy pastizzi!
Address: Triq San Pawl, Ir-Rabat, Malta
Contact: https://www.facebook.com/p/Serkin-Crystal-Palace-100057555245313/
Churchill
4.1 ★ | Maltese cuisine | Xlendi, Gozo | €€
Concept: Waterfront restaurant serving Maltese and Mediterranean cuisine since 1947. Also offers vegan and vegetarian options.
What to order: The Gozitan platter – this platter includes several typical foods from Malta and Gozo. From cheeses to sausages, sun-dried tomatoes, olives, kunserva, dried fruits and nuts. The view over the bay is a big plus, and definitely one of the most memorable meals from my visit to Malta!
Address: 26H8+VVM, Triq San Xmun, XLN 1300, Malta
Contact: https://www.facebook.com/churchillgozo/
Final thoughts
I hope this post about traditional foods in Malta and where to eat them has been helpful. There are many more typical Maltese dishes that you can discover in the islands, but this list is a good start.
If you have questions about any part of this post, feel free to reach out in the comments below!
Visiting Malta soon and looking for typical foods to try? Pin this post to save it for later!
