FOODIE FRIDAY
- Natasha
- Nov 3, 2023
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 22, 2024
TRADITIONAL MALTESE EATERIES & COOL LUNCH SPOTS IN VALLETTA
In the second post of our Foodie Friday series, we would like to share some insider tips for some of our favourite restaurants in Valletta for traditional Maltese food and cool lunch spots.
When you’re visiting Valletta and longing for a traditional Maltese lunch or quick bite at a casual restaurant in the city, choosing the best restaurants in Valletta could be quite a task!
We hope you enjoy exploring our selection of recommended eateries!
Bon appetit!
No 43
A firm favourite among locals for a healthy lunch in Valletta, eaten in or taken out, No 43 offers a delicious range of salads made in-house, which you can mix and match to your taste buds’ content!
The great news is that it is also very vegan and vegetarian friendly, with a selection that changes almost daily.
Owner Hayley and her team create a friendly and happy environment and make everyone feel welcome!
Location: 43, Merchant Street, Valletta
Phone: +356 2703 2294
Nenu The Artisan Baker
This family-owned bakery specialises in ftira, a typical ring-shaped, leavened bread traditionally used for sandwiches and pizzas. Here you can choose from a variety of typical ftira pizzas or other Maltese dishes, produced using mainly indigenous ingredients and baked in a traditional oven.
We also recommend their traditional Date fritters with Maltese Ice cream, blended with orange blossom water and a hint of aniseed, for a real taste of local Maltese sweets.
Location: 143, St Dominic Street, Valletta
Phone: +356 2258 1535
Piadina Café
Situated just a few steps away from the bustling St George's Square and St John’s Cathedral, Piadina Caffe is a charming lunch venue in Valletta that's named after a type of flatbread specific to Italy's Emilia-Romagna region.
This is a much-loved lunch spot among locals, particularly on a sunny afternoon when everyone sprawls on the cobbled steps to enjoy their freshly-prepared focaccia or piadina.
The well-priced menu also includes salads and soups, and every meal is prepared with fresh ingredients. Vegetarian, Vegan and Gluten Free options are also available!
Location: 24 St Lucia Street, Valletta
Phone: +356 2122 5983
Hopes
If you’re just in the mood for a quick and healthy smoothie on the go, we can’t recommend Hope’s enough! Leon will create an amazing smoothie to your taste, always made out of the freshest ingredients including nuts and proteins.
Location: 220A St Paul's Street, Valletta
Phone: +356 9990 7037
The Little Red Door
This cozy restaurant in Valletta is not far from Casa Rocca Piccola, and offers fresh cheese and charcuterie platters from over forty kinds of cheese and more than a dozen delicious cuts to choose from. You can customise your own platter or let the pros choose for you!
In the fairer weather outdoor seating is also available and an enjoyable experience of the typical Mediterranean café culture!
Location: 28 St Dominic Street, Valletta
Phone: +356 7777 3830
Jeff’s Pastizzeria
One can’t recommend traditional Maltese food without mentioning the famous Pastizzi. These little pasties are filled with ricotta cheese or with mushed peas – we suggest one of each! - and are a much-loved snack for locals who need a fast lunch on the go.
Jeff’s Pastizzeria can be found towards the bottom of Merchant Street, where Kurt will greet you with his customary friendly smile. The ideal accompaniment, for a truly traditional Maltese affair, is a cold bottle of the local soft drink, Kinnie.
Location: 147 Merchant Street, Valletta
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