3 Best Restaurants in Malta

This is one of the last remaining traditional Maltese trattorias along the tourist strip, and local families, along with a few in-the-know visitors, flock to this relaxed eatery. The chef is famed for his homemade succulent braġjoli (thin beef steak stuffed with pork herbs and breadcrumbs, then rolled and cooked) and mouth-watering slow-cooked rabbit. The freshly made pastas and sauces are copious and an excellent value. The menu is matched by local, reputable wines. The restaurant is a little difficult to find, located down a narrow alley off the main shopping street. There's no view, but don't worry, food and the rustic ambience add up to a typical Maltese experience.

Leading politicians and the fashionable alike dine here on haute Maltese-Italian cuisine. Dishes hit the heights with pan-seared boneless quail and veal chops, and the day's catch is usually reliable. Tables on the open balcony-style terrace overlook the Sliema waterfront, but if it's too hot outside, try the table just inside the open full-length windows to get the best view combined with a little cool air. There is a lounge downstairs; the restaurant is on the fifth floor.

An elevator only takes you part of the way; you'll still have to climb a flight of stairs to get to the restaurant.

A truly authentic Gozitan experience is enjoying locally produced charcuterie and plates of pasta in this vaulted stone medieval building in the shade of Gozo Cathedral. There isn't an extensive menu—daily specials appear on a chalkboard—but you'll be assured of handcrafted cheeses, crusty bread, local honey, and wine that's traveled only a couple of miles from a local vineyard. The rabbit is reliably good, but it's the goat-cheese-packed ravioli that are truly special. Ta' Rikardu also sells vacuum-packed foods that are on the menu. Tours with Gozo Adventures include visits to the farm where you can see Rikardu make his famous gbejna cheeselets.