Malta for Cruise Passengers
Malta Food Guide for a Day Ashore
Pastizzi from a hole-in-the-wall bakery, honey pastries and a plate that tastes like every fleet that ever passed through.
Distance
Available throughout Valletta, Mdina, the Three Cities and Marsaxlokk
Travel time
Check locally before travelling
Time needed
A pastizzi stop takes minutes; a proper sit-down Maltese meal is worth an hour or more
Maltese food carries the fingerprints of every power that has passed through the islands — Sicilian, North African, British and Levantine influences sit side by side on the same plate. It is unpretentious, filling food, well suited to a day of walking Valletta's bastions or Mdina's silent streets.
Pastizzi are the essential starting point: flaky, hand-shaped pastry parcels filled with ricotta or mushy peas, sold hot from small bakeries across the islands and eaten standing at the counter as a snack rather than a sit-down meal. They are inexpensive, everywhere, and genuinely worth seeking out rather than settling for a generic café pastry.
Ftira is Malta's own bread, a flattish ring-shaped loaf often split and filled with tomatoes, olives, capers, tuna and local cheese for a substantial lunchtime sandwich. A traditional Maltese platter — bigilla bean dip, sun-dried tomatoes, olives and gbejniet cheeselets made from sheep or goat's milk — makes a good shared starter or light lunch.
Rabbit, prepared as fenkata (a slow-cooked rabbit stew, often with wine and garlic), is considered close to a national dish and worth trying if your itinerary allows time for a proper sit-down meal rather than a quick snack between sights.
For something sweet, look for imqaret — small deep-fried date pastries — and qagħaq tal-għasel, a treacle-filled honey ring pastry. Wash it down with Kinnie, a distinctive local bitter-orange soft drink found everywhere from waterfront cafés to corner shops, or Cisk, the local lager.
Valletta, Mdina and Marsaxlokk each offer a slightly different food experience: Valletta for cafés and traditional bakeries along and just off Republic Street, Mdina for a quieter sit-down lunch inside the walls, and Marsaxlokk for fresh seafood overlooking the fishing boats. Confirm opening hours locally, since patterns vary by day and season.
How to get there from the cruise port
| Method | Detail | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valletta bakeries and cafés | Walkable from the cruise terminal, with pastizzi and casual lunch options along and just off Republic Street. | Check locally before travelling | Low |
| Marsaxlokk seafood restaurants | Harbourside dining overlooking the traditional luzzu boats, best reached by organised transport or taxi. | Check locally before travelling | Check locally before travelling |
| Mdina restaurants | Quieter, sit-down dining inside the walled city, a good pairing with an unhurried Mdina visit. | Check locally before travelling | Check locally before travelling |
Times and costs are indicative. Always keep a 60–90 minute buffer before all-aboard.
Highlights
- Pastizzi from a traditional bakery
- Ftira and a shared Maltese platter
- Fenkata rabbit stew for a proper sit-down meal
- Imqaret, qagħaq tal-għasel and Kinnie to finish
Tips
- Try pastizzi from a small local bakery rather than a tourist-facing café for the most authentic version
- Ask what is freshest at Marsaxlokk's seafood restaurants rather than ordering by photograph
- Check opening hours locally, especially for a sit-down lunch inside Mdina's walls
- Keep a proper meal within easy reach of your return route to avoid rushing back to the ship
Prefer a guided tour?
Valletta Street Food Tasting Walk
The capital, tasted rather than photographed — a small-group route through Valletta's food culture.
More Malta guides
Maltese Food — FAQs
What is the one food I should try in Malta?▼
Pastizzi. They are inexpensive, available everywhere and represent Maltese everyday food better than almost anything else on the island.
Is Maltese food similar to Italian food?▼
There are Sicilian influences, but Maltese food also carries North African, Levantine and British elements, giving it a distinct character rather than being simply a regional Italian cuisine.
Where can I eat close to the cruise port?▼
Valletta has the widest and most convenient range of cafés and traditional bakeries within walking distance of the terminal, making it the easiest choice on a shorter port day.