Malta: A Crossroads of Gastronomic Paths

Located in the heart of the Mediterranean, between Sicily and the North African coast, Malta has been a meeting point of civilizations for centuries. This strategic position not only shaped its history but created one of Europe's most fascinating and underrated gastronomies. Maltese cuisine is a symphony of Italian, Arab, French, and British influences that, fused with local ingredients and ancestral traditions, produces flavors you will not find anywhere else in the world.

To discover the best restaurants, artisanal bakeries, and gastronomic experiences in Malta, Encontrable is your best ally. The platform connects you with authentic recommendations from residents and visitors who know the island's culinary secrets.

Pastizzi: Malta's National Snack

If there is one dish that defines Malta's street identity, it is pastizzi. These puff pastries filled with fresh ricotta or mushy peas are omnipresent on the island. They are found in pastizzeriji, small shops that open from the early morning hours and are an integral part of daily Maltese life. A freshly made pastizzi, with its crispy golden exterior and creamy filling inside, costs mere cents and is the best introduction to local gastronomy.

Fenkata: Rabbit as Celebration

Malta's most traditional dish is fenkata, a rabbit stew that is much more than a recipe: it is a social institution. The Maltese celebrate fenkata at family gatherings, village feasts, and Sunday dinners. The rabbit is marinated for hours in wine and garlic, slow-cooked with tomatoes and Mediterranean herbs, and served with roasted potatoes or spaghetti. Fenkata is the Maltese way of saying that food is, above all, an act of community.

Ftira: Bread with a Maltese Soul

The ftira is Malta's traditional bread, similar to Italian focaccia but with its own personality. Made with sourdough, local olive oil, and a touch of sea salt, ftira is typically served with kunserva (sun-dried tomato paste), capers, olives, tuna, and onion. It is the base of hobz biz-zejt (bread with oil), Malta's most popular casual lunch and a delight that reflects the wise simplicity of Mediterranean cooking.

Malta produces some of the most awarded olive oils in the Mediterranean, with indigenous varieties that grow on millennial limestone terraces and contribute a unique character to local cuisine.

Mediterranean Seafood and Fish

Surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea, Malta has an intimate relationship with seafood. Lampuki (dorado) is the island's most iconic fish, the star of the September to November season. It is prepared baked with capers and tomatoes, fried with a golden crust, or in a traditional pie that is a true culinary work of art. Red wine-braised octopus, seafood soups, and fresh calamari complete an exceptional maritime offering.

Artisanal Cheeses and Wines

Gbejna is Malta's artisanal cheese, made from sheep or goat milk. It is consumed fresh, dried, or cured with black pepper, and is an essential component in salads, pastas, and traditional dishes. Regarding wine, Malta has revived indigenous varieties like Girgentina (white) and Gellewza (red) that produce wines with Mediterranean character and a minerality that reflects the islands' calcareous terrain.

Sweets and Festive Traditions

  • Imqaret: Fried date pastries, crispy outside and soft inside, perfumed with anise and orange blossom water
  • Kannoli: The Maltese version of Sicilian cannoli, filled with sweet ricotta and candied fruits
  • Qaghaq tal-Ghasel: Honey rings typical of Maltese Christmas, with a spiced filling of treacle and citrus
  • Prinjolata: A cake made during Carnival with sponge cake, marzipan, chocolate, and pine nuts
  • Helwa tat-Tork: A sesame and almond confection of Arab influence, dense and aromatic

Where to Eat in Malta

In Valletta, the capital, you will find a mix of contemporary restaurants and traditional trattorias. The Marsaxlokk market, the island's most picturesque fishing village, is the perfect place to try fresh fish on Sunday mornings. In Gozo, Malta's sister island, the cooking is even more rustic and authentic, with its own garden produce and cheeses made as they were centuries ago.

If Malta has conquered your palate, discover more gastronomic destinations on our blog. Plan your trip with our guides and explore how travel and gastronomy always go hand in hand. Don't forget to check our travel tips to make the most of your visit to the island.