time to explore with esplora
Al freso feasting up north
Discover our hand-picked local restaurants that serve genuine food. Regardless of your taste or budget, there’s a restaurant on our list to suit you. Here’s where to find them…
la nave bistro
Home to panoramic views of St Paul’s Islands and Gozo, this restaurant is driven by a genuine love of food and offers a wide range of cuisine from their vast menu.
Opt for breakfast or lunch before making your way to Malta’s National Aquarium for an experience like no other.
We recommend the vegetarian breakfast, which includes smashed avocado, poached eggs, English muffins, grilled halloumi, hash browns, tomatoes, mushrooms and baked beans. If you have a sweet tooth, why not spoil yourself with their brioche french toast, too? Featuring bacon, mascarpone and maple syrup. What more could you possibly ask for? Tried and tested, their spaghetti vongole is also something out of this world
La Nave Bistro: +356 2258 8100 | Triq It-Trunciera, San Pawl il-Baħar
commando
Commando is a Bib Gourmand family-run restaurant found on the Michelin guide and run by Chef Patron Damien Ciappara. Nestled within a tastefully-restored 300-year-old building, Commando boasts a proud culinary tradition dating back to the wartime 1930s. Fresh local ingredients are accurately prepared to create satisfying dishes with subtle modern twists. The roasted octopus served with burrata, black olives, and gazpacho is new to the menu and definitely a must try
Commando: +356 9949 8843 | Misraħ Iż-Żjara tal-Papa, Mellieħa
gillieru
This restaurant is situated in the fishing village of St Paul’s Bay and is known for its high-quality dishes, fresh seafood, and optimal service – values that date back over a hundred years. They offer a selection of Mediterranean dishes, but their seafood is a must. Enjoy a sunset view from their back terrace whilst nibbling on some of their signature calamari fritti and crudi to start with, followed by some of their local seafood specialities that will blow you away
Gillieru: +356 2226 6282 | 66, Church Street, San Pawl il-Baħar
La Buona Trattoria del Nonno
This restaurant in St Paul’s Bay is known to be the home of the best rack of spare ribs in Malta. The cuisine is based on slow oven baking in their wood oven, serving mouth- watering pizzas, steaks and even seafood. Their home- made pasta dishes are second to none, made in different variations and with various sauces. Chef Kane’s paccheri with pistachio di Bronte pesto, guanciale and aged Parmigiano is a meal that ends all others… just sayin’
La Buona Trattoria del Nonno: +356 2157 3182 | Triq San Pawl, San Pawl il-Baħar
Munchies
Enjoy a nice stroll across the beach, bury your feet in the sand and watch children build sand castles, before seating yourself on the outdoor terrace at Munchies to enjoy
those gorgeous sea views. The bistro offers pizzas, burgers, pasta and risotto and even dishes to share. We’d definitely recommend the tagliatelle with pistachio and burrata. The food is superb, and along with the view, and the lovely staff, it is a must visit place if you’re visiting the Maltese islands
Munchies: +356 2157 6416 | Marfa Road, Mellieħa
kartell
At Kartell, they are masters of Mediterranean cuisine – impeccably prepared, cooked to perfection and serving
the freshest and highest quality food, with a menu offering a wide variety of wholesome soups, fresh salads, creative light dishes, platters, antipasto, sumptuous fish, meat, and poultry. The mixed shellfish will be the best you’ve ever eaten with a rich and well-flavoured sauce. All you need to do is sit back, order, relax and you can rest assured that you will be more than happy with the result
Kartell: +356 2155 6918 | Marina Street, Marsalforn, Gozo
one80
At Kartell, they are masters of Mediterranean cuisine – impeccably prepared, cooked to perfection and serving
the freshest and highest quality food, with a menu offering a wide variety of wholesome soups, fresh salads, creative light dishes, platters, antipasto, sumptuous fish, meat, and poultry. The mixed shellfish will be the best you’ve ever eaten with a rich and well-flavoured sauce. All you need to do is sit back, order, relax and you can rest assured that you will be more than happy with the result
One80: +356 2155 6918 | Marina Street, Marsalforn, Gozo
Pierre's
Overlooking the bay of Marsalforn, enjoy a dining experience while sitting on the edge of the Mediterranean. The menu offers a choice of various dishes with daily fresh fish specialities. Dine ‘al fresco’ or even opt to dine inside in air-conditioned environment. Having said this, we’d definitely recommend the outdoor area… you can’t get closer to the water than this. The seafood platter consists of the freshest prawns, mussels, salmon, tuna, octopus and grilled calamari served with salad and fries, some of the freshest we’ve ever had. Among the great seafood and fresh fish choices, they have interesting pasta dishes options such as Gozitan cheese ravioli and spaghetti marinara, too
Pierre’s: +356 2156 5727 | Marina Wharf, Marsalforn, Gozo
