Malta Restaurant Guide: Breakfast Edition

I am from the United States and where I come from there are some tried and true staples when it comes to breakfast. Breakfast happens to be my favourite meal of the day and I will take you on a tourist’s delight of the places I have found that hit closer to home than the standard (and fantastic) pastizzi or ftira sandwiches. If I were to bring a friend from back home out for breakfast these are the places I would choose. With this in mind, I offer them to you:

lulu cafe

This little bistro in the heart of Swieqi sits just across from Greens so there might be some competition between them, but there is only one Lulu café and when it comes to a wonderful breakfast experience, I cannot leave this one behind. They have their menu categorised by savoury and sweet. Their savoury choices include the eggs benny’s and their variations and items like the lavender walnut scone (yum!), avocado toast or kale and goat cheese omelet. On the sweet side of their menu resides the best French toast hands down I have had on the island in my three years of always looking for the best breakfast places to go: French toast made from thickly sliced brioche bread with balsamic glazed figs and mascarpone topped with sprinkles of peanut brittle. Other sweet items from the menu include a pancake stack (which my children always order so I can tell you that they come with side dishes of syrup and white chocolate to drizzle on top), a yogurt bowl and more options. When it comes to breakfast, this is absolutely one of my top picks.

Find them on Facebook!

the bagel hole

We finally have a bagel shop here in Malta and it sits in the heart of the island in Valletta! You can get these specialty items delivered or you can go hang out and enjoy a New York style bagel jazzed up with a Mediterranean twist (such as this week’s bagel of the week served with gamon, salted ricotta and honey mustard dressing) and an array of specialty coffee. I have always loved bagels and I have missed having a simple bagel with cream cheese or with smoked salmon (both of which you can get here). So, get to the best and only bagel place on the island and see what all the fuss is about!

Find them on Facebook!

manouche

This is no American diner. This is French cuisine and I am here for it. There are several locations of Manouche around the island (at each location caters to a slightly different menu) including Spinola Bay (my favourite), Valletta, Mosta and Sliema. This is also not just a place for breakfast, but it is always the reason I go. If you like rich, delicious and savoury food then this one is for you. I am a huge eggs benedict girl and Manouche is the one to beat: Manouche buttered English muffin, asparagus, streaky bacon, poached eggs with wilted spinach & hollandaise sauce…need I say more?

Find them on Facebook!

busy bee cafe

Busy Bee Café is a place that many are familiar with and they serve wonderful breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, desserts and some of the finest coffee. For breakfast they offer such menu items as the classic full English, eggs benedict, the Florentine benedict, your assortment of omelette choices. They also have a vegetarian breakfast option of grilled halloumi with eggs, hash browns, tomato, baked beans, and mushrooms. Or the full non-vegetarian breakfast offers what the vegetarian breakfast does but with additional sausages. If you could choose sweeter and go with the Brioche Bun breakfast with bacon, sausage, fried egg and tomatoes.

Find them on Facebook!

the greenhouse

Say what? The café located at Greens the grocery store? You heard me correctly. They have recently changed their menu in a big way and have quickly sealed their place at the top of my list for breakfast and dinner. Here is one that reminds me of home in the southern part of North America but with a serious Mediterranean twist: chicken and waffles. Chicken and waffles are a Georgia staple, but this one comes with a more sophisticated version of things. You can order this for breakfast, lunch or dinner: a golden waffle with cream cheese and an assortment of sauteed vegetables including peppers and topped with a gorgeous and perfectly fried piece of chicken and drizzled with honey. There are many things on the menu I could recommend here, but the chicken and waffles are so rich and scrumptious that I can’t bring myself to order anything but that! Greens has several locations including Gozo.

Find them on Facebook!