Foodies, Look Out! Two Top Food & Drink Festivals Land in Valletta This Week
Malta International Food Festival, The Granaries, Floriana
If your weekly meal plan just got a lot more complicated, blame Malta’s events calendar. This week, the island is essentially one giant open-air table, with festivals stacking wine, world cuisine, and live music practically on top of each other. Here’s where to point your appetite.
Malta International Food Festival, The Granaries, Floriana
Should you only make it to one event this week, make it this one. Now in its 10th edition, the Malta International Food Festival has taken over The Granaries in Floriana (officially Pjazza San Publiju, one of the biggest open squares on the island) from Wednesday 5 to Sunday 9 August, running nightly from 6 pm to midnight.
This year’s edition is massive, think 42 cuisines and over 1,000 dishes, from Maltese and Italian classics to Indian, Chinese, Venezuelan and Filipino flavours, served up by more than 100 exhibitors including local restaurants, producers and importers. Beyond the food, there are live cooking shows, a Main Stage with music every night, an International Culture Stage celebrating Malta’s expat communities, a Salsa and Bachata Festival on Thursday, an Artisan Area, a chillout zone with DJs, and a Kids Zone to keep the little ones busy while you work through your dish list. Entry is €5, pay-as-you-go once inside.
When: 5–9 August, daily 6 pm–midnight
Where: The Granaries, Floriana
Delicata Classic Wine Festival, Upper Barrakka Gardens, Valletta
Malta’s longest-running wine festival is back for its 23rd edition, taking over the Upper Barrakka Gardens on Friday 7, Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 August, from 7 pm till midnight. Expect golden-hour views over the Grand Harbour and Three Cities as the backdrop to more than 20 Delicata wines poured by the glass, from the rare native Girgentina and Ġellewża frizzantes to the flagship Gran Cavalier and Grand Vin de Hauteville ranges.
It’s very much a cashless affair. Entrance to the gardens is free, and pourings are exchanged for wine coins, which can be purchased as part of a festival wine purse. Here’s the best thing: you get to keep your souvenir glass!
Alongside the wine, live cooking stalls from some of Malta’s top caterers, including Corinthia Caterers, Busy Bee, Marriott Resort Malta, and Ali Baba Restaurant, will be dishing out Maltese and international food, with a different musical line-up each night, building to Sunday night with The Crowns ft. Matthew James, followed by a grand finale tribute set featuring Fabrizio Faniello, Ludwig Galea and Michela Galea, backed by the Spiteri Lucas Band, a jolly sing-along send-off to wrap up the weekend. Tickets are best bought ahead here.
When: 7–9 August, 7pm–midnight
Where: Upper Barrakka Gardens, Valletta
Will you be attending? Let us know in the comments below!
