Malta

Holidays by Destination Europe Malta What to Eat 

Local food is rustic and seasonal, largely using fresh fish and a lot of rabbit. The main influences are Sicilian and Moorish, with pasta widely available and including local dishes like timpana (baked macaroni stuffed with meat and eggs). Other traditional dishes are minestra, (a thick vegetable soup), and bragioli (rolled beef filled with bacon, chopped eggs and breadcrumbs). Kussku is a local variant on couscous. Slow stewing which didn't use too much fuel on a land short of trees, is a traditional style of cooking - often stuffed items like squid, or rabbit in all kinds of ways.

The usual international snacks are available but if you'd prefer something local pastizzi tal-irkotta are savoury cheesecakes in flaky pastry, served warm, or the local sweet is Mqaret - deep fried, date-filled pastry shapes with aniseed flavouring. Good quality bread is widely available, plain or as a snack base, notably hobz biz-zejt, filled with capers, olives, basil, mint, tomatoes and tuna or anchovies; or ftira, usually grilled and filled for example with local sausage.

There are of course also plenty of takeaways of all kinds McDonalds, Burger King, KFC and Pizza Hut, among other options), plus regional restaurants, notably Italian (including pizza and pasta joints) but also anything else from Chinese to Argentinian. British roast with meat potatoes and two veg is remarkably popular. Fruit and vegetables are generally good, farmed traditionally and sometimes sold direct from farmers' vans.

Some McDonalds outlets (such as the one in St Julians) include an on-site play area for children. Alternatives are listed in the annual Definitive(ly) Good Guide to Restaurants in Malta & Gozo, available from tourist offices. The 2001 edition recommended the following based on its survey results. All have high chairs and baby changing facilities.

American: TGI Fridays, Sliema; Henry J Beans, St George's Bay; World Sports Caf?, St Georges; Marianna's, Sliema;
Tea Rooms/Cafes: Fontanella Tea Rooms Mdina; Cara's Sliema; Ciapetti Tea Gardens, Mdina.
Italian: Piccolo Padre, St Julians; The Avenue, Paceville; Il Veduta, Rabat; Ir-Rokna, Paceville; Palio's St Julians; Paparazzi. St Julians; Il Re del Pesce, Marsascala.
Local: Bobbyland, Dingli; Ir-Rizzu, Marsaxlokk; Gillieru, St Paul's Bay.