Malta Food Guide: Must-Try Dishes, Prices, and Tips

Malta’s food scene mixes Mediterranean, North African, and British influences, with hearty stews, fresh seafood, and cheap, satisfying street snacks like pastizzi. Expect to spend roughly €10–€20 ($11–$22) per day on street food or €30–€60 ($33–$66) with restaurant meals in 2026.

If you’re wondering what to eat in Malta, start with rabbit stew, ftira (Maltese bread sandwiches), fresh fish, and ricotta-filled pastries. Street food is very affordable, while sit-down restaurants range from casual family spots to fine dining with sea views. Vegetarian and vegan options are improving, and halal food is available in the main urban areas.

Use this Malta food guide to plan realistic daily food budgets, understand where to find Malta’s must-try food, and learn how to eat safely while traveling. For keeping tabs on what you’re spending on snacks, gelato, and long seafood lunches, the Hello app’s AI receipt scanning and budget tracking can log expenses automatically in multiple currencies.

The must-try food in Malta is all about rustic, slow-cooked dishes, fresh seafood, and flaky pastries that reflect centuries of Mediterranean influences. Think rabbit stew, ftira bread, and ricotta pastizzi as the staples every Malta food guide will recommend.

Start with fenek (rabbit), Malta’s unofficial national dish. Try it as rabbit stew (stuffat tal-fenek) or fried rabbit with garlic and wine, usually served with potatoes and salad; mains cost around €15–€22 ($17–$24) in 2026 at mid-range restaurants. Another local favorite is bragioli (beef olives), thin beef wrapped around a breadcrumb filling and simmered in rich tomato sauce.

Seafood is a highlight of what to eat in Malta, especially lampuki (dolphinfish) in season from about September to December. Grilled whole fish or lampuki pie typically runs €18–€28 ($20–$31) in popular coastal spots like Marsaxlokk and St. Julian’s. You’ll also see aljotta, a garlicky fish soup, and plenty of octopus and calamari.

For something lighter, snack on ħobż biż-żejt – thick Maltese bread rubbed with tomato, packed with tuna, capers, olives, and onions, usually €4–€8 ($4.50–$8.50). Finish with kannoli or imqaret (deep-fried date pastries) for about €1–€3 each.

Tip: Add these dishes to a shared trip plan in the Hello app so everyone in your group knows which foods are non-negotiable to try.

Street food in Malta is perfect for budget-conscious travelers, with filling pastries, ftira sandwiches, and quick snacks typically costing under €10 ($11) per meal in 2026. Malta street food is tasty, fast, and ideal when you’re out sightseeing all day.

The star is pastizzi, flaky pastries stuffed with ricotta or pea mash. From local bakeries in Valletta, Sliema, or village kiosks, they usually cost €0.50–€1 each ($0.55–$1.10), so €2–€3 ($2.25–$3.25) can easily cover a light breakfast or snack. Look for long queues at tiny shops – that’s often where you’ll find the best ones.

Other Malta must-try street food includes:

• Ftira sandwiches: Maltese bread with tuna, capers, olives, tomatoes – about €4–€8 ($4.50–$8.50).
• Imqaret (date pastries): €1–€2 each.
• Pizza by the slice or arancini (reflecting Sicilian influence): usually €2.50–€4 per piece.
• Gelato in touristy areas like Mdina or the Valletta waterfront: €2.50–€4 per cone.

A realistic street-food-only budget is €10–€20 per day ($11–$22), particularly if you’re grabbing breakfast and lunch from bakeries and kiosks and saving restaurant meals for dinner. According to Malta’s National Statistics Office, average restaurant prices have risen modestly year-on-year as tourism continues to rebound, so street food remains excellent value.

Use Hello’s AI receipt scanning to snap a photo of each bakery bill and automatically categorize it under “Food & Drink” so you can see exactly how much you’re saving by choosing street food.

In 2026, restaurant meals in Malta typically cost €15–€60 ($17–$66) per person depending on whether you choose casual cafes or seafood restaurants with views. Expect mid-range dinners with a drink to land around €25–€35 ($28–$38) per person before tip.

Here’s a quick comparison of typical Malta dining costs:

Type of Meal (2026)	What You Get	Price Range (EUR)	Approx. USD
Bakery breakfast (coffee + pastry)	Cappuccino + pastizzi/croissant	€3–€6	$3–$7
Street lunch (ftira, water)	Big sandwich or slice + drink	€6–€10	$7–$11
Cafe lunch (salad/pasta + drink)	Main dish + soft drink	€12–€18	$13–$20
Mid-range dinner (no alcohol)	Starter + main in Valletta/Sliema	€20–€30	$22–$33
Seafood dinner with wine	Fresh fish/seafood + shared wine	€30–€60	$33–$66
Beer in a bar	Local Cisk 0.5L	€2.50–€4	$2.75–$4.40
House wine (glass)	Local Maltese or Gozitan wine	€4–€7	$4.40–$7.70

According to Eurostat data, Malta’s restaurant prices sit slightly above the EU average, reflecting its island import costs and strong tourism. To avoid surprises, check for cover charges (like bread and water) on menus, especially in highly touristed parts of Valletta and St. Julian’s.

If you’re traveling with friends, use Hello’s expense splitting feature to divide restaurant bills in different currencies – handy if one person pays in euros and another reimburses in dollars or pounds.

Malta is increasingly friendly to vegetarian, vegan, and halal diets, especially in Valletta, Sliema, and St. Julian’s, but traditional menus still lean heavily on meat and cheese. Planning ahead and using apps or Google Maps filters makes finding suitable spots much easier.

Vegetarians will find plenty of pasta, pizza, and salads, plus vegetarian versions of ftira (with cheese and vegetables) and pastizzi (ricotta). Many cafes now label vegetarian options, with mains around €10–€16 ($11–$18). Vegan choices are more limited in small villages but growing in urban areas, with dedicated vegan cafes offering bowls, burgers, and plant-based desserts for €12–€18 ($13–$20).

Halal food is available mainly around Sliema, Gżira, St. Julian’s, and some areas of Valletta, where you’ll find Middle Eastern and Turkish restaurants serving shawarma, kebabs, and grills, typically €8–€15 ($9–$17) for a main. Supermarkets like Lidl and larger local chains often stock some halal-certified products.

Common tips for special diets in Malta:

• Learn key phrases like “jien veġetarjan/a” (I am vegetarian) or simply explain in English; English is widely spoken.
• Always confirm if broths or sauces contain meat, especially in soups or pasta dishes.
• For celiacs, ask specifically about gluten-free pasta and cross-contamination; some modern restaurants can accommodate but village spots may struggle.

Use the Hello app to note reliable vegetarian or halal restaurants in your trip plan and track any extra cost for specialty products compared to regular menus.

Food and tap water in Malta are generally safe, and most travelers can eat widely without issues if they follow basic hygiene and common-sense precautions. Malta is an EU member with regulated food standards, and English labelling is common in supermarkets.

Tap water is technically safe to drink, but many locals and visitors prefer bottled or filtered water due to taste—it’s often desalinated. A 1.5L bottle of water costs about €0.60–€1.20 ($0.65–$1.30) in supermarkets, more in kiosks and hotels. If you’re sensitive, stick to bottled water and avoid ice in very small village bars if you’re unsure of hygiene.

Food safety tips for Malta:

• Choose busy restaurants and street food stalls with high turnover, especially for seafood.
• In hot months (June–September), avoid pre-prepared dishes or salads that have been sitting out.
• Check recent reviews for comments about hygiene or food poisoning; tourist-heavy areas generally maintain better standards.
• According to the European Food Safety Authority, Malta maintains EU food-safety regulations, but always rely on your own judgment about cleanliness.

If you have allergies, always inform staff clearly; English is widely spoken, but carrying a translated allergy card in Maltese can help. Store any medications in a cool place—Malta gets very hot in summer.

Hello’s budget tracking is useful here: if you do get an upset stomach and need pharmacy runs or doctor visits, logging medical and food expenses gives you a clear record for travel insurance claims later.

Tipping in Malta is appreciated but not strictly mandatory, and most locals round up or leave about 5–10% in restaurants with table service. For casual cafes and street food, tipping is uncommon, though rounding up small change is always a nice gesture.

Typical tipping norms:

• Restaurants (table service): 5–10% if no service charge is included.
• Bars: Round up to the nearest euro or leave €1–€2 on a larger bill.
• Cafes and bakeries: No tip expected; leave coins if service was extra friendly.

Many places accept cards, but carry some cash (euros) for kiosks, small bakeries, and older village restaurants that may be cash-only or have card minimums. According to the Central Bank of Malta, card usage has grown steadily year-on-year, especially contactless payments, but cash remains common in smaller businesses.

Food delivery is well established in urban areas around Valletta, Sliema, St. Julian’s, and Gżira, with local apps and international platforms bringing restaurant meals to apartments and hotels. Expect delivery fees around €2–€4 ($2.20–$4.40) and slightly higher menu prices than dining in.

Use Hello’s AI-powered expense categorization to automatically group delivery orders under “Food Delivery” and split costs with friends if you’re sharing an apartment—no need to manually tally who ordered what after a long day out.

Most travelers want to know what to eat in Malta, how much food costs, and whether the water is safe; the answers are reassuringly simple: eat widely, budget about €25–€40 ($28–$44) per day for most travelers, and drink bottled or filtered water if you don’t like the tap taste.

Q: What are the absolute must-try foods in Malta?
A: Don’t leave without trying rabbit stew (stuffat tal-fenek), ftira sandwiches, pastizzi, lampuki (in season), and imqaret date pastries. These dishes capture Malta’s rustic, Mediterranean character.

Q: How much should I budget per day for food in Malta?
A: In 2026, many travelers are comfortable on €25–€40 per day ($28–$44), mixing bakery breakfasts, casual lunches, and one sit-down dinner. Backpackers relying on street food can go as low as €15–€25 ($17–$28), while foodies at high-end spots might spend €60+ ($66+).

Q: Is the food in Malta spicy?
A: Not usually. Maltese food leans more towards garlic, herbs, and tomato flavors than chili. You’ll find spicy options at Middle Eastern or Indian restaurants.

Q: Do I need cash or can I pay by card?
A: Cards are widely accepted in cities and tourist areas, but keep €20–€50 in cash for small kiosks and village bakeries.

Q: How can I stay connected and find good restaurants?
A: An eSIM for Malta from Hello lets you land connected, use maps and reviews instantly, and avoid hunting for Wi‑Fi before you’ve even found your first pastizzi. Then track each meal’s cost with Hello’s AI receipt scanning.

Q: Does Malta have many tourists and does that affect food prices?
A: Yes. The Malta Tourism Authority reported over 3 million tourist arrivals in recent years, and this demand keeps popular waterfront areas slightly pricier. Explore inland towns like Rabat, Mosta, or local village festas for more local prices and authentic food.