Malta is the sum of what is created when 1,000 people draw a city by the sea. A cathedral, close to the sun, almost whitewashed walls, a promenade where crusaders meet celebrities from the silver screen and poor islanders meet well-heeled tourists. The capital Valletta looks like an open-air museum. The wind is constantly blowing around your nose here, turning 35 degrees into 28. That’s enough for a dip in the Mediterranean and a stroll through this place, which in summer becomes a meeting place for everyone who doesn’t just want to sizzle away under an overpaid umbrella.
Living
Casa Ellul is a design temple, that Instagram posters dream of. Stylish is also the Hotel The Cumberland, for which you have to dig deep into your pocket. However, the view from the roof terrace of the Su29 Boutique Hotel is worth every penny – if only it were really only pennies … You can live comfortably and stylishly in the apartments of Visionapartments at Ursula Street. A small breakfast is available in the Locanda La Gelsomina comes with the bed – and island feeling you get for free.
Casa Ellul, 81 Old Theatre Street, Il-Belt Valletta, www.casaellul.com
The Cumberland, Triq San Gwann, Il-Belt Valletta, www.cumberlandhotel.com
Su29 Boutique Hotels, 29, St. Ursula Steps, Il-Belt Valletta VLT 1230, www.su29hotel.com
Visionapartments, 48. Ursula Street, Valletta, visionapartments.com
Locanda La Gelsomina, 3 Triq Il-Kunsill Popolari, Birgu BRG 1131, Malta, www.locandalagelsomina.com
Food
Pastizzi are savory delicacies coated in puff pastry, which you can pop into your mouth during sightseeing. The best (with ricotta or pea puree) can be found at Sphinx. Da Pippo is probably the best Italian in town. And because everyone knows this, : be sure to reserve ! As soon as the sun is shining, you sit at L-Ghonella in the garden and feasts on Mediterranean and Maltese cuisine. The brunch trend has also made it to Malta – to be precise at Kingsway, where you can enjoy waffles and co. until 4 pm.
Sphinx, Republic St, Valletta
Da Pippo, 136 Melita St, 1123 Valletta, www.facebook.com
L-Ghonella, Church St, St Julian’s, Malta, www.ghonnella.com
Kingsway, 57 Republic St, Valletta, Malta, www.kingswayvalletta.com
Shopping
If you are looking for something specific, store in the big centers in Malta. More charming are markets such as the Il-Monti market to the left of the cathedral, which takes place at on weekdays until 1 pm, or the famous fish market in the village of Marsaxlokk. Don’t forget: Maltese people like to take a siesta from 1 to 6 pm. It’s better to store in the morning or evening and go swimming in between. If you like silver jewelry, ceramics and traditional crafts, you’ll find what you’re looking for at the Artisans Centre, while all the ingredients for a decently laden aperitif platter can be found at Caffe Cordina.
Il-Monti Market, Triq il-Merkanti Valletta VLT, Malta, www.issuqtalbelt.com
Artisans Centre, Republic St, Valletta, Malta
Caffe Cordina, 244 Republic, Il-Belt Valletta VLT 1114, Malta, www.caffecordina.com
Party
Fresh meat meets on the Paceville party mile and gets drunk for a few euros. Only with valid ID, of course. Well-known places are Plush, Level 22 or the Sky Club. In the middle of the city, the Tico Tico, the Trabuxu or the Legligin until the level reaches its zenith.
Plush, St. George’s Road, STJ02 Saint Julian’s, Malta, www.facebook.com
Level 22, Portomaso Business Tower, Portomaso, San Ġiljan STJ 4011, Malta, www.facebook.com
Sky Club, Triq Dragunara, San Ġiljan, Malta, www.facebook.com
Tico Tico, 61 Strait St, Valletta, Malta
Trabuxu, 2 Strait St, Valletta, Malta, www.trabuxu.com
Legligin, 117/119, Santa Lucia Street, Valletta
Quarters
Must do
Jog to the lighthouse in the morning, listen to the waves , avoid the seagulls and take in the tranquillity . Then start the day with a short black.
Events
The Malta Jazz and Rock Festival
15. to 20.7.
Three nights full of music against a picturesque backdrop.
Alvaro Buttigieg
is a band promoter.
loves music.
hates cruise ships.