8 foodie things you just have to try in Malta

Malta has a lot to offer, especially when it comes to food.

As soon as you arrive in Malta, you’ll be flooded with different restaurants offering almost every kind of cuisine.

If you’re visiting Malta, we recommend you take the time to try out these eight classic Maltese treats.

1. Rabbit

A delicious Maltese delicacy that you have to try if you’re visiting the island. You can have it as a stew with pasta, or eat it marinated with potatoes and salad.

You’ll find restaurants serving this dish all over the island, but the location known best for serving rabbit is Mgarr.

There are traditional Maltese restaurants in every corner of Mgarr, offering all kinds of typical Maltese dishes. 

2. Pastizzi

The diamond shaped stuffed filo pastries with a taste of heaven in every bite.

They are extremely cheap to buy; around 40c per pastizz. We don’t recommend making a meal out of them, but if you’re flying to Malta, these will make for a perfect snack.

The traditional ones have two types of filling, ricotta and peas. There are other versions you can try, like chicken, and some places even have Nutella or Kinder pastizzi.

You’ll find pastizzi shops all over the island on every other corner.

3. Ftira biz-Zejt

Malta is home to some of the most mouth-watering and freshest bread in Europe, especially the Maltese ftira.

There are plenty of ways you can eat this kind of bread, but the traditional way is to have it mixed with tuna and vegetables.

If you want to make it yourself, we advise going to the Marsaxlokk market on a Sunday morning, and buying the bread and filling from different stalls.

However, you’ll find plenty of snack bars around the island that will sell these for a mere €2.

4. Timpana

If you love pasta and pies, then you’re in for a treat when visiting Malta.

One of Malta’s most loved dishes is the timpana, baked macaroni covered in dough. Just imagine splitting a pie in half and finding layers and layers of pasta inside.

You’ll find this at the various pastizzerias, but it always tastes better if you order it from a traditional Maltese restaurant. 

5. Twistees

The snack that will have you licking your fingers after you’ve finished the packet. A baked cheesy snack that Maltese and tourists simply go crazy for.

You’ll find these in all sorts of places, from supermarkets, to mini markets and convenience stores. Really cheap to buy and definitely worth a try if you’re visiting Malta and want to try some local treats.

6. Gbejniet

The dairy based Maltese delicacy eaten both fresh and dried.

You’ll find the fresh gbejniet made out of either cow’s milk or sheep’s milk.  The best way to devour these is to just spread them over a piece of fresh bread and savour every bite.

Restaurants have found ways to create dishes with gbejniet as the main ingredient, like for instance a gbejniet pie. In Rabat, you’ll even find cafeterias selling pastizzi with gbejniet filling.

You’ll find fresh gbejniet for sale at any grocer. The best gbejniet on the island, however, can be found in Gozo.

Then you’ve got dried gbejniet that come in multiple flavours, with the most popular flavour being pepper. If you’re in Malta, you should give all the flavours a go, including herbs, chilli flakes and even sun dried tomatoes. You can find these in any mini market or supermarket you enter.

7. Bigilla

A Maltese paste made out of beans to dip your waterbiscuits into or spread on your bread. You’ll find Malta’s finest bigilla from vans going around Maltese streets; you’ll know it’s them as you’ll hear a voice over shouting: “Tal-Bigilla!!”

These vans may not be so easy to come by, so your next best option is to order a Maltese platter from somewhere and you’ll find a nice little portion of bigilla waiting for you to try.

8. Mqaret

And once you’ve tried all of the savoury deliciousness, you’ll need something sweet to close the meal off. That’s where the Mqaret come in. Fried pastry dough with date filling to satisfy all of your sweet tooth cravings.

You’ll find different variations of these, but all at a very affordable price. Cafeterias who sell typical Maltese foods will have them, but the best ones to buy will be at a stand dedicated specifically to them, right before you enter Valletta and at different Maltese markets, like the one in Marsaxlokk.