Valletta
143 St Dominic Street (2258 1535, www.nenuthebaker.com). Open 11.45am-2.30pm, 6-10.30pm Tue-Sat; also 11.45am-2.30pm Sun Septmid June. Main courses €7-€21. Credit AmEx, DC, JCB, MC, V. Mediterranean Ambrosia True to its name, this beloved Valletta eatery, led by long-time chef and restaurateur Chris Farrugia, is fit for the gods. The restaurant’s fresh colour-scheme sets the scene for a lovely meal and we’ve never been disappointed – especially thanks to the daily-changing menu. There are, however, numerous staples we look forward to, including the warm chicken liver and summer salad in summer, and the pancake stuffed with cray fish and broccoli in winter, followed by the veal cooked in breadcrumbs, lemon and sage for mains. For dessert the sublime meringue with poached apricot and praline ice-cream is hard to beat. In the summer, try to snag one of the tables in the new outdoor area on this pretty street, where you can watch the world go by. 137 Archbishop Street (2122 5923, www.ambrosia.com.mt). Open noon-2pm Mon-Fri; 7-9.30pm Mon-Sat. Main courses €18-€28. Credit AmEx, JCB, MC, V. Black Pig Owner Andrew Borg will certainly make you feel at home when you dine within this impeccable eatery, which is set within part of a beautiful 17th-century palazzo. The food here is given a modern twist, and there are four daily starters and main courses to choose from, while the desserts are home-made,
depending on what’s in season. There’s also a 55-strong wine list of biodynamic wines, which will complement your meal perfectly. 95, 96 Old Bakery Street (2122 1606, www.blackpig.com.mt). Open 12.30-2pm Tue-Fri; 7.3010pm Tue-Sat. Main courses €25. Credit AmEx, DC, JCB, MC, V. Browns Browns does not only offer a tasty dining experience, but an all-round good time through its combination of Browns outlets, which are next door to each other. These have a scrumptious selection of food to be enjoyed on the Valletta Waterfront – all crafted by head chef Jonathan Mamo and director Sandro Mamo and their team. Particularly noteworthy are the seafood spaghetti for starters and the veal ossobuco for mains, followed by the home-made white chocolate cherry cheesecake for dessert. Vault 3 & 4, Valletta Waterfront (2702 0471, www.brownsmalta.com). Open 10am-11pm daily. Main courses €13. Credit AmEx, DC, JCB, MC, V. Cockney’s Bar & Restaurant At the centre of the Marsamxett Harbour and just a hopping distance from the Sliema-Valletta ferry, this well-known, family-run restaurant is perfect for long, lazy lunches with a beautiful view. The menu is predominantly fish-based, with starters including spaghetti with prawns or mussels, delicious aljotta (Maltese fish soup) and the much-loved ‘X’etto’, which offers a mélange of calamari, octopus and king prawns. As for mains, the catch of the day is always a safe bet, cooked just the way you like it. Alternatively, there are non-fish options, such as fried local goats’ cheese or rabbit stew.
Nenu the Artisan Baker. See p51.
52 Time Out Malta & Gozo for Visitors 2015/16
If you dine here, try to bag a table right at the edge of the terrace, and sit back and relax as you enjoy views of Fort Manoel, while, perhaps enjoying a glass of wine from the 80-strong wine list. Marsamxett Wharf (2123 6065, www.cockneysrestaurant.com). Open noon-3pm daily; also 7-11pm daily June-Sept. Main courses €15-€24. Credit AmEx, DC, JCB, MC, V. D’Office Shabby-chic in style, this restaurant is one of several along one of the capital’s prettiest streets, just around the corner from the Grand Master’s Palace (see p47). Nab a table on the road, and listen as musicians (and the general public) give impromptu performances on the piano kept there, or go indoors for a more intimate setting. The daily specials here are always a good choice, while the risottos are known far and wide as being some of the best on the island. The main menu also has a great choice, including traditional Maltese fish soup (aljotta) to start with, and beef olives or stewed rabbit for mains, followed by the must-try home-made white chocolate pannacotta. The bar is well-stocked and the staff are very friendly. 132 Archbishop Street (2722 1475, www.d-officevalletta.com). Open 11.30am-11pm daily. Main courses €15-€20. Credit AmEx, MC, V. Da Pippo With up to a three-week waiting list for a table, it’s no wonder that Brad and Angelina (yes, THE Brad and Angelina) were willing to put themselves into chef Francesco’s hands whilst working on a film here in 2011. You’ll start with complimentary appetisers to whet your appetite, followed by whatever pasta sauce comes recommended that day – the sea urchin, the Maltese sausage and the clam sauce varieties are among the most delicious on the island, while the lobster ravioli is a firm favourite too. For mains try the veal t-bone, followed by the new chocolate biscuit and banoffee pie for dessert. 136 Melita Street (2124 8029). Open 11.30am-3.30pm Mon-Sat. Main courses €18-€20. Credit AmEx, DC, JCB, MC, V. Elia If you feel like some good, oldfashioned Greek cuisine then this small eatery in the heart of Valletta is the place for you. Opened by Labros from Greece, and with his mother Eugenia as the chef, the food is genuine, very tasty and well-priced. The menu has recently been expanded and we recommend the delicious moussaka, mixed grill, meatballs in tomato sauce and the rice-stuffed okra for vegetarians. For a sweet treat we suggest the delicious baklava or some very refreshing yoghurt and honey,
which goes down a treat in the summer months – possibly enjoyed in the new outdoor area. The daily warm buffet, starting from €10, is great value for city dining. 73 Merchants Street (2768 9525). Open noon-3.30pm, 6.30-11pm daily. Main courses €8. Credit AmEx, DC, JCB, MC, V. Giannini Make sure you book ahead to snag a table on the balcony of this restaurant which has breath-taking views and a dreamy menu. Chef patron Aaron De Giorgio has poured every ounce of his passion into this place and the result is a modern dining experience that rarely fails to impress. Giannini specialises in Mediterranean cuisine, with daily specials scribbled on a blackboard. There’s an extensive wine list to choose from too. 23 Windmill Street, St Michael’s Bastions (2123 7121, www.giannini. com.mt). Open noon-2pm, 7-10.30pm Tue-Sat; also noon-2pm Sun Oct-May. Main courses €17-€26. Credit AmEx, DC, JCB, MC, V. The Harbour Club This is one of the capital’s newest haunts but it’s gaining ground very quickly – not least because of its chic old-meets-new décor, incredible view and fantastic cuisine. Located just a few seconds’ walk from the lower entrance of the Barrakka lift, this eatery is great for dinner, or even just drinks. The food, such as the tartare of Irish angus beef with a parmesan cream and pickled shallots to start with, the pan-roasted duck breast with a red cabbage purée or the vegetarian white and green asparagus millefoglie for mains, and the homemade pannacotta, are delicious. 4, 5 Barrierra Wharf (2122 2332). Open noon-3pm Tue-Sun; 7-11pm Tue-Sat. Main courses €18-€23. Credit AmEx, DC, JCB, MC, V. Il-Horza Set in a former wine tavern dating back to the time of the Knights of St John, Il-Horza is found in a quaint part of the city. And while it may be easy to miss, you should definitely make it a point to dine here. The service is attentive and the food (and particularly the meat) fabulously tasty. In fact, patron Charles Bone and chef Carlos Buttigieg have crafted a scrumptious menu that will appeal to many. The pasta, freshly made in-house, is lovely, and the cavatelli with prawns make an excellent starter. For mains, we suggest the barbecued pork shoulder served on a bed of fresh vegetables, the Angus rib-eye or the veal cutlets. For dessert there’s the wonderful white chocolate pannacotta and a great mix of fruity and ‘chocolatey’ offerings. Whatever you have, however, make sure to try one of the 200+ wines on the list.