7 amazing off-the-beaten-track restaurants in Malta & Gozo

This chic bistro is the epitome of 'off-the-beaten-track', nestled within the narrow streets of Lija. Bahia is located within an old town house built in the heart of the village over 200 years ago. This quaintly romantic spot has one of the best kitchens on the island, and brings innovation and respect to the table with the use of high quality, local and seasonal ingredients.

It's a certainty that you won't get a table at Madliena Lodge unless you book in advance. Surrounded by dense greenery and overlooking a striking sea view, this restaurant is perched at the very top of a hill, offering an exceptional vantage point from which most of the north-western region of the island can be taken in. The seasonal Mediterranean cuisine with a twist menu offers refined home cooking, with great attention to detail. 

This restaurant is easily missed, as it’s at the very end of the Birgu waterfront, which is further than most wander. The cavernous inside is just as interesting as the outside, as it’s carved into the walls of Fort St Angelo. The outside location is absolutely magnificent, as it’s right on an inlet water’s edge, while a gloriously enormous age-old limestone arch juxtaposes the modern St Angelo Mansion apartment buildings. Even if you're not a history fiend, you have to wonder what these old walls would whisper. 

If you're looking for a taste of authentic Maltese cuisine, here's the place to try. While a lot of establishments offer the island's culinary staples, some can be tourist traps, which the Maltese themselves wouldn't frequent. There’s no a la carte menu at Tal-Petut, but instead a daily menu for all patrons, available at a set price (which isn't extortionate). You get loads of little dishes, each recipe prepared with local and seasonal produce that's sourced daily and "freshly prepared within hours of purchase". Don't go if you're not hungry!

While there are scores of restaurants in Valletta that can be selected by taking a gander down a culinary-populated street, you won't find Noni just by passing by. Discreetly located at the very end of Republic Street, the locals are all talking about this gem of a restaurant. This is where the foodies-in-the-know are seating themselves these days, enjoying reinterpreted dishes from Malta and the Mediterranean with a touch of classic French cuisine. The atmosphere is alive and cheerful within an elegantly pared-down design with nuances of old Valletta. 

With Sicilian Head Chef Andrea Motta at the helm of this casually chic restaurant within the glamorous Baia Beach Club, dishes are made using only the best quality seasonal ingredients to deliver a consistently outstanding culinary experience. Throughout the month of April, the restaurant is open on Saturdays and Sundays for lunch service, while May brings on more frequency: Tuesday to Sunday for lunch and Saturdays for dinner service.

The experience of Il-Kantra is probably the epitome of a long and leisurely meal in the Mediterranean. With a glorious bird's eye view of the Mgarr ix-Xini fjord and the expanse of the bright blue sea beyond, it's easy to stay here all day (or night) long. The food is fresh and local, prepared in a uniquely contemporary way. You'd never stumble across it if you didn't know about it, but the best way is via a dirt road off Ta Cenc hotel, or by boat.