Dry January? 6 evening activities to enjoy in Malta that don’t involve a drop of booze!
After a Christmas of excessive fancy food and Buck's Fizz with breakfast, you might want to take a little break from all that indulgence. Cutting back on your alcohol intake is great for your mindset as well as your body, and you'd be wrong to think that all evening activities require a drink in hand!
If you're interested in partaking in Dry January, cutting down on drinking for whatever reason or just "sober-curious", as Instagram calls it, we've got you covered with a few ideas as to what to get up to this winter in Malta that don't involve a Cisk (or four).
1. Comedy nights
Beat the January blues with a side-splitting slice of fresh comedy. The Beercave in Valletta do a fab one regularly, as do King's Gate Arms in Msida and Casey's in Gzira, so keep an eye on their Facebook pages for the next. If you're a bit of a comic yourself, why not push yourself to have a go on stage? 2020 might be the year you decide to try your hand at something new, and it's a great way to meet new people!
2. Gig it up
Malta's alternative music scene is thriving, and if you know where to look, there's gigs happening all the time! If you're a rock and metal fan, you might want to check out The Garage in Zebbug, and Storeroom in Ta' Xbiex as well as Hole In The Wall in Sliema, which host a whole host of gigs happening throughout the week, from acoustic to jazz nights. Ask the super nice bar staff for a spicy tomato juice and ditch the work hangover the next day.
4. Game on
Remember how much fun games rooms and bowling used to be as a kid? Well, we're here to confirm that it's still a great option for good-old-fashioned smiles all round! Text the group chat and round up the gang for an evening of laughs - the bigger the group, the better - get your bowling shoes on and hit the lanes. The losing team buys the winners a round of fries and Diet Cokes. Eden SuperBowl even do a fab '80s themed night if you fancy dressing up. Strike!
5. Take a class
There are plenty of classes to take in Malta, from life drawing to Asian cooking classes, as well as interesting talks and lectures to look out for - a fantastic way to make good use of your evenings. If you've promised yourself 2020 is going to be the year you get in shape, why not do it the fun way by joining a pole dancing or burlesque class - cheeky! Both styles of exercising have been shown to boost confidence while toning up. It never hurts to try!
6. Get arty with it
Winter in Malta is definitely gallery season, and Valletta is where it's at! Keep your ear to the ground for art exhibition openings, some of which are open invitation to the public. Make sure to write your name on the mailing list once you're there to save you missing out on upcoming shows. Follow places like Valletta Contemporary, Blitz, Desko and Studio 87 on Facebook for your arty evening fix - no red wine necessary!
7. Become a film buff
Besides the usual silver screens, places like Spazju Kreattiv and City Lights Cinema - both in Valletta - serve up a whole host of alternative arthouse and foreign films, and, what's more, City Lights' selection are mostly free to enter! Not only is the old blue movie cinema a vintage delight, it's the perfect place to meet like-minded people, and don't miss out on their spoken word nights hosted by Word on the Street, a must for any literary lover!