Back in 1914, at the outbreak of The Great War, British soldiers were mobilised in Malta on call to the front lines at any moment. It was at that time that The City of London bar opened its doors on the prominent St Julian’s seafront in the area of Balluta Bay.

The quaint bar was to become a refuge for those soldiers but continued to attract loyal patrons for many decades after the end of the war, attracted by the friendly atmosphere and reasonable prices. In fact, during the following century, the bar was to become an iconic landmark for both the Maltese people and also many foreigners residing in Malta or visiting regularly from abroad.

In fact, it is the people - both the staff and patrons - that make the City of London bar special. As the bar’s Facebook page is flooded with pictures of patrons young and old, the identity of the bar is very much tied in with the people who continue to this day to enjoy the sunny terrace and occasional event, including music, quiz nights and football screening.

Some patrons have been frequenting the pub for many years. David de Conte Manduca, also known as Cello, who was the bar’s darts team captain, was awarded a lifetime achievement certificate in recognition of his loyalty and support for no less than fifty years!

With open gratitude towards the patrons and new visitors to the pub, the City of London bar has stood the test of time for 105 years! Open seven days a week from 11.00 am till late, it is officially the oldest bar in Malta and still going strong.

While summer naturally attracts a crowd to the terrace, during winter, two powerful terrace heaters make it possible to still enjoy the fresh air and the view of the Neo-Gothic Roman Catholic Church across the sea. And you can always add a shot of whisky to warm you up a little more!

The bar has been run by the Borg family since its beginnings. The founder of the City of London bar was Karmnu Borg. His son, Salvu, took over from 1960 until 1977, when Julian Borg became the pub landlord until this day.