What to do and where to go when the sun sets on the Maltese islands.
Paceville
Whenever anyone mentions nightlife in Malta, the neon jungle of Paceville is the first thing that springs to mind. For pure, trashy fun there’s nothing quite like it – from happy hour at Hugo’s or Soho, to wild dancing at Havana, buckets of booze at Nordic all the way up to 4am pizza slices at Champ’s. Apart from the stalwarts mentioned above, there are lots of places worth checking out: the Thirsty Barber serves up killer cocktails, 22 is the highest nightclub in Malta with amazing views of the Portomaso marina, and Tigullio, a cavernous former club is being rehabilitated into a new venue for events and parties. There are also a number of upscale hotels and restaurants in the area, as well as the Bay Street shopping complex, which stays open late into the night.
Valletta
Valletta used to be a city that fell immediately into a deep sleep as soon as the sun set – but not anymore. With the regeneration of some of the capital’s key areas, it has become a firm favourite for evening hangouts. Its notorious colonial red light district, Strait Street, was at the epicentre of this transformation, and nowadays you’ll see it thronging with smartly-dressed crowds well into the early hours – be it for a drink at a chic café or specialty bar like Tico Tico, Yard 32 or Str.eat; a meal at one of the city’s fabulous restaurants, like Taproom, Zero Sei or Palazzo Preca; an evening out at the cinema or at the Manoel Theatre; an outing to an interesting exhibition at St James Cavalier or Blitz, or all of the above. In summer, Valletta’s open-air venues such as Pjazza Teatru Rjal, the Upper Barrakka Gardens and Fort St Elmo really come into their own with film, food and music festivals alike.
Liquid and Aria
On the bypass that skirts around the town of San Gwann, you’ll find two large clubs sitting side by side. The first, Liquid, has been in business since 1971 and has cultivated a reputation all over Europe as a haven for techno and electronic music lovers. This is a place for serious party animals only, with high-profile international acts, from Jeff Mills to Ben Klock flying in nearly every weekend. Meanwhile Aria is a totally different club that transforms into an open-air venue in summer, hosting all sorts of events, from nostalgia-fuelled retro acts, to relaxed summer club nights by the pool and wild DJ parties featuring both local and international hit makers like Martin Solveig.
Gianpula and UNO
Gianpula Village is a cluster of clubs and venues located in the countryside, limits of Rabat and Zebbug. The clubs, all of which have different styles and personalities, include laid-back and stylish Marrakech, lively Groove Gardens, and the gorgeous Rooftop terrace, where sunset lounge parties are frequent. Meanwhile, Club Numero Uno in Ta’ Qali hosts top international and local DJs spinning everything from house music to commercial house and R&B. The VIP zone has a viewing platform over each clubbing area, as well as the UNO Malta main stage. Both venues are quite secluded, so unless you’re staying in the area, we recommend booking a taxi to go home.
Gozo
Gozo may not be the first place you think of when you’re weighing up your nightlife options, but it certainly has its moments. Its main nightclub is La Grotta in Munxar, which has been open since the mid-1980s. With a spacious indoor dancefloor and outdoor areas overlooking a valley, it has been widely praised for its beauty and Mediterranean style, and hosts parties regularly. When La Grotta closes for the winter months, the club scene turns to KU Club, situated in the heart of Victoria.