Malta was a very different place back in the early 1990s. No shopping malls, no American fast food chains and no cable TV (shock, horror!). How did we manage? Then, in 1993, The Plaza opened. And it was an event. 

For those who grew up in those days, the shopping mall was more than just a collection of retail stores under one roof: it was a place to hang out with friends; somewhere to try the latest accessories (while haranguing your mum to get you something… anything!); and one of the few areas on the island which made you truly feel part of a global, shopping-mall-addicted teenage community – the sort you watched zealously on television as you hummed to the soundtrack of Reality Bites. It was a place where you could proclaim: hello, civilised world – we have arrived! 

The location

Today, heading into The Plaza when in Sliema is as natural as putting sugar on your Weetabix and as comfortable as slipping on your favourite pair of shoes (which is ironic when you think that this is the place you'd come to if you needed some new pumps!)

But, there’s so much more to it than some misplaced nostalgia. The Plaza keeps on delivering the goods, making it a bricks-and-mortar (or should we say limestone) shop which is worth leaving your online retailers for. And, it’s long presence in the heart of one of Malta’s most popular towns has made it synonymous with shopping in Sliema, and a welcome reprieve from the elements outside, come rain or shine.

The style

A shopping trip doesn't necessarily need a hard-and-fast purpose. Sometimes, you're just in the mood for browsing, which is easy to do with The Plaza’s gamut of stores. You can pop into one of the more popular international retailers and franchises, though you might end up whetting quite a shopping appetite, which can only be done away with by drawing your credit card from its holster. 

And there are those moments when you're craving something special and something which speaks about the salt of this earth. Speciality olive oils, whiskeys and melt-in-your mouth artisanal fare can be found as soon as you walk in - together with creams and mists to make you look and smell great. Looking dapper is also within easy reach, with many of Malta's foremost suppliers of 007-style clothing stirring the demand.

The size

We’ve all been to shopping malls which are so immense, you half expect your footsteps to echo in the hallowed interiors. Crowd them up and it becomes a feat to walk from one end to the other. Bigger is not always better and, sometimes, the choice is overwhelming, forcing you to reach for the exit as soon as you start to feel nervous. When you walk into The Plaza, this awe-inspiring scale is not what comes to mind. Rather, its long and compact interiors make any expedition seem manageable: trying to find that gift is not going to be a trek up Everest, but more like a brisk stroll as you walk your dog through your neighbourhood. 

The amenities and entertainment

For those of us who don’t have kids, its difficult to fully appreciate the feat it is to head to the shops with two rug rats in tow: is the push chair in the car? Do we have her bottle? What about spare nappies? All set? Wait, where’s the kid? 

But, for beleaguered parents, every jaunt out is major. And, shopping trips, during which there’s the risk of accidents, boredom or a tantrum (and that’s just on your end) is a minefield. Discovering somewhere, like The Plaza, which caters for every possibility - where you can find clean toilets, nappy-changing facilities or just a place to shop where you can buy them an ice-cream to shut them up - is a godsend. And, with their calendar of activities marking highlights of the year such as Halloween, Christmas or Easter, you can always leave the little ‘uns to have their face painted while you race to get that one last thing. 

The food

Which brings us to a topic close to our heart: food. This is not the place to sit down for a slow-cooked anything, but if you’re on the hunt for sustenance in order to keep going, or you just fancy grabbing a bite before you continue with your day, The Plaza’s offering suits. Like Tetris, the outlets have been slotted into the most appropriate places: Just Burger on the ground floor, as you come in from the side entrance; healthy stores Posh Nosh and Dr Juice regaling us with no-need-to-feel-guilty fare on the first floor; and baguette-sushi options, Subway and Wasabi Express, on the second and first floor respectively. So, no excuse not to pound the walkways with some verve.

The Plaza is open from 9:30am – 7pm from Monday to Saturday.