We know how it is… you’ve been good all week and brought a packed lunch with you to the office diligently. But, sometimes, it’s always nice to forget the quinoa, throw the meal prep to the wind and grab your colleagues (or just yourself!) for lunch out in the city.
Valletta workers are particularly fussy when it comes to their frequented hotspots. With no time to waste, after a while you begin to build up a list of where to go (and where not to!), and what to go there for. We’ve put together this handy list of cafes and restaurants in foodie hotspot St Lucy Street to keep in mind whenever you find yourself a little peckish. So whether it's a sandwich, slice of cake or slap-up meal you're after, we've got you covered!
1. San Paolo Naufrago
Not just for fancy date nights, wine and cold cuts platters (although we highly recommend that too!), San Paolo Naufrago is also a fabulous place to go if you fancy a hearty plate of octopus spaghetti, Julia Roberts in Eat. Pray. Love style! If you're on a tighter budget, go for one of their tasty ftiras and take in the atmosphere of one of Valletta's most Instagrammable city streets.
2. Cafe Jubilee
A crowd favourite! And for good reason too...this Valletta institution has been around for yonks, and its cosy 1930s style interior looks like something straight out of a romantic French film! As well as their superb interior, Cafe Jubilee's menu hits all the right spots for the chillier months, with hearty soups including Maltese kusksu, and their most famed dish, their homemade Nanna's Ravioli filled with Gozitan goat's cheese. Trust us on this one!
3. Piadina Caffe
If you're not sure what a "piadina" is, you must find out firsthand, and there's no better place to do so outside of its Italian origins than at Piadina Cafe in St Lucy Street. Frequented by Valletta lawyer-types due to its close proximity to the law courts, Piadina Cafe is as convenient as it is pretty. Enjoy one of their melty tortilla-type flatbreads stuffed with prosciutto and mozzarella, but be warned - they can get quite messy!
4. Sunday In Scotland
Now Valletta is one pretty city, but there are some places so picturesque that you just have to stop and stare! One of these places is Sunday In Scotland, a chocolatier with cafe tables and chairs cascading down the shallow steps, making everyone sitting at them look like movie extras! If you're lucky enough to spot a table outside, do yourself a favour and order yourself a cappuccino and a croissant, followed by a scoop of their homemade chocolate and caramel ice cream. Pure bliss.
5. Legligin
Not just for tourists, Legligin is a quintessential little old stone-walled Valletta bistro, and its dark and atmospheric interior makes it the perfect place for long business meetings over a glass of red (or three) or catching up with good friends. The great thing about Legligin is that there's no confusion on what to order, as the multiple-course meal is left up to the kitchen. It's quirky mismatched crockery give it a unique, homely touch, so you can just sit back, relax and take your taste-buds on a culinary tour of Malta!