Floriana is the Capital City's hip neighbour, and it goes to show that's there's more going on just outside the walled city of Valletta!
Home to the Valletta Waterfront which hosts heavyweight international chains like Starbucks and Hard Rock Cafe, and the iconic Art Deco Phoenicia Hotel which has hosted huge stars in its time, from Oliver Reed to Joaquin Phoenix and even Queen Elizabeth!
However, there are a few lesser-known spots beloved by locals in the know, from Middle Eastern foodie joints to Jazzy hangouts for a chilled evening out in the city suburbs. Here are just a handful reccomended wholeheartedly by GuideMeMalta!
1. Vilhena Band Club
A traditional Band Club or każin which has quickly established itself as a hip and chilled hangout for arty types! Suitable for both day and nighttime visits, head down to Vilhena for a cappuccino and loaded hobż biż-żejt for just €2.50! Be sure to keep your ear to the ground for live music nights which happen frequently during the week, or if you're a Jazz and craft beer aficionado, be sure to visit on a Friday evening and kick back with a few friends. Smooth!
2. Olive House
If you're the type of person who's always on the lookout for new foodie joints, you must pay a visit to Olive House in Floriana. Their falafel are the stuff of legend, and their Lebanese offerings tick all the right boxes! Load up on a veggie plate of falafel, grilled halloumi and creamy house hummus with a side of salad and tabbouleh, or go for a portable wrap to take back to the office. Now there's a good idea!
3. Tad-Dulċier
Not just what it says on the tin, although they do make the cutest cupcakes, brownies and decadent cream filled chocolate eclairs, Tad-Dulċier is a little bakery with a lot to offer! They make their own bread which assures you'll find the tastiest, freshest baguettes filled with slithers of Parma Ham, salami, rocket and mozzarella. We're drooling just thinking about biting into one of these babies!
4. D Coffee Club
The seafront walk up to this hillside hangout is stunning if you take the route around Valletta, past Fort St Elmo and the Grand Harbour, which makes D Coffee Club a great pit-stop to rest your tired legs! Don't be fooled by the name, however, as aside from great coffee, D Coffee Club is also a shisha bar serving up authentic mint tea. Make like you're in Morocco and sip your herbal infusion, and bring a book to delve into as you chill on their outdoor sofas. Bliss!
5. Argotti Botanic Gardens
This picturesque Floriana garden dates all the way back to 1774 and was originally owned by Grandmaster Pinto. Originally used to grow herbal medicine, Argotti Gardens is now open to the public and come overflowing with Mediterranean plants including succulents, oak trees and fragrant oleander. The spectacular views over Floriana's fortifications make it the ideal place to relax outside the hustle and bustle of the city centre, and it's the perfect place for a romantic stroll or a mindful solo wander amongst the trees and fountains. Why not bring a baguette or wrap along with you and have yourself a picnic? Sounds great to us!