Allow me to introduce you to the quaint village of Naxxar, where the people are friendly and proud, and the selection of cafes, restaurants and shopping is abundant!
Although I live a little bit further out, Naxxar is my closest town, and it's such a thriving village that you could easily spend the entire day here, just within the town's centre.
As with most villages in Malta, everything is orientated on the church. Band clubs, cafes, restaurants, grocers, you name it, are all situated around the beautiful Naxxar church, dedicated to Our Lady of Victories, with the annual village feast falling late in the summer, on September 8th.
The people
The people of Naxxar are a cheerful bunch and proud to be from there, with many having lived in Naxxar their entire lives. According to legend and the Bible, the people of the village were amongst the first to help the shipwrecked, including (famously) Saint Paul when he got shipwrecked on the island. For this reason, many connect the name Naxxar with Nassar (Nasra) which means 'conversion to Christianity'.
Lunching
Ladies of leisure who lunch often frequent Palazzo Parisio, which was built by Grandmaster Manoel de Vilhena in the 18th century and was later bought by Marquis Scicluna in 1898. The Marquis altered it to its present state and purchased more land at the back, converting it into a large garden. Now, it's beautifully manicured and maintained by a daughter and mother team, bringing visitors a beautiful garden to stroll in and overlook while enjoying lunch.
Across the square are a number of cafes and lunch spots that are always bustling with people, and have earned Naxxar a solid reputation for cafe culture. A favourite among these is Flora's, an adorable vintage-style tea room which serves breakfast, lunch and an array of pretty cakes and cupcakes for a sweet hit.
A little further out from the centre, the stylish One80 Cafe is situated within home interiors store LOFT. It's hard to leave this beautifully designed cafe and concept store - apart from a really interesting breakfast and lunch menu, they have loads of fresh cakes and sweets daily, plus great coffee. The cafe is also dog friendly, which is lovely. Post meal, I love looking around the store, which always has stunning new pieces for the home.
Grooming
My hairdressing salon, ZOE Winter Edgar Salon, is run by two Scottish ladies who take care of my mane, and who offer a bit of respite every time I enter their doors. There's also a beauty clinic and day spa housed within the same building, which is worth visiting for a massage or grooming treatment.
When I have the time, I attend yoga classes at Sanya Spa within Hilltop Gardens (a luxurious retirement village). Sanya offers plush spa and exercise facilities with some great yoga instructors, while the village surrounding it is full of stunning apartments and facilities, inclusive of the recently launched fine dining Orchard Restaurant.
Shopping
It's very possible to stay within Naxxar's locality for days on end, particularly with the relatively new Pama Shopping Village, which is technically on he outskirts in Mosta, but within walking distance of the centre of Naxxar. Apart from an enormous supermarket, the village is home to various small branded shops, as well as a small shopping mall where customers can find big branded shops such as Zara Home, Benetton, Accessorize and Promod, amongst others.