Your fine dining bucket list: 20 restaurants you NEED to check out on the Maltese Islands

Eating out relieves home cooks of the stress of preparing a meal at home (and the trouble of cleaning up afterwards), while opening up our palates to new cuisines. Taking your taste buds on a deeper journey however requires a certain finesse that can only be achieved in top-class eateries - fine dining establishments whose chefs are driven by wowing their customers with innovative textures, flavour profiles, ingredient choices and colours. Ambience and service also come into play. So when you're feeling fancy, these 20 restaurants are set to deliver nothing less than a superb dining experience.

1. HSixty6, Paceville

Relatively new to the scene, yet set on the most stable of pillars, HSixty6 is the brainchild of the late Hugo Chetcuti, a restaurateur whose name can’t be avoided in the thriving Paceville region. Think elegant plating, gastronomic wonders together with the most mouth-watering dishes and you’ll find yourself with a gorgeously plated dish crafted with only the finest of ingredients.

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2. Risette, Valletta

Home to a number of best-sellers, Valletta’s Risette is set at delivering quality food with exquisite service in a stunning environment. Take local, natural ingredients, a dash of creative thinking and a sprinkle of modern culture for a full-bodied meal that will drag you back in for more in the least reluctant way possible.

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A post shared by Risette (@risette_valletta) on Nov 8, 2018 at 9:43am PST

3. Tarragon, St Paul’s Bay

Marvin Gauci is an award-winning chef with quite a few achievements under his belt. His exposure in the local restaurant scene is most known in the St Paul’s Bay Tarragon, where molecular gastronomy is paired with elite ingredients, a spectacular view of St Paul’s Islands and a phenomenal wine list. A menu that’s not to be missed.

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4. Barracuda, Balluta

If fresh fish, silver service and a happily satisfied belly is what you’re after; look no further than Barracuda in Balluta. The 40-year-old establishment is perched on the edge of the St Julian’s-come-Sliema promenade, elevated over the sea and providing a wonderful view. That's not to mention the excellent cuisine, where flavours meet classic dishes broken by the out-of-the-box thinking our beautiful Med provides.

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5. San Andrea, Palazzo Castelletti, Rabat

A beautiful courtyard, a full wine list, elegant service and the smooth sounds of jazz open the doors to the Rabat-based Palazzo Castelletti, where the San Andrea restaurant finds its home. With select ingredients like luscious foie gras and prime cuts of meat, this fine dining resto is packed with choices for fancier diners to faun over.

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A post shared by Palazzo Castelletti (@palazzocastelletti) on Jan 16, 2017 at 2:00pm PST

6. Rickshaw, Attard

If you’re thinking Asian but want to upscale your food options, there’s no doubt Attard’s Rickshaw, set within the Corinthia Palace, will suit your palate. The staples will always catch your eye, but live a little and try the more peculiar choices on the menu. From warming bowls of soup to the freshest of salads, moreish appetisers and tantalising clay pots filled with premium quality ingredients prepared in an Asian fusion style.

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A post shared by Kristina Cassar Dowling (@kristinacassardowling) on Mar 2, 2017 at 12:19pm PST

7. Bahia, Lija

You’ll never understand the wonders of dining out if Bahia is not ticked off your bucket list. From menu presentation to an incredible waiting team whose service etiquette and knowledge of the menu is profound, this watery really stands out. Then there’s the food - indescribable by the highest of standards and carefully presented down to a T. Wine for days and sensational homemade liqueurs are two of the many surprises you can expect from this Lija restaurant.

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8. The de Mondion, Mdina

The view from Mdina’s altitude is unfathomable. The experience at The de Mondion is insurmountable. If that doesn't impress you, then maybe the vast menu will. Scallops, veal sweetbreads, truffle, local prawn and smoked eel might catch your eye… and that’s only the starters. The mains and desserts are just as jaw dropping, and the wines are perfectly paired to suit your meal choice.

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9. The Lord Nelson, Mosta

Odd combinations and wild mains are to be expected in this locally renowned restaurant where the picture-perfect plating and modern techniques together create a mind blowing experience for the perfect dinner. The Lord Nelson in Mosta is open for dinner and welcomes its guests to experience a textural, visual and palatable renaissance.

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10. Patrick’s Lounge, Victoria, Gozo

Gozo is no stranger to fine food choices and Patrick’s Lounge in Victoria is by far one of the top. A tasting menu presents Champagne tempura prawn, slightly smoked barbary duck, truffled beetroots and a dessert surprise all paired with the finest of wines you’ll ever meet in your fine, well-rounded foodie goals.

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11. Harbour Club, Valletta

The first thing you need to know about The Harbour Club is that the view before you will be outstandingly flawless. Sit and watch Birgu’s bastions bask in the Mediterranean sunlight while sipping at a glass of your fav wine. When the sides in a dish sound even better than the main food item, you know you’re in for a treat - check out this Valletta-based eatery for the ultimate foodgasm.

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12. Commando, Mellieha

Mellieha-based Commando had no chance of missing this list. Perched upon a beautiful hilltop overlooking the picturesque Mellieha Bay, Commando offers a full menu of classic fine cuisine dishes taken up a notch by the superior kitchen staff where Chef Damian Ciappara works his magic.

Written by

Kristina Cassar Dowling

A local writer in love with the Maltese islands, Kristina is a hunter for all things cultural both in Malta and outside its shores. A curious foodie, music fanatic, art lover and keen traveller with an open mind and a passion for writing.