Malta’s love affair with the outdoors

Malta and Gozo are blessed with great weather all year round, making outdoor restaurants in Malta a popular choice. With well over 300 days of sunshine and mild winters, it’s no wonder many take to the outdoors for most of their leisure activities, including outdoor dining.

The events of the last year have spurred us to staying in the great outdoors. From picnics and trekking, to wine and nibbles on the rocks or watching the sunset, the open air has become one big leisure centre. Most restaurants even deliver to your location – one can see delivery scooters whizzing by and stopping at favourite family gathering places. Delivery of fine food is also reaching yachts and boats as people choose to get away from the land for a spot of calm in the middle of the sea, to be safely with family and friends.

But as we slowly ease ourselves back into normality, we’re all craving to go back to our favourite restaurants for the traditional get-together over food and drinks. While locals take to dining for any occasion, be it a birthday, graduation, or anniversary, we don’t really need an excuse to stop for a spot of lunch after a shopping spree or a weekday dinner when we don’t feel like cooking.

And there is nothing that is done more leisurely in Malta than eating and drinking. The Maltese take their food seriously and they take their time to enjoy the ritual. Locals take to dining for any occasion, be it a birthday, a graduation or an anniversary celebration. But really, we don’t need an excuse to stop for a spot of lunch on a day of shopping or a weekday dinner when we don’t feel like cooking. So let’s take a look at the best outdoor restaurants Malta has to offer for the ultimate outdoor dining experience.

Let’s Go Outside

Dining al fresco in Malta is popular with locals and tourists alike. Outdoor dining lets you enjoy your food while also being at one with nature – the sunshine, the sea, the great expanse of blue skies with white clouds ambling by, or a clear starry night in the evening. In summer, you can also enjoy colourful fireworks from village feasts being celebrated all over the island. These pyrotechnic gems light up the Maltese sky throughout the season and are an absolute joy to watch.

We are truly spoiled for choice when it comes to outdoor dining in Malta, from modest but charming kiosks where you can get a tasty ħobża biż-żejt, Malta’s famous take on sourdough bread, to Michelin MICHELIN-rated restaurants serving the most artsy and delicate plates. Depending on one’s whim and fancy, one can enjoy the ambience of the outdoors while savouring dishes from a whole range of mouth-watering fare that Malta offers.

Best Outdoor Restaurants In Malta

TemptAsian Restaurant & Lounge, located in the five-star AX The Palace in the heart of busy Sliema, is one such place. With a magnificent terrace for outdoor dining, and an incomparable view to match, diners can relish a sumptuous Asian fusion banquet while enjoying the fresh air and the changing colours of the sky at dusk. The barista will concoct interesting cocktails for you to sip languidly in the cool breeze, while the kitchen team will put together a veritable feast to take your time over. Indeed, the distinct flavours of each dish need to be savoured slowly so that their taste, aromas, and textures can be fully enjoyed.

Luzzu Restaurant in Qawra welcomes guests to its vast outdoor area, where families can enjoy their lunchtime or evening outing while enjoying food from a varied menu of popular bistro dishes. The restaurant is situated along a popular promenade in the north of Malta, and is a favourite pit stop for families after a long stroll along the picturesque coast. Families can continue enjoying their outing at Luzzu by securing a table by the sea, overlooking the pretty bay that’s usually full of summer activity by the water’s edge.

If you’re out for a spot of shopping in Sliema, stop at Talk of Town Café for elevenses or lunch. Centrally located, you can survey the crowds from the terrace while sipping your coffee and indulging in a decadent cake.

Whether you’re craving a hearty breakfast to start the day on a good note, a long spring lunch, afternoon tea, or dinner, you will always find great outdoor restaurants in Malta to enjoy your favourite meal while sitting outside. Your only challenge will be to choose one venue over another!