Cost of Food in Malta

Malta imports roughly 80% of its food, a geographic reality that underpins every menu and market stall. The island's cuisine reflects centuries of Mediterranean trade—Sicilian, North African, and British influences layered into a local repertoire built on rabbit stew, lampuki pie, and honey-drenched pastries. What you pay depends less on the dish than on the venue's proximity to cruise terminals and hotel zones. Valletta's restaurant scene divides into clear tiers. Trattoria-style spots along Republic Street and near St. John's Co-Cathedral charge €15-€22 for pasta, grilled fish, or braised meat with sides. A glass of Maltese wine adds €4-€6, a local Cisk beer €3-€4. Two-course lunches with house wine land around €25-€30 per person before tip. Off the main arteries—down Old Bakery Street or near the covered market—family-run eateries serve ħobż biż-żejt, ftira, and daily specials for €6-€10. Street vendors near the bus terminus sell pastizzi, the ricotta or pea-filled pastry that anchors Malta's snack culture, at €0.60-€1 each. Supermarkets in Valletta are sparse; most visitors walk to the Busy Bee on Merchants Street or head to larger chains in Floriana. A day's groceries—bread, cheese, tomatoes, olives, fruit—cost €8-€12. The Saturday morning market at Merchant Street offers seasonal produce, but prices mirror supermarket rates rather than undercutting them. Dining expenses in Malta reward flexibility: alternating restaurant meals with market-bought picnics, choosing lunch menus over dinner à la carte, and walking five minutes off Republic Street can halve your daily outlay. The cost of eating well here is moderate by European standards, provided you eat where the rhythm of the city—rather than the cruise schedule—sets the pace.