by 
Long the preserve of Paceville, Malta’s not-so-salubrious party town, the nation’s nightlife has recently taken a significant turn for the better with Valletta’s nightlife resurgence. Once quiet after 9pm, the capital is now home to a thriving bar scene offering everything from elegant to artsy, classical to street jazz. Most venues are small inside, but the music and people spill merrily into Malta’s balmy nights.
Read on for our bar recommendations in Malta. See also our guides dedicated to spending a weekend in Valletta, the best hotels in Malta, what to see and do around the island, the best things to do for free, the best restaurants and the most beautiful beaches and places to swim.
Valletta
Tico Tico
This quirky little bar spans a stretch of the narrow pedestrian alley outside. It’s a stylish and no more seedy reincarnation of the Tico Tico that once served Royal Navy sailors here on Valletta’s Strait Street, nicknamed The Gut. The interior is decorated with photos of sailor sayings, movie posters and a model of a gallerija (typical Maltese wooden balcony) with women’s underwear. Grab a Kinnie (Maltese soft drink) or cocktail and head outside to relax and watch Strait Street’s trendy new clientele go by.
Contact: facebook.com/ticoticomalta
Prices: ££
Enter: Arrive early if you want the best seats, otherwise just arrive
Coffee company
A cozy little bohemian bar with a snug at one end and the lazy limestone steps of St John’s Street outside, Café Society is ideal for both a quick sip and a full evening of relaxation. The extensive selection at the copper-topped bar includes a changing list of interesting cocktails (a twist on the usual recipes). The music is relaxed – loud enough but not too loud – and appropriately mixed for a clientele of local creatives and a handful of tourists, of all ages.
Contact: Facebook page
Prices: ££
Enter: Get up and join the relaxed crowd
The bridge
A fairly run-of-the-mill pub for most of the week, The Bridge sets itself apart on a Friday night when live jazz bands play on the little bridge outside the bar. Pop inside for a cheap beer or cocktail, then take a seat on the steps outside to relax and chat, sip and snack, and listen to some great music. All are welcome and at times it feels like half of Valletta is here, soaking up the remnants of the sun beaming off the creamy limestone and gliding smoothly into the weekend.
Contact: Facebook page
Prices: £
Enter: Open to all if you can get a seat on the steps
kingway
Sip an Aperol spritz or a Singapore Sling at the circular tables on Republic Street (formerly called Kingsway), while watching the world go by on Valletta’s main street. Or find a quieter corner in the small, stylish mirrored interior. Café by day, bar by night, Kingsway is loved by locals and tourists alike. A favorite spot for an apéritif amongst Valletta’s bustling and agitated, it’s convenient for tourists too – right in the heart of the city, a stone’s throw from the Grand Master’s Palace.
Contact: kingswayvalletta.com
Prices: ££
Enter: To be sure of a table, especially on weekends, call and book, otherwise you risk it
Trabuxu wine shop
Malta’s very first wine bar, Trabuxu, is still among the best. In a traditional 400-year-old limestone cellar with musical instruments and a changing display of contemporary art (for sale), the wine list offers more than 300 Maltese and international options, many both by the glass and by the bottle. Still run by owner Kris, who opened it over a decade and a half ago, there is a lot of knowledge behind the counter. It also serves a selection of charcuterie, cheese and oysters, or after a couple of glasses here, pop around the corner to the family’s Trabuxu Bistro for a full meal.
Contact: www.trabuxu.com.mt
Prices: ££
Enter: Book a table or (definitely on weekends) expect to be in the cafe or on Strait Street
StrEat Whiskey Bar
A whiskey list of over 70 varietals is this bar’s USP, but there are plenty of other options as well. Ideal for an after dinner drink, the Whiskey Bar can get very busy on Friday and Saturday nights. Relaxed, friendly and thoroughly informal with simple cellar decor, it might remind you a bit of your student days, although the clientele is of all ages. One of the first openings on the newly revitalized Strait Street (Valletta’s former red light district), the attached StrEat restaurant serves burgers, Mediterranean dishes and whiskey salmon.
Contact: Facebook page
Price: £
Enter: Book a table or roll up and stop by the cafe or out on Strait Street (pedestrianised).
Paceville of San Giuliano
Hugo terrace
Right on the beach of St George’s Bay, in the heart of the bustling town of Paceville, this club, complete with a roof terrace, overlooks the sea. With a relaxed beach club vibe, it plays laid-back music from the 80s onwards – the music (and clientele) gets louder as the night goes on. This is the place for a relaxed (but not necessarily quiet) drink, snack and dance surrounded by sand, sea and stars. Hugo’s serves drinks, including many cocktails, and food throughout the afternoon and well into the night.
Contact: www.hugosterrace.com
Prices: ££
Enter: If you want a table (especially on the weekend) it’s best to book, otherwise just show up
Medina
Drinking fountains
A Maltese classic, Fontanella sits high on the ramparts of historic Mdina, the nation’s first capital. It’s primarily a cafe (with nationwide famous cakes), but in the evening you can sit here with a glass of wine and a savory snack and watch the sun set over a Maltese panorama, or enjoy the twinkle of the island lights below and the stars above. It is open until 11.30pm, when Mdina’s atmospheric limestone alleyways truly lives up to its nickname, ‘the silent city’.
Contact: fontanellateagarden.com.mt
Prices: ££
Enter: Enter
Mellieha
Sea View Cafe Bar
Tucked away behind the church, near the graveyard, this tiny shack café/bar is perched like an eagle’s nest on top of the cliff on the edge of Mellieha village. Savor, along with your beer, spectacular views over the Mediterranean and the expansive Mellieha Bay which stretches far below you. There is plenty of space outside and some seating inside the neat little log cabin which is the heart of this ‘secret’ drinking establishment. It’s only open until 8pm, so this is a place for an early drink.
Contact: Facebook page
Prices: £
Enter: Find it and you are welcome
