FOOD & DRINK MALTA DESTINATIONS
FIND OUT MORE
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diarilbniet.com l
sanniklaw.com l segwaymalta. com
LEFT: The Harbour Club
RIGHT: Diar il-Bniet
peas. Like their Sicilian neighbours, locals take their coffee very seriously: our guide confesses to drinking six espressos every day before noon! I get my caffeine fix at Valletta
stalwart Caffe Cordina, set in a historic palazzo backed by palm trees. Established in 1837, the cafe has a large outdoor terrace and a grand interior, not to mention a counter groaning with delectable cakes. For travellers with cash to splash, the capital has a healthy sprinkling of high-end restaurants, including warehouse-turned-eatery The Harbour Club, with its waterside views; and Ic-Civil (formerly Michael’s), which blends traditional and cutting-edge cuisine, set in a historic building. My personal favourite is Panorama, where the Mediterranean menu features a range of standout plates, including rabbit terrine. Food aside, a Valletta must-see
is St John’s Co-Cathedral, where an austere facade belies a blow- the-budget gilded interior, home to Caravaggio’s largest painting and his only signed piece of work.
w FRESH FISH Outside Valletta, Malta’s gourmet theme continues in Marsaxlokk, a colourful fishing village that hosts a Sunday fish market where fishermen’s wives sell fresh-from-the-sea catch to locals and tourists. Vendors peddle fresh fish, vegetables and spices, as well as tacky souvenirs: think baseball caps with built-in fans
and I Love Malta towels. But the real stars of the show are the Insta-worthy, brightly coloured fishing boats that bob gracefully in the bay’s harbour. Lining the waterfront are a string of
fish restaurants, serving fish that has been caught in the last 24 hours. Top of every gourmand’s list should be the mouth-watering lampuki (mahi-mahi), commonly served with tomatoes, olives, onions and basil.
a
Tried & Tested CORINTHIA PALACE HOTEL
Set in a beautifully restored 19th-century villa, the classy Corinthia Palace Hotel is Corinthia Hotels’ original flagship and one of the island’s leading grande dame properties. Based in the centre of Malta in upscale San Anton, this 150-room hotel is just steps from the president’s residential palace and its public San Anton Gardens, and a 10-minute drive from Valletta and the medieval city of Mdina (of Game of Thrones fame). The hotel offers a free shuttle service to Valletta, Sliema and Marsa Golf Club. Bright, spacious rooms come with large balconies overlooking the hotel’s lush gardens. For guests seeking relaxation, there’s a spa with an indoor pool, sauna and steam room, and a lengthy range of treatments. There are also tennis courts, a gym and a grand outdoor swimming pool. The five-star hotel has four restaurants: the luxurious Villa Corinthia, a fine dining option offering Mediterranean fare; casual Summer Kitchen, serving pizzas and salads by the pool;
w FIELD TO FORK
Along with fish, Malta brims with restaurants offering locally-sourced farm food. Foodies seeking authentic Maltese rural food should make a date at Diar il-Bniet, a characterful restaurant within a historic farmhouse in Dingli village. Much of the produce for the restaurant is grown just 200 metres away on their 600-acre farm. I gorge on flavourful and hearty
all-day brasserie Orange Grove; and Far Eastern restaurant Rickshaw. Book it: A deluxe bedroom with breakfast starts at
€160 in May.
corinthia.com/en
26 April 2018
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