Page 20 - DreamScapes Magazine | Spring/Summer 2026

PRO TIP
Follow the sound of marching drums
into a harbour-side festa. Order a
pastizzi pastry from a street vendor
and watch the fireworks alongside
local families.
with smooth rhythms that mingle with sea breezes as interna-
tional musicians perform.
Yet, Malta’s most beloved celebrations are its traditional vil-
lage festas. Throughout summer, neighbourhood squares erupt
with colour and music. Brass bands march through slender
streets draped in banners. Religious statues are paraded through
town squares culminating in a grand fireworks extravaganza.
A MEDITERRANEAN TABLE BY THE SEA
By evening the harbour’s greatest pleasure reveals itself—the table.
Malta’s culinary identity is inseparable from the sea. Fishing
boats depart before sunrise and return with the daily catch,
shaping menus across the islands. Traditional dishes reflect
this maritime heritage. Start with aljotta, a fragrant fish soup
brightened with garlic and herbs. Try lampuki pie, a flaky pastry
filled with seasonal dorado that’s akin to Mahi-Mahi fish. Or
savour fenek, the nation’s beloved rabbit stew slow-braised in
wine and aromatics.
The dining scene has evolved far beyond rustic comfort food.
The MICHELIN Guide now recognizes dozens of restaurants
across the islands, confirming Malta’s growing reputation as a
rising culinary destination. For contemporary Maltese cuisine,
reserve a table at Noni, a MICHELIN-starred restaurant tucked
along Valletta’s atmospheric lanes where chefs reinterpret local
ingredients through refined tasting menus. Across the harbour
in Birgu, Terrone pairs creative Mediterranean cuisine with
sweeping marina views and a coveted Bib Gourmand distinction.
Fishing boats glide into port as the sun melts into the sea.
Seafood lovers should wander down to Marsaxlokk (pronounced
“Marsa-schlock”), where bobbing fishing boats frame the har-
bour, and a table at Tartarun delivers some of the freshest catch
around. It’s Mediterranean living served one delicious plate at
a time.
BEYOND VALLETTA: DISCOVERING THE THREE CITIES
While Valletta dazzles with grand architecture, the Three Cities
reveal Malta’s quieter charms. A short ferry ride delivers you to
Birgu where medieval lanes wind past restored palazzos and inti-
mate cafés. Its marina offers one of the most photogenic views of
Valletta’s skyline.
Nearby Senglea boasts peaceful gardens with sweeping har-
bour panoramas, while Cospicua impresses visitors with its
monumental defensive walls and neighbourhood bakeries.
Yet beyond the harbour towns, this small Mediterranean
archipelago invites further exploration. Ferries whisk travellers
to the greener island of Gozo, known for its slower pace and rural
landscapes, or to tiny Comino where the famous Blue Lagoon
glows in glittery turquoise.
History never feels distant. Many historic townhouses have
been transformed into boutique hotels. Staying in one of these
restored residences allows you to immerse in the island nation’s
layered past.
Where empires once battled for control of the Mediterranean
Sea, travellers now gather for something far simpler—sunlit
history, soulful culture and unforgettable meals beside the sea.
PHOTOS: VISIT MALTA
TRAVEL PLANNER
For more information, visit visitmalta.com
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DREAMSCAPES SPRING/SUMMER 2026