FDA TRIP OF A LIFETIME

After a busy few weeks with the fam in Cornwall and the Cotswolds, we had 3 days to get to Malta and clear out our family house in Zebbug after it sold.

9 skips and a whole lotta dust later and we were out! I was on Facebook market place duty to sell as much as I could. Dan and James then smashed up anything rotten or that we didn’t sell. Mixed emotions as we’ve been going there for as long as we can remember, but all for the best!

We did of course have time to make it back to our fav local haunts for some sun, good food and wine. Recos below if you ever go:

TO DO
Valletta
- Quick tour: Walk to the Upper Barrakka for the best view in Malta, (best to be there at noon to see the cannon being fired). Get a ticket to see St John’s Co-Cathedral, grab a coffee at Lot 61, a plate of pasta at Pastaus and a drink at Cafe Society.

Mdina
- Walk around Mdina, it’s beautiful inside the walled city
- Go to Fontenella for coffee/cake/ice cream with amazing view

Other
- Take a few drinks and watch sunset from Dingli cliffs
- Check out the market at Marsaxlokk - gorgeous old fishing village (our fav!) most of the lovely restaurants along the front are good for lunch, find a busy one!
- Would highly recommend going to Gozo for the day - you can catch a boat from north of the island (St Paul’s Bay) and its much quieter with much better beaches and swimming
- A tour to the blue grotto tour is amazing but very touristy in peak summer - would recommend a private tour if you can!

BEACHES
- Ghan-Tuffheia
- Gjnegna
- Armchair bay
- Paradise bay (both a bit far and small so have to get there early)
- Tigne beach club (check before you go, might be private now)
- Rock pools: St. Peter's pool, Marsascala, Delamar which is just beyond peter's pool and a bit quieter

TO EAT & DRINK
- Taproom in Valetta - one of the best for food and cocktails. Try the mushroom tagliatelle
- Vecchia taranto - great pizza but tiny place! Best to take away and eat it on St Barbara's Bastion while enjoying the view
- Pastaus - terrific pasta
- Trabuxu & Trabuxu Bistro - wonderful food and wine at the top of strait street. Try the fondue and San Niklaw wine at the first and anything at the second
- Soul Food - great food, even for vegetarians/vegans
- Noni - Best fine dining in Valletta and winner of a Michelin star
- Giannini - fine dining with an amazing view
- La Capanna in Marsaxlokk
- El Fontanella for a drink/ice cream up on the bastions in Mdina
- The Galley in Ta'xbiex
- PALAZZO PARISIO (Naxxar) if you are feeling wealthy!!! THE BEST place to take people in Malta for a drink in the evening because it is just beautiful (be careful on weekends though, lots of weddings)
- St Julian’s is fun for drinks if you want a wilder scene! Busy vibe, especially on the weekendsEn savoir plus