Where to drink Champagne in Malta?
Malta is a surprisingly good place to combine Champagne with long lunches, seafood and warm Mediterranean evenings. The islands have a well-established restaurant and nightlife scene, and you’ll find Champagne in restaurants, hotels, bars and places where an aperitivo naturally turns into dinner. Malta’s food culture is strongly influenced by Sicily and North Africa, which gives you plenty of interesting things to eat alongside your bubbles.
The main concentration of places is around Valletta, Sliema and St Julian’s, but don’t assume the rest of the islands are irrelevant. If you’re heading to Gozo, it’s worth checking the map there too.
Malta may be better known for sunshine and the sea than for wine, but it does have a local wine industry. There are vineyards and wineries on both Malta and Gozo, and local producers work with both international grape varieties and grapes that have a long history on the islands.
You’ll come across varieties such as Girgentina and Ġellewża, as well as Chardonnay, Syrah and other better-known international grapes.
There are also local wineries where you can taste Maltese wines and see a completely different side of the islands. If wine is part of your trip, it’s worth making room for a winery visit rather than spending the whole holiday drinking imported bottles.
What should you eat with Champagne in Malta?
Seafood is an obvious starting point. Malta is surrounded by the Mediterranean, and local cuisine makes plenty of use of fish and shellfish. Champagne with fresh seafood, fried fish or a plate of local appetisers makes much more sense here than trying to force a pairing with every traditional dish.
Then there’s Gozitan cheese, Maltese bread, olives, capers and local olive oil. Maltese cuisine has been shaped by its Mediterranean location and centuries of influence from nearby Sicily and North Africa, so expect plenty of strong flavours, herbs and fresh produce.
And don’t leave without trying a pastizz – the flaky pastry filled traditionally with ricotta or a seasoned pea mixture. Champagne and pastizz? We’re willing to investigate.
Good to know
Malta works particularly well for a Champagne + food + sea kind of trip. Spend the day exploring Valletta or swimming, stop somewhere for a glass in the late afternoon, then take your time over dinner.
But give local wine a chance too. A Maltese wine or a visit to a local winery makes the trip more connected to the place you’re actually in.
And if you find a Champagne spot we haven’t listed, add it to the Champagne Hunters map or comment on an existing listing. Your experience could be exactly what another traveller needs before heading to Malta.
