Valletta , Malta

66

Valletta is Malta’s fortified capital, a compact Baroque city between two harbours and a UNESCO-listed grid of stone streets. Small in footprint but heavy with history, it feels less like a metropolis and more like a living stage set where the sea is always nearby, and the light never quite leaves the limestone.

Est. monthly cost €2,050 – €2,850
Overall score 66
Car Free Living Remote Workers Retirees Digital Nomads

Livability scores

  • Walkability 19 / 20
  • Rail Connectivity 1 / 15
  • Public Transit 6 / 10
  • Affordability 6 / 15
  • Safety 7 / 10
  • Air Quality 6 / 10
  • Quality Of Life 7 / 10
  • Food Culture 4 / 5
  • Car Free Practicality 8 / 5

Food guide

Valletta’s food culture blends rustic Maltese home cooking with Mediterranean and British influences, showcasing rabbit, seasonal fish, and street pastries alongside Italian-style cafes and wine bars. The compact capital is dense with pastizzerias, bakeries, and bistros, making traditional dishes like pastizzi, ftira, and rabbit stew easy to find at casual prices.

Signature dishes

  • PastizziFlaky pastry filled with ricotta or mushy peas, Malta’s iconic street snack sold at pastizzerias across Valletta.
  • Stuffat tal-fenek (Rabbit stew)Slow-braised rabbit in red wine, tomato, garlic, and herbs, widely regarded as Malta’s national dish.
  • Ftira / u0126obu017c biu017c-u017cejtTraditional Maltese bread or sandwich topped with tuna, tomatoes, olives, capers, and olive oil, a staple casual meal.
  • AljottaGarlicky fish soup with tomatoes and rice, often served at waterfront restaurants in Valletta.
  • Lampuki PieSeasonal fish pie made with dorado (lampuki), spinach and vegetables in pastry, popular in autumn.
  • GbejnietSmall sheep or goat cheeses served fresh, dried, or marinated in vinegar and pepper, often part of sharing platters.
  • ImqaretDeep-fried date-filled pastries, common as a sweet street snack in Valletta.

Where to eat

  • Caffe Cordina Historic cafe and patisserieLandmark Valletta cafe on Republic Square known for pastizzi, cakes, and traditional snacks.
  • Nenu the Artisan Baker Traditional bakery-restaurantServes ftira, timpana, and rabbit dishes baked in a stone oven in central Valletta.
  • Bridge Bar Wine and tapas barHarbor-view bar popular for Cisk beer, olives, and live music on warm evenings.
  • Valletta Pastizzeria (near City Gate) Pastizzeria / street-food counterLate-night spot for hot pastizzi with ricotta or pea filling at very low prices.
  • Soul Food Vegetarian/vegan cafeValletta plant-based restaurant with daily-changing menu, around u20ac10–15 per person.
  • Grassy Hopper Vegan restaurantCreative vegan dishes in Valletta, popular with health-conscious locals and expats.

Markets & food shopping

  • Is-Suq tal-Belt (Valletta Food Market)
  • Valletta waterfront food stalls
  • Harborside street-food stands around Grand Harbour