Ċekċik

Valletta has plenty of shops selling the usual postcards and magnets, and then there are the places where you go in for five minutes and stay for half an hour. Ċekċik, which bills itself as an ethnic and vintage bazaar, is firmly in the second group. It fills its space on Melita Street with a mix of the handmade, the second-hand and the offbeat, so every visit turns up something different.

On VisitMalta.co.uk the shop is listed in three of our directories: gift shops in Malta, antique shops in Malta and clothing shops in Malta. That overlap shows how varied the stock is, and it makes the shop a good detour from the routes in our Valletta guide.

What the bazaar sells

The shop's home page is organised into eight clear sections. Mosaic and ceramics offer multicoloured pieces to brighten a home. Frankincense and incense covers natural, organic frankincense and a wide choice of aromatic incense. Vintage leather bags and antiques feature genuine satchels, briefcases and handbags from earlier decades. Upcycled furniture is made from reclaimed and repurposed materials, shaped by the owners' own creativity.

There are also hand printed T-shirts in 100% cotton, along with accessories, and a shelf of offbeat Malta souvenirs and gifts designed on the island, including the Souvenirs That Don't Suck brand. The shop also stocks RAW rolling papers as an exclusive supply line. Together, the range suits travellers who want something with more character than a standard gift shop item, and who like to talk to the person behind the counter.

If you are still deciding what to pack in your suitcase home, our things to do in Malta page lists other experiences worth fitting around a shopping stop.

Hemp products

Hemp has its own section on the website, and it explains the appeal in practical terms. Commercially grown hemp has been cultivated for centuries and was one of the earliest plants used for clothing, shoes, rope, cosmetics and paper. It grows quickly, needs fewer pesticides and herbicides than many crops, and gives a fabric that is hard-wearing and free from the plastics and oil-based materials found in many modern textiles.

The shop highlights the Sativa and Pure brands, which make bags, hats and pouches from 55% hemp and 45% organic cotton in earthy tones. These are useful for visitors who want a durable, eco-minded bag for beach days or city walking, and the hemp range also extends to cosmetics and other goods beyond bags.

For a beach day to go with your new bag, see our best beaches in Malta guide, and the Malta weather guide helps you choose the right month.

Delivery and visiting from the UK

Orders over €25 qualify for free delivery, which is useful if you see something in the shop that you cannot carry, such as a piece of furniture, or if you would like to buy again after your trip. Practical details are best confirmed with the shop, so use the enquiry form on this page for questions about shipping to the UK. Mention the item and your postcode so the shop can give a precise answer.

Planning a visit

Valletta is small enough that a stop at the bazaar fits easily between larger sights, whether that is a morning at the cathedral or an afternoon on the bastions. The shop suits slow browsing, so allow more time than you think you need, particularly if you are drawn to antiques and vintage leather, where each piece is different.

Melita Street is easy to reach from the city entrance on foot, and many visitors will already be staying nearby: see our hotels in Valletta page for options, or where to stay in Malta for other areas. If you are planning your arrival, our flights to Malta page covers UK routes. To ask about stock or delivery, use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to Ċekċik.