daves Food Stores

For a UK visitor staying in a self-catering flat or a long-stay renter settling in, the first practical question is usually where to buy a decent weekly shop at any hour. daves Food Stores is a Maltese supermarket chain built around exactly that need, with neighbourhood branches, a number of them open around the clock, and an online service that brings groceries to the door.

The business is listed on VisitMalta.co.uk with our other supermarkets in Malta, and this page covers the Gżira listing, which sits close to the Sliema seafront and the ferry to Valletta. If you are still choosing where to base yourself, our where to stay in Malta guide compares the main resorts and towns.

The story behind the stores

The first daves Food Store opened in 2013, founded by David Grech. The idea was to bring modern, convenient shopping back into local communities at a time when many small neighbourhood grocers were closing. The stores combine the convenience of a corner shop with the range of a larger supermarket, and the business is 100 per cent Maltese family owned.

Since then the chain has grown into daves Group Holdings, an organisation with five arms: the food stores, an online shopping platform, a rewards programme, a media division and a food production arm. Its roots draw on generations of retail and supermarket experience in the family. For readers weighing a longer stay, our Malta relocation guide explains the everyday practicalities of living here, and the about Malta page gives the wider background.

What you can buy in store

A daves store stocks groceries, household essentials, fresh produce, bakery items and beverages, drawn from local and international suppliers. The shelves mix in-house brands, premium labels and budget options, so you can pick what suits your budget. The range is pitched at the level of a large continental supermarket, with a distinctly Maltese welcome at the till.

The own-brand products come from daves Foods, the group's production and product development arm, which makes private label foods that sit alongside the familiar names. If a product is missing, the website has a form to request an item. Visitors planning beach days will find the basics for a picnic on the shelves, and our best beaches in Malta page suggests where to take it, while the Malta weather guide helps you decide how much water and sun protection to buy for the season.

Branches and opening hours

The group runs multiple stores across Malta. The website names three, in Ħaż-Żebbuġ, St Paul's Bay and Sliema. The Ħaż-Żebbuġ branch on Triq l-Imdina opens from 08:00 to 22:00, while the Tourist Street branch in St Paul's Bay and the Triq Bisazza branch in Sliema are open 24 hours a day, every day of the week. That is handy after a late flight, and our flights to Malta page covers the routes from the UK.

If you are staying in the north, the hotels in Qawra and St Paul's Bay area puts the Tourist Street branch within easy reach, and the Sliema hotels page does the same for Triq Bisazza. Our things to do in Malta guide is worth a look once the fridge is stocked.

Online shopping, app and rewards

daves Online is the group's digital shop, where you can browse products, see promotions and place orders from anywhere, with delivery across Malta. The website also links to ordering through the Wolt and Bolt delivery apps. There is a daves app, and anyone who downloads it is automatically enrolled in daves Rewards, which gives access to member offers and personalised promotions. A physical rewards card is also available and can be linked to your account.

For help with an order, a store or the app, use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to the business. If you are planning a longer trip, the wider Malta holidays overview is a good place to start.