Menrad Eyewear Malta

Menrad Eyewear Malta is a neighbourhood optical shop on the main road through San Ġwann, on the way to Naxxar. It sells designer-quality frames and sunglasses made in Germany, prescription lenses, contact lenses and eye care essentials, and it aims to be a one-stop shop for eye care needs. For a UK visitor who has snapped a pair of glasses, lost sunglasses to the Mediterranean or needs a fresh prescription, it is a straightforward place to start.

The shop is listed in our directory of opticians in Malta, where you can compare other practices across the island.

A German eyewear brand with Maltese roots

Menrad is a German eyewear name that dates back to 1896. The Maltese business traces its origins to the time when Menrad optical frames were manufactured and quality-checked in Malta. After that production moved elsewhere, Menrad International in Germany named Menrad Eyewear Malta its sole and exclusive distributor on the island, supplying both individual customers and trade partners.

The shop receives regular deliveries from Germany of the latest optical frames and sunglasses, so the range changes with each season. Customers can look through the collection in the shop, take their time over choosing, and ask the team to explain the differences between frame styles, materials and lens types before deciding what to buy. If you are planning a longer stay or a move to the island, our Malta relocation guide covers setting up daily life, including finding the shops and services you will use regularly.

Lenses, repairs and the optical lab

A distinctive part of the business is its own optical laboratory, where lenses are edged to fit the chosen frame, supported by further lens supplies from Hoya in Milan. That means many jobs can be handled in house rather than sent away. The shop also highlights a first-rate repair service, which is useful if a frame has been bent, a screw has gone missing or a lens needs refitting.

The Hoya connection gives the shop its name in our directory. Ask the team about lens options for your prescription, whether for everyday glasses or for sunglasses you will wear in the bright light described in our Malta weather guide.

Eye tests and appointments

Eye tests at Menrad Eyewear Malta are carried out by independent doctors, covering ophthalmologists, optometrists and orthoptists, rather than by shop staff. Appointments are arranged with the shop, which confirms them within 24 hours of a request. The shop recommends having an eye test every two years and invests in up-to-date equipment for its customers. Eye test appointments can be requested by phone or by WhatsApp, and the practitioners on offer cover several specialisms, so a customer can ask which one suits the type of check they want.

Should you need a wider range of eye care, the directory also lists specialist providers, such as the private clinics in Malta category, which includes an eye clinic in Birkirkara. This page does not give medical advice and the shop can tell you what its practitioners offer.

Visiting San Ġwann and planning your day

The shop closes for a break between 13:00 and 16:00 on weekdays, so plan your visit around that gap, perhaps combining it with a morning or evening out. If you are staying nearby, the where to stay in Malta guide helps you choose an area, and the things to do in Malta guide, the Valletta guide and our about Malta page give ideas for the rest of your day, and the Three Cities guide suits a longer trip across the harbour.

VisitMalta.co.uk does not publish telephone numbers or email addresses on its pages. Please use the enquiry form on this page, tell us whether you want frames, sunglasses, lenses, a repair or an eye test appointment, and we will pass your message to Menrad Eyewear Malta.