The Healthy Pantry

The Healthy Pantry is a specialist food shop in the village of Żurrieq, tucked into the south-west of the island not far from the cliffs and the boats that run to the Blue Grotto. It is built around one idea: that people with an allergy, an intolerance or a particular way of eating should not have to hunt across several supermarkets to fill a basket.

The shop is listed in our directory of organic and health food shops in Malta, and it is as useful to a long-term resident stocking the cupboards as to a UK visitor in a self-catering apartment who needs gluten free pasta or dairy free milk for the week.

A pantry for special diets

The core of the range is food for people who avoid certain ingredients. Its main focus is gluten free, lactose and dairy free, vegan, vegetarian and sugar free eating, and it also carries a selection for allergies more broadly. Its website sorts the stock into clear categories, so you can browse by diet before you ever set foot in the shop.

The range includes well over two hundred vegan lines and more than two hundred and sixty gluten free ones, alongside over 160 lactose free products and over 170 organic ones. That is a deep range for a village shop, and it covers everyday staples such as pasta, crispbreads, flours, breadcrumbs, cereals and biscuits as well as treats like chocolate bars, spreads and baking mixes.

Plant milks are a large part of the picture, with oat, almond, soya, hazelnut and rice drinks from well-known European brands. If you are travelling from the UK and have coeliac disease, a nut allergy or a child on a dairy free diet, always read each label yourself and ask the shop if you are unsure about an ingredient.

Teas, supplements and sports nutrition

Beyond the cupboard staples, the shop has dedicated sections for herbal teas, supplements, seeds and nuts, sugars and spices, and general groceries. There is also a protein range with powders, bars, shakes and sparkling protein water, which suits gym-goers and anyone heading out on a long walk or cycle.

Skratch Labs hydration and energy products have their own category, handy for hikers and cyclists who plan to cover ground in the Maltese sun. If you are working out how hot it gets before packing, our Malta weather guide by month will help you plan.

The shop also has a keto section, a kids' section, and a curated list called Plantfulina's Picks, which gathers favourites chosen by the shop. Body care and toiletries sit in the same online catalogue, so you can pick up a natural skincare item with your groceries.

Finding the shop and what is nearby

The Healthy Pantry sits at 162 Matteolo Saliba Street in Żurrieq. The village is a short drive from the Blue Grotto sea caves, and close to the megalithic temples at Qrendi, so the shop makes an easy stop on a day out in the south. You can read about the nearby Ħaġar Qim temples or look at the Ħaġar Qim Archaeological Site listing in our directory.

If you are planning a wider trip, our things to do in Malta page and the best beaches in Malta guide give plenty of ideas for the rest of your stay, and the where to stay in Malta page explains which areas suit which kind of holiday.

For readers thinking beyond a holiday, the shop is also a practical address for anyone who has moved or is moving to the south of the island. Our relocating to Malta guide covers what to expect from daily life, including shopping for particular diets.

Opening hours and getting in touch

Weekday hours are 8:00 to 12:00 and 15:00 to 18:00, and 8:00 to 12:00 on Saturdays. Its contact page gives a different afternoon time, so it is sensible to check before making a special journey. The website also has a shop section with a cart and checkout, so some products can be browsed and ordered online.

A changing selection of products is on special offer. For anything specific, such as whether a certain brand is in stock or whether a product suits a diet, use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to the shop. If you are flying in from Britain, see our guide to flights to Malta and the wider Malta holidays overview.