Restaurants in Birkirkara, Malta

Eating out in Birkirkara

Birkirkara is one of Malta's largest towns, the second most populous on the island, and it feels like a busy, lived-in place rather than a resort. Its food scene reflects that: pizzerias, cafés and Asian restaurants serve local families and the many people who work in the surrounding offices and shops.

The town has a proud history. Its old railway station, a stop on the Malta Railway until the line closed in 1931, now stands in a public garden, and the seventeenth century Wignacourt Aqueduct runs through the area. The Basilica of St Helen houses the largest church bell in Malta.

The restaurants on this page

Pizza lovers have plenty of choice. You will find Il-Forn ta' l-Għawdxi at Ġnien l-Istazzjon, in the old railway station garden, Pizziamoci at the corner of Naxxar Road and Caruana Street, and Sapori, a café and pizzeria. Bacaro Veneziano serves Italian food.

For Asian cooking there is Saigon, Hanabi for Japanese food and The Oriental Garden Express on Triq il-Mergħat for Chinese. Mondo on Triq l-Esportaturi offers an international menu.

Because Birkirkara is a working town, many of these places are as popular for takeaway and quick lunches as for long dinners. That makes them handy if you are staying in central Malta, visiting friends or family nearby, or simply want a meal away from the tourist areas at local prices.

When to go: St Helen's festa

Birkirkara has five parishes, each with its own feast, but the best known is St Helen's. The main feast falls on 18 August or the first Sunday after, and its procession is unusual: it is the only one on the island held in the morning, leaving the basilica at 8am. The town is crowded and festive in the days around it, and restaurants are busy.

Weekday lunchtimes are popular with local workers, while weekend evenings draw families. Outside festa season, booking is rarely essential except for larger groups.

Getting there and combining it with nearby sights

Birkirkara sits in the centre of Malta, bordering Attard, Balzan, Msida, Qormi, San Ġwann and Santa Venera, and is well connected by bus. Our Birkirkara guide covers the town, its churches and the railway garden, and our central Malta guide suggests nearby places to visit, including the gardens and palaces of Attard.

If you want to try local snacks while you are in town, our guide to pastizzi explains Malta's favourite pastry.

Practical tips

Birkirkara is a busy town with heavy traffic at peak hours, so allow extra time if you are driving. Parts of the town lie in a valley and can flood in very heavy rain. Restaurants are generally casual and family friendly, and card payment is widely accepted. Many places are busiest early on Friday and Saturday evenings, when families eat out together, so booking a table for a larger group is a good idea.

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