Point de Vue

Point de Vue sits in Saqqajja Square, directly in front of Mdina Gate, which makes it one of the easiest places on this side of the island to plan a meal around a day exploring the old capital. It is run by a family, and it combines a guesthouse with a restaurant, so the people greeting you at lunch may well be the same ones who looked after the guests staying upstairs.

For UK visitors, the appeal is largely about position and simplicity. You can step out of a bus at the nearby terminus, walk to the table, and be on your way to the cathedral or the catacombs afterwards without a taxi in sight. Our Mdina guide covers the walled city itself, and this page focuses on what the restaurant offers, what the menu costs and how to fit it into a Malta holiday.

Everything below was checked in October 2026, with practical planning notes added for travellers coming from Britain.

The story behind Point de Vue

Point de Vue was established in the 17th century and has been welcoming guests for generations. The exact year is not recorded, but the long history suits a family concern rather than a polished brand.

The setting is the draw. The building stands in front of Mdina Gate, beside the former capital that Maltese people call the Silent City. From the dining areas you can look out across the countryside, with the Mediterranean landscape forming the backdrop to a stay or a meal.

There are fifteen guesthouse rooms on the same premises, with breakfast included in every room type. The room types include a double with a view, a family room with a balcony for up to four guests, and a twin room with a Maltese balcony. If you are still deciding where to base yourself, our pages on hotels in Mdina and where to stay in Malta set out the wider choice, and this is one of the few places in the area where the same family looks after both the beds and the tables.

The staff speak English, Maltese, Italian and French, which is useful on a busy day when visitors from several countries arrive at once. English-speaking guests from the UK should have no difficulty ordering or asking about ingredients.

The concept: Maltese, Mediterranean, Italian and grill

The kitchen works across four strands. The menu offers Maltese dishes, wider Mediterranean cooking, Italian staples such as pasta and pizza, and a grill section built around meat and fish. The food is homemade, and the menu sits alongside wine, coffee and desserts, which are covered in a fuller PDF menu.

That mix suits groups with different tastes. A table of four could order a pizza, a burger, a bowl of pasta and a steak without anyone feeling left out, which matters when you are travelling with children or with relatives who prefer familiar food. It is a practical, broad menu rather than a tasting-menu experience.

Point de Vue serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, three meals a day. Seating is both indoors and outdoors. The room is suitable for couples, families, tour groups and private events, including birthdays, small celebrations and small weddings. If you are organising a larger party, send an enquiry through the form on this page and explain the numbers.

What the menu costs

A selection of dishes with euro prices gives a clear sense of the level. Starters begin with soup of the day at €7.50, garlic bread at €6.00 and bruschetta at €6.50, then rise through chicken wings at €9.00 and the chef's focaccia at €13.50. For a shared table, the assorted platter costs €25.50.

Pasta and risotto sit in the low to mid teens. Ricotta ravioli is €12.50, pasta Bolognese €13.50, pasta marinara €15.50 and a chicken curry risotto €16.00. Salads run from the vegetarian salad at €14.50 to the chicken Caesar at €15.50 and a salmon and prawn salad at €17.00.

Burgers come in three versions: the traditional at €14.00, the Caesar burger at €15.00 and the special burger at €18.95. Pizzas include a margherita at €10.95, the Mdina pizza at €11.50 and the house pizza pie at €18.50.

On the grill side, the mixed grill is €25.00, the rib-eye steak is €28.50 and the beef tagliata is €29.50. Fish dishes include salmon steak at €23.50 and king prawns at €24.50. Your own total depends on what you add, and drinks and desserts come on top. The full menu, with desserts, coffee and wine, is available on request and online, so check it before you set out.

Prices and dishes can change, so use the figures here as a guide and confirm them when you book.

What to order

Because the menu is wide, it helps to decide what sort of meal you want. For a light lunch between sightseeing stops, a salad, a pizza or a bowl of pasta is the sensible route. Pasta marinara and the pizzas are shown in the photographs on this page, which gives you an idea of portion and presentation before you arrive.

For something Maltese, ask what is on the day's list. Maltese food is part of the cooking, and a Maltese platter features in the gallery. Its contents vary, so the staff are the best source on what comes on it that day. Soup of the day is another easy question to put to the kitchen.

If you want a proper dinner, the grill section is where the larger prices sit. A steak or the mixed grill will suit a hungry pair at the end of a day on foot, and the fish dishes give a lighter alternative. For a group, the assorted platter and the focaccia are shareable starters that let everyone taste a little before the mains arrive.

Vegetarians will find a vegetarian salad on the menu, and the staff can advise on other dishes. If you need a dish made without a particular ingredient, say so when you book and again to your server.

Who it suits and when to go

Point de Vue is a convenient choice for anyone walking in and out of Mdina. Daily opening hours run from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM, and because it serves three meals, you can fit it around almost any itinerary. An early coffee and breakfast before the town fills up, a lunch halfway through the day or an unhurried dinner after the day visitors have gone are all possible.

Families are a natural fit. A public children's playground stands about 50 metres away, and the menu has pizza, pasta and burgers that children generally recognise. Couples can ask for an outdoor table to enjoy the countryside outlook, particularly towards the end of the day.

Walk-ins are welcome, subject to availability, and you can book a table by sending an enquiry through the form on this page, and it goes to Point de Vue via VisitMalta.co.uk. In busier months, or if you have your heart set on an outdoor table, a booking is wise. Our things to do in Malta page can help you decide how long to give Mdina before lunch.

If you are visiting from the coast, the restaurant is a short drive from several beaches. Fomm ir-Riħ, Għajn Tuffieħa, Gnejna and Golden Bay lie between 7 and 9 kilometres away, so a morning swim followed by a late lunch here is realistic. Our guides to the best beaches in Malta and Golden Bay will help you choose.

Planning your day around Mdina

The distances to nearby places make planning simple. Mdina itself is about 150 metres away, roughly a two-minute walk, and St Paul's Cathedral in Mdina is around 350 metres, about five minutes on foot. The Domvs Romana museum, with its mosaics and ancient townhouse, is a similar distance.

Rabat is about 500 metres away, six to eight minutes on foot, and it has museums, catacombs and churches. St Paul's Catacombs are 800 metres away, about ten to twelve minutes' walk. If you want more choice on this side of the island, our page on restaurants in Rabat lists other places to eat.

Further afield, Dingli Cliffs lie about 6 kilometres away, Buskett Gardens 3.4 kilometres away and the Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra archaeological park 8 kilometres away, a drive of 15 to 20 minutes. For the temples, see our Ħaġar Qim guide. Valletta's Upper Barrakka Gardens are 11 kilometres away, a 20 to 30 minute drive, and our Upper Barrakka Gardens guide covers that stop.

A sample day might start with breakfast, move on to the cathedral and the Domvs Romana in the morning, break for lunch at Point de Vue, then walk into Rabat for the catacombs. That is a full day without once needing the car, which is an attractive prospect if you are staying nearby without hiring one.

Practical information

The address is Saqqajja Square, Mdina, RBT 1191, Malta, in front of Mdina Gate and close to Rabat. The restaurant is near public transport, banks and parking, with cash machines about 20 metres away and a bus terminus about 100 metres away. Public parking is available nearby, though it is subject to availability and charges may apply.

To book a table or ask a question, send an enquiry through the form on this page and it goes to Point de Vue via VisitMalta.co.uk. Daily opening hours are 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM, and reception is staffed around the clock for guests.

Airport arrivals are simple, as Malta International Airport is about 11 kilometres away, a drive of 10 to 20 minutes. If you have yet to book your trip, see our guides to flights to Malta, KM Malta Airlines and Malta holidays.

Some guesthouse rooms are reached by stairs only, and pets are not allowed, so mention it in your enquiry if either point affects your plans. There is no dress code, so ordinary smart-casual clothes will be comfortable at any meal. Check the latest details when you book.