Kantina

Kantina Cafe sits on St John's Square in the middle of Valletta, Malta's walled capital. It is a cafe in the capital with an easy daily rhythm: coffee, cocktails and quick lunches during the day, then dinner and wine once evening arrives.

That is a useful profile for a holiday in Malta. Many visitors spend a day on foot in the city, and a place that can serve a morning coffee, a light lunch and an evening drink in the same spot takes some of the planning out of the day. This page sets out what Kantina offers, its opening times, and how to organise a visit if you are travelling from the UK. If you are still building your trip, our Valletta guide covers the wider city.

What Kantina is about

Kantina is a cafe on St John's Square, Valletta, with a day that begins with coffee and quick lunches and moves into cocktails, dinner and wine. To reserve a table, send an enquiry through the form on this page and it goes to Kantina via VisitMalta.co.uk.

Menus and prices change, so ask the staff what is available when you book or on arrival.

The setting is the real draw. You sit in the square and watch the city carry on around you, which suits anyone who prefers a table with a view of Valletta life to a quiet interior.

Coffee, cocktails, lunch and dinner

The day works in a sensible order. Start with coffee, drop in for a quick lunch between sights, then return for cocktails, dinner or wine when the day cools down.

Kantina has indoor and outdoor seating, and vegetarian dishes are available. If you have a specific dietary need, such as a vegan or gluten-free diet or an allergy, mention it in your enquiry through the form on this page and ask what can be prepared.

If you want something to carry to a bench or back to your hotel, ask the staff whether takeaway is available at the time. Travellers staying in the capital can compare their options in our guide to hotels in Valletta.

Where Kantina sits in Valletta

St John's Square, known locally as Misrah San Gwann, lies in the heart of the old city, and the street address is 103 Triq San Ġwann. The square takes its name from the same patron saint as St John's Co-Cathedral, one of the best known sights in the capital, so a coffee stop and a cultural visit fit easily into the same morning.

Valletta is compact and best explored on foot. After a meal you can wander on to Upper Barrakka Gardens or read up on the Knights who shaped the city. Allow time to simply wander the streets.

Booking and the menu

To reserve a table at Kantina, send an enquiry through the form on this page and it goes to Kantina via VisitMalta.co.uk. The enquiry form is the simplest route, and everything you need to say can go into a single message.

When you write, it helps to give the date, the time, the number in your party and any seating preference. Mention whether you would like to sit outside, and say if anyone has a dietary requirement. If you are travelling with a group in high season, send your enquiry well before you fly.

Opening hours and when to go

Kantina is open from 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM from Monday to Friday and from 8:00 AM to midnight on Saturday. Ask about Sunday hours when you book. Hours can change, particularly on public holidays and in the quieter months, so send a quick enquiry through the form on this page before you plan around them.

If you want an outdoor table, the season matters. Malta is pleasantly warm for much of the year, but summer afternoons can be hot and winter evenings cooler and wetter. Our Malta weather guide will help you decide when to sit outside. If you have not yet booked your journey, see flights to Malta for options from the UK.

Practical information

Address: St John's Square, Valletta, Malta, street address 103 Triq San Ġwann. Enquiries and bookings: send an enquiry through the form on this page and it goes to Kantina via VisitMalta.co.uk.

Seating is indoors and outdoors, so ask when you book if you would like a particular spot or need step-free access. Comfortable daytime clothes are the usual choice in a cafe of this kind.

For more places to eat nearby, browse our Valletta restaurant listings, and if you still need somewhere to stay, our guide on where to stay in Malta compares the main areas.