Restaurants and Bars at the Valletta Waterfront
The Valletta Waterfront has nine restaurants and bars set in historic harbourside vaults, covering Maltese, Italian, Cantonese, Japanese fusion, American and steakhouse cooking, plus a wine-led venue. It is an easy place to eat before or after a cruise, with Grand Harbour views from many tables and everything within a few minutes' stroll along one promenade.
Written from Valletta Waterfront's own published information. Last checked .
Places to eat and drink
Bistro 516
Vault 5
A comfortable bistro with Grand Harbour views from its outdoor tables and old Maltese photographs on the walls inside.
Sit outside for a sweeping view across the Grand Harbour, or step in to a cosy room decorated with images of traditional Maltese life.
The menu runs from starters and homemade or traditional pasta to rice, meat, poultry, fish and mixed platters. Vegetarian and gluten-free dishes can be prepared if you ask, and there is a wide wine list with bottles from many countries.
See the full restaurant page
Browns Kitchen
Vault 4
Creative cooking built around fresh fish and premium beef, with indoor and outdoor tables and a strong record with groups.
Browns is run by a husband and wife team, Sandro and Diane, and aims to give every table a thoughtful, personal evening. The kitchen is known for fresh fish and quality cuts of beef.
Tables are available inside and outside with harbour views, and larger parties can arrange set menus tailored to their budget, whether it is a birthday, a hen or stag party or a work event.
See the full restaurant page
Hard Rock Cafe
Vault 17
Famous American-style food, cocktails and music memorabilia in a harbourside spot close to the cruise terminal.
This branch of the global chain serves freshly prepared American dishes, including its signature Original Legendary Burger, and handcrafted cocktails.
Once you have eaten, wander round the collection of memorabilia from music legends, then call at the Rock Shop for collectible souvenirs. It is a handy and cheerful stop after a day exploring the capital.
See the full restaurant page
Hi Sushi Malta
Vault 2
A modern Japanese and fusion restaurant with an all you can eat option and iPad ordering.
The menu spans ramen, sushi, sashimi and fresh seafood, along with Chinese and Korean fusion dishes. Diners can order from the menu or choose the all you can eat format, which offers over 100 dishes at a fixed price.
Ordering is done on iPads showing pictures of each dish, which is helpful if you are unsure what to pick. Start with an aperitif in the stylish dining room or on the calm outdoor terrace with a Grand Harbour view.
See the full restaurant page
Mamma Mozzarella
Vault 18
Italian cooking with a focus on fresh pizza and pasta, made with quality ingredients.
A welcoming, easygoing choice where the menu has something for most tastes. It works equally well for a quick lunch between sights or a relaxed family supper by the harbour.
See the full restaurant page
Nan Yuan
Vault 14
A long-standing Cantonese restaurant that has served the waterfront since 2004.
Nan Yuan brings authentic Cantonese cooking to the quay, delivered by an energetic team with a reputation for warm hospitality. Besides dining in, guests can enjoy the food at home or elsewhere, in whatever quantity they need.
It is a good option when you fancy something different from pasta and grills.
See the full restaurant page
Ta' Detta Restaurant
Vault 6
A family-run restaurant that champions traditional Maltese and Mediterranean food in the middle of the waterfront.
Maltese cooking takes pride of place here, supported by wider Mediterranean dishes, in a setting that suits both lunch and dinner.
For celebrations, private functions or meetings, a separate fully equipped room is available for family, friends or guests of honour.
See the full restaurant page
Tribelli
Vault 3
A showcase for local flavours and Maltese culinary traditions, with indoor tables and a seat by the water's edge.
Tribelli offers a menu rooted in the islands' classic cooking, served with friendly hospitality and Grand Harbour views. Choose a table indoors or sit out at the edge of the quay and soak up the scene.
See the full restaurant page
Vinomad
Vault 13
A restaurant built around wine, with more than 100 wines by the glass and self-pour machines.
From the team behind The Brew in Sliema and Ribs House in Naxxar, Vinomad invites you to explore wine your way. Self-pour machines let you try different glasses at your own pace, and the food is carefully chosen to go with them.
It suits experts and the merely curious alike, and is a fine spot for a long, unhurried evening.
See the full restaurant pageDining by the harbour
The Valletta Waterfront is a long, elegant row of eighteenth-century stores built beneath the bastions of Floriana, facing the Grand Harbour. Each store is known as a vault, and each vault carries a number. Today most of the restaurants here occupy those vaulted stone rooms, with terraces spilling out onto the wide quay in front. It is a rare thing to sit under centuries-old stonework with a plate of pasta and watch ships glide past, and that atmosphere is the real draw.
Nine restaurants and bars share the frontage, so you can pick a place by mood rather than by queue. Some are relaxed and family-run, some lean towards a party feel, and one is built entirely around wine. Because they sit side by side along a single stretch of quay, it is simple to walk the row, read a few menus and choose. For the wider picture of the area, start at the Valletta Waterfront guide.
Cuisines on offer
Variety is the strength of this row. If you want the flavours of the islands, Ta' Detta and Tribelli both put Maltese cooking at the centre of what they do, while Bistro 516 offers a broad European-style menu with homemade pasta, rice, meat, poultry and fish. For Italian comfort food, Mamma Mozzarella focuses on pizza and pasta.
Asian cooking is well covered too. Nan Yuan serves Cantonese dishes and has been part of the waterfront since 2004, whereas Hi Sushi Malta mixes Japanese favourites with Chinese and Korean fusion ideas. For something unmistakably American, Hard Rock Cafe brings burgers and cocktails, and Browns Kitchen is the place to look for fresh fish and quality beef. Vinomad completes the line-up with a menu designed around its large wine list.
If you are still deciding where to eat in the capital itself, our guide to restaurants in Valletta and the wider Valletta food guide show what else is waiting up the hill.
Eating before or after a cruise
The waterfront sits right beside the Valletta Cruise Port, which makes it the most convenient meal stop for anyone sailing in or out. On arrival day, a leisurely lunch is a gentle way to find your land legs before heading up into the city. On the way back, you can sit down without worrying about a long journey to the ship, and the quay is flat and easy underfoot.
A sensible plan is to walk the row early, note which places appeal, and return when you are hungry. If you are building a full day around a ship call, the Valletta Cruise Port guide explains how the terminal connects to the promenade, and our Valletta guide helps you fit sightseeing in around mealtimes.
Whatever your timetable, keep an eye on your all-aboard time and ask your waiter early if you are on a tight schedule. Most restaurants are used to guests arriving from ships and will understand.
Families and groups
Menus with pizza, pasta, burgers and sushi make it easy to please a table with mixed tastes. Mamma Mozzarella and Hard Rock Cafe are natural choices when children are along, and Hi Sushi Malta offers an all you can eat option as well as ordering from the menu, which suits big appetites and fussy eaters alike.
Larger parties are well catered for. Browns Kitchen arranges tailor-made set menus to suit a group's budget and needs, from birthdays to hen and stag gatherings. Ta' Detta has a separate private room that can host family celebrations or business meetings. If you are travelling with a crowd, it is worth contacting your chosen restaurant ahead of your visit so they can plan around you.
Evenings on the promenade
After dark the quay takes on a different character. The stone frontage is lit, the water darkens and the terraces glow. It is a lovely time for a long dinner, an aperitif or a glass of something good, and the promenade is pleasant for a stroll between courses or afterwards.
For a quiet drink with a story, Vinomad's self-pour wine machines let you sample many different glasses in small tastes. For something livelier, Hard Rock Cafe adds cocktails and a music-memorabilia backdrop. To see what else happens along the quay once the sun goes down, take a look at our guide to events and venues at the waterfront.
Before and after your meal
A meal here combines easily with sightseeing. You can browse the vaults' boutiques on our waterfront shops page, or learn about the quay's story through the waterfront attractions. If you need directions to the area, the getting there page covers the options.
Location
Questions about Restaurants and Bars at the Valletta Waterfront
How many restaurants and bars are there at the Valletta Waterfront?
There are nine places to eat and drink along the waterfront: Bistro 516, Browns Kitchen, Hard Rock Cafe, Hi Sushi Malta, Mamma Mozzarella, Nan Yuan, Ta' Detta, Tribelli and Vinomad, each in its own numbered vault.
What kinds of food can I find at the waterfront?
You can choose traditional Maltese and Mediterranean cooking, Italian pizza and pasta, Cantonese dishes, Japanese and fusion cuisine, American burgers, steaks and fresh fish, and a wine-focused menu, so most tastes are covered.
Is the waterfront a good place to eat before or after a cruise?
Yes. The restaurants sit next to the Valletta Cruise Port, so you can eat without a long journey. Check your all-aboard time, and tell staff early if you are on a tight schedule.
Which restaurants have views of the Grand Harbour?
Bistro 516, Browns Kitchen, Hi Sushi Malta and Tribelli all mention harbour views from their tables, and Hard Rock Cafe also enjoys a stunning harbourside location close to the cruise terminal.
Where can I go with a large group or for a celebration?
Browns Kitchen creates set menus to match a group's budget, and Ta' Detta has a private room for family gatherings or meetings. It is wise to contact the restaurant before you travel.
Are there options for vegetarians or people avoiding gluten?
Bistro 516 prepares vegetarian and gluten-free dishes on request. For other restaurants, ask your server about suitable choices when you sit down, as menus and ingredients can change.
Where can I try traditional Maltese food at the waterfront?
Ta' Detta, a family-run restaurant, puts Maltese cuisine at the front of its menu, and Tribelli celebrates local flavours and Maltese culinary traditions. Both are good choices for a first taste of the islands.
Can I try lots of different wines in one place?
Vinomad is the answer. It offers more than 100 wines by the glass and uses self-pour machines, so you can taste a range of styles without committing to a whole bottle.
Photos: Valletta Waterfront and Valletta Cruise Port.