If there’s one thing Maltese people love more than a good meal, it’s knowing that they’ve manage to get their money’s worth when they’re at a restaurant. 

Now that the Definitive(ly) Good Guide 2018 Awards have revealed a wide variety of winners – fromthe best restaurant to the fanciest toilets – it’s time to announce the best value for money restaurants according to their large number of surveyors.

This year’s list of winners has seen some changes from last year’s, with newcomers and high climbers alike. If you’re anywhere on the island and are looking for a great meal, here are the 18 Maltese restaurants you need to visit to really get your money’s worth.

18. Country Terrace

Mġarr (Gozo)

Great value for money and an amazing view of Gozo’s ferry terminal (not to mention Comino and Malta in the background)? This Mġarr restaurant is kicking the list off in style if you’re 

17. La Vida

Sliema

A tapas bar opposite The Chalet by the Preluna Hotel, La Vida wants to live up to its name (which is life in Spanish). The bar has been around for just over a year, but it’s already managed to make waves with locals and tourists alike.

16. Ristorante La Vela

Pietà

If you were hoping on getting your money’s worth with not just delicious Italian cuisine (anything from homemade pasta to fish antipasti) but also a great seaside view, then this restaurant by the Msida Marina is definitely one to keep on your radar.

15. one80 Kitchen & Lounge

Mellieħa

Genuine Mediterranean cuisine and a unique ambience is all well and good, but that name is actually down to something else entirely. A 180 degree outstanding view, this restaurant is the work of two passionate foodies and experienced restauranteurs. 

14. Capo Crudo

Valletta

A fancy Mediterranean restaurant that’s managed to climb the ranks of hype in the very little time it’s been around. In their own words, “if the true marks of unforgettable gastronomic moments are those of classic surroundings, genuine hospitality and culinary excellence, then Capo Crudo is clearly here to stay.”

13. Zeri’s

St. Julian’s

Consistently good cuisine and the luxurious backdrop of the Portomaso Marina Complex make this seafood-oriented restaurant a firm favourite in a couple of other lists, and it’s also managed to clinch the lucky number 13 on this one.

12. Tal-Familja

Marsaskala

There are dozens of family-run restaurants around Malta, and with a name like that, you can only imagine just how good this southern restaurant is at bringing that authentic and warm atmosphere to life. Run by Charles Preca and his family, Tal-Familja has everything from Gozitan fried cheese to fresh oysters.

11. Bacchus

Mdina

Also voted as one of Malta’s most romantic restaurants, Bacchus has stood the test of time in the Silent City. More than three and a half decades later, it must be doing something right.

10. Shoreditch Bar & Kitchen

St. Julian’s

Facebook #FoodPorn central, Shoreditch’s clientele also feel like they’re getting great value for their money. And that’s probably down to the insanely generous helpings of cheese, truffle and chocolate that Chef Daniel Grech musters up on a daily basis.

9. A Modo Mio

Valletta

Secluded, romantic, delicious… and, it turns out, great value for money! Because sometimes, all you really want is an Italian restaurant deep in the capital city of Malta. 

8. Marina Club VW

Valletta

Last year, the Marina Club at the Valletta Waterfront kicked off this same list. Fast forward to one year, and it’s managed to climb up to the upper half. 

7. Tarragon

St. Paul’s Bay

Consistently voted as one of the best restaurants in Malta, this year was no exception for Tarragon. Beyond exquisite food for those people who enjoy the finer things in life, this St. Paul’s Bay jewel is also loved by its clientele for providing excellent value for money. After all, you pay for what you get, and at Tarragon, people pay for the best.

6. Suruchi

St. Julian’s

The only Indian restaurant on the list, Suruchi knows a thing or two about winning awards. And if it’s value for money you’re looking for, they’ve also got you covered. They can cater for events of up to 40 people and have a pick-up service at a 10% discount, so it’s no wonder that this delicious eatery rates high.

5. Mamma Mia

Ta’ Xbiex

You’re going to be hard-pressed finding someone who isn’t familiar with Mamma Mia. Located just on the Ta’ Xbiex seafront overlooking the Msida Marina, everything at this restaurant seems to come at double the average size… for no added prize. From full racks of BBQ ribs straight out of Jurassic Park and endless plates of pasta, The self-professed “most loved family restaurant in Malta” has been a winner for decades. 

4. districtfive

Birżebbuġa

This is how you impress when you’re a newcomer. This southern restaurant has been around for less than seven months, but here it is in the top five best value for money restaurants in all of Malta. It also happens to have the officially best restaurant toilet in Malta, in case you were wondering.

3. La Buona Trattoria del Nonno

St. Paul’s Bay

It’s tough to not be instantly won over with an adorable name like that. After spearheading multiple successful restaurants in the past, Ben Muscat decided to come out of retirement in 2012 to come up with his ideal perception of a genuine trattoria. Five years ago, this restaurant’s homemade pasta, wood-fired oven pizzas, and their signature mussel soup are the stuff of legend in their Northern neighbourhood.

2. The Avenue

St. Julian’s

This Paceville restaurant opened all the way back in 1987. A whole three decades and a couple of refurbishments later, some of The Avenue’s clients don’t just remember its first years; they still go there for its light-hearted environment, family-friendly atmosphere… and value for money.

1. iPlace

Marsaxlokk

For the second consecutive year (but third overall), iPlace once again takes the top spot for Malta’s best value for money. This Internet cafe first opened in 2010 as Southeast Restaurant, and continues to live up to its name with its personalised TV screens and 150 iPads for not only viewing the menu and choosing your order, but also playing on (whether you’re a kid or, like us, a technophile).

iPlace has been winning Definitive(ly) Good Guide Awards for two years now, snatching not only this award before, but also the Most Children Friendly Restaurant in both 2014 and 2015. This year, along with the Best Value For Money Award, iPlace managed to take the Best Children Friendly, Best Pet Friendly, Best for Dining Alone and Most Mentioned Restaurant awards. With the way things are going, it seems like it might very well keep its dominance in the near future!

Tag someone who still needs to tick a couple of these restaurants off their list!

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David Grech Urpani

Lovin Malta's Head of Content, Dave has been in journalism for the better half of the last decade. Prefers Instagram, but has been known to doomscroll on TikTok. Loves chicken, women's clothes and Kanye West (most of the time).