Once a tiny fishing village, the town of Sliema has grown to become the veritable gastronomic capital of Malta. From typical Maltese dishes to Asian fusion, you’re sure to find a restaurant to suit your palate and your wallet in this delightful town.
Situated only 20 minutes away from the airport, you can easily travel from terminal to table with one of Shuttle Direct’s transfers from Malta Airport. Our knowledgeable local drivers will be delighted to whisk you away to a restaurant that tickles your taste buds.
Our Top Picks
We have hand-picked some of the best restaurants in Sliema for sophisticated travellers and foodies alike. Check them out!
Il Merill
Dine in the tranquillity of this secluded family-run restaurant, which is located near Sliema’s waterfront.
Named after Malta’s national bird, – the blue rock thrush – this intimate restaurant offers a variety of traditional dishes from Malta and from the rest of the Mediterranean. The dishes, which are lovingly prepared by the head chef Patrick, are very generous in size, so only dine here if you’re hungry! The large portion sizes ensure excellent value for money.
L’Artiste
For lovers of fine Italian dining, L’Artiste will not disappoint.
Situated at the beginning of the Tigne Peninsula, this intimate family-run eatery offers the perfect setting for a romantic meal.
At the front of the house, the restaurant manager Gino will make your evening extra special with his witty repartee. He takes genuine pride in advising diners on the best dishes and, as an added bonus, he may even serenade you with his wonderful guitar playing.
In the kitchen, chef Steve Schembri passionately recreates local and Italian dishes with a contemporary twist. There is also something special on offer for wine lovers, who will be spoilt for choice when they behold the restaurant’s exhaustive wine list.
Rocksalt
Serious foodies will love this unique concept café. Situated on the densely packed Tigne seafront, which is where many restaurants jostle for attention, this atmospheric café-cum-wine bar stands out against the crowd.
Rocksalt is famous for its stunning and elaborate dishes, and also boasts a carefully crafted ambience. For those looking to sample the crème de-la crème of cuisine from France, Greece, Italy and Spain, then this restaurant is the place to go.
If you’re impressed by the food, you can also bring some home, as the café boasts a recently opened delicatessen store, where you can buy a selection of high-quality products.
Medasia Fusion Lounge
Situated bang in the middle of Sliema’s coastal road is the unlikely location for this chic gastro-lounge.
As its name suggests, this bold eatery offers an exotic combination of Mediterranean and European cuisine. If you want to sample the culinary delights from Japan, Thailand and China, which are all prepared with a distinctly European flair, this is the place for you!
Charles Grech Bistro
Highly reputed in Malta, the Charles Grech brand took the country by storm with the opening of its first café in Valletta.
The restaurant in Sliema continues to wow diners with its sophisticated French cuisine.
This eatery boasts a menu consisting of everything you’d expect from a Parisian bistro, including foie gras and beef tartare that has been cooked to perfection.
How to Get to Sliema
Travelling from the only airport on the island couldn’t be quicker, as most resorts are only 20 minutes away. Malta is around three hours flying time from the UK and is served by carriers such as easyJet and Ryanair.
Upon arriving, maximise your precious holiday time by pre-booking one of Shuttle Direct’s transfers from Malta airport. Our friendly and local drivers will be on hand to take you to your destination.
Lukas Johannes is a driver for Shuttle Direct, the number one provider of shared and private airport transfers all over Europe and northern Africa. If you’re looking for the most affordable transfers from Malta Airport, Lukas and his colleagues can make sure that you and your luggage get to and from the airport swiftly and safely.
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