Valletta Food Tour: Pastizzi, Pasta & Local Drinks

Four stops through Valletta's street food, guided by someone who actually eats there

You walk through Valletta's historic center with a local food expert, stopping at four carefully chosen spots to eat pastizzi, traditional Maltese pasta, bigilla with galletti, and imqaret: the equivalent of a full meal. One alcoholic drink is included (beer or soft drink alternatives available), and the small-group format means your guide has time to explain the stories and traditions behind each dish instead of rushing you through.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Upper Barrakka Gardens30m
2. St. John's Co-Cathedral1h
3. Grand Master's Palace30m

Valletta food tasting and cultural walk

• Taste Pastizzi pastries
• Try Imqarrun or Ravjul pasta
• Enjoy Bigilla with Galletti crackers
• Drink Cisk beer or Kinnie soft drink
• Eat Imqaret date-filled pastries

The experience

"You'll understand Malta when you taste pastizzi warm from the bakery," our guide said as we stopped at the first corner near Upper Barrakka Gardens, and she was right. Those flaky, golden pastries filled with ricotta or curried peas tasted nothing like the idea of them. The Valletta food tour moves through the historic streets at a pace that lets you actually taste things instead of rushing between photo stops. You start with pastizzi because it's what locals grab for breakfast, lunch, or whenever hunger hits, and it sets the tone for everything that follows: food that's been feeding this island for generations, not food made for tourists.

After pastizzi comes the pasta (either imqarrun at lunch stops or ravjul at dinner, depending on when you book), handmade in restaurants that still follow the old recipes. Your guide explains what you're eating as you eat it, which changes how the food lands. The bigilla comes next, a garlicky broad bean dip that arrives with galletti, the Maltese crackers that crack exactly right, paired with either a Cisk beer or Kinnie soft drink depending on what you choose. By the time you reach the fourth stop (imqaret, those deep-fried date pastries with citrus and spice) you've eaten a full meal without it feeling like a tour where you're being herded through checkpoints. The stops are near the Grand Master's Palace and St. John's Co-Cathedral, so you're moving through actual Valletta, not a fabricated food district.

The group stays small, which matters more than it sounds. Your guide isn't splitting attention between twenty people. She's telling you why bigilla shows up at Maltese gatherings, what the Arabic influence tastes like in imqaret, how pastizzi became the thing everyone eats. That kind of detail only lands when there's room for actual conversation. The tour runs in English, and other languages are available if you arrange ahead.

What’s included

Your tour includes an English-speaking local guide who shares insider knowledge about each dish and its place in Maltese culture, water throughout the day, at least one alcoholic drink (beer, wine, or soft drink alternatives), and food at four stops near landmarks including Upper Barrakka Gardens, St. John's Co-Cathedral, and the Grand Master's Palace (pastizzi, traditional Maltese pasta, bigilla with galletti, and imqaret) that together make up a full meal.

Options for this experience

3 options

Deal of the yearGuide in English · Only on 17 Dec · 10:30Special Deal

Malta Food Tour in Valletta: Best of Malta by Do Eat BetterGuide in English · 10:30

Valletta Food Tour at sunsetGuide in English · 18:00Option with dinner

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:30 and 18:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (6 to 10 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Do Eat Better Experience

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to eat actual Valletta food, not a curated version of it, and you'd rather have a local explain what you're tasting than figure it out alone. The small-group format is what makes the guide's attention possible.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 10 years); Infant (under 6): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's included in the tour price?

English-speaking local guide, water, at least one alcoholic drink (or soft drink alternative), and food at four stops that together equal a full meal.

Can I do this tour if I have food allergies?

Guests with severe or life-threatening food allergies are unable to participate for safety reasons. If you have mild allergies, contact the operator before booking to discuss options.

What if I don't drink alcohol?

Soft drink alternatives like Kinnie are available, and you can choose non-alcoholic options at each stop.

Do I need to be fit to do this tour?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. It involves walking through Valletta's historic streets at a leisurely pace with stops to eat.

What's the difference between imqarrun and ravjul?

Both are traditional Maltese pasta made with homemade recipes. Imqarrun is typically served at lunch stops, ravjul at dinner, depending on when you book.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes, service animals are welcome on the tour.