Valletta: Food Tour with Tasting & Local Stories

Summary

Valletta’s tangled history and flavors come alive on foot with a local guide, tasting pastizzi and hearing stories you won’t find in guidebooks

You’ll wander Valletta’s winding streets with a local guide who knows everyone (or seems to), sampling pastizzi fresh from the oven and learning why Maltese food tastes like nowhere else. Expect stories about knights behaving badly, enough food for lunch or dinner, and small moments that stick with you long after you leave.

What’s the experience like?

It started with Rita waving us over by the bakery window, her hands dusted in flour. She grinned—one of those big Maltese smiles—and asked if we’d tried pastizzi yet. I shook my head, honestly not sure what I was getting into, but she just pressed a warm pastry into my hand and said, “You’ll see.” The flakiness got everywhere (sorry, shirt), but that first bite—salty ricotta, buttery layers—was worth it. The alley outside smelled like coffee and frying onions, and someone’s radio was playing something old and sweet. I didn’t expect Valletta to feel so lived-in.

Our guide, Mark, had this way of talking about the Knights of St. John that made them sound less like statues and more like… well, flawed humans who liked to eat too much and break their own rules. He pointed out a faded coat of arms over a doorway and told us how some Grand Masters swapped their vows for lavish banquets (and apparently plenty of wine). Sometimes he’d pause mid-story to greet someone passing by—everyone seemed to know him. We stopped at a tiny shop for ftira bread stuffed with tuna and capers; the owner winked when I hesitated over the pickled vegetables. I still think about that tangy bite.

I didn’t realize how much Valletta’s food is tangled up with its messy history until Mark explained why there’s so much Italian in Maltese cooking—layers on layers, just like the city itself. Somewhere between bites of rabbit stew and sips of local Kinnie (it’s weirdly herbal but grows on you), I caught myself watching the late afternoon light slide down golden stone walls. There was no rush; we wandered, ate, listened. By the end I felt full in more ways than one, if that makes sense.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Valletta's food and history

• Join Colour My Travel food tour
• Discover Valletta's culinary influences
• Learn about Knights of St. John
• Visit baroque architecture sites
• Hear stories of Grand Masters
• Experience local Maltese cuisine

Top questions

Is this Valletta food tour suitable for vegetarians?

Yes, there’s a vegetarian option available if requested when booking.

Does the tour include enough food for a meal?

Yes, tastings are enough to replace lunch or dinner.

Are there options for other dietary restrictions?

No, only vegetarian diets can be accommodated at this time.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, all areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible.

Can children join this Valletta food tour?

The minimum age is 16 years old.

Is transportation included?

No hotel pickup is included; public transport options are nearby.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes, service animals are welcome on this tour.

What’s included

Your day includes guided walking through Valletta’s historic streets with plenty of stops for Maltese food tastings—enough to count as lunch or dinner—with all tastings arranged by your local guide. Vegetarian options are available if you let them know when booking.