VALLETTA
Valletta, Malta's UNESCO-listed capital, is a compact Baroque gem built by the Knights of St. John after the 1565 Great Siege.
Nestled on a peninsula between Grand Harbour and Marsamxett, it boasts St. John's Co-Cathedral, Caravaggio masterpieces, MUŻA art museum, and lively spots like Caffe Cordina and Noni Michelin restaurant.Its elegant streets blend historic sites, boutique shopping at Hollywood, Upper Barrakka views, and a sophisticated night scene on Strait Street.
​In a world where city centres, like London, Rome, Paris and Milan, are becoming indistinguishable,
Valletta still offers an experience that is different and unique.
VISIT
Caravaggio
St. John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta stands as a Baroque masterpiece built by the Knights of St. John in the late 1570s, boasting ornate marble floors with 400 knight tombs, intricate in-situ carvings by Mattia Preti, and a lavish interior that contrasts its austere facade.
​Caravaggio's Masterpieces there include his monumental The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist (1608), the artist's only signed work and largest canvas, dramatically lit in chiaroscuro style, plus St. Jerome Writing (1607–1608), both created during his brief Maltese stay.
St John's Co Cathedral, St John's Square
OTHER HISTORIC SPOTS
The Victory Church 97, South Street
St Catherine Church South Street (Opposite Victory Church)
The Manoel Theatre 115, Old Theatre Street
The National Library 36, Old Treasury Street
The Phoenicia Hotel The Mall, Floriana
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Upper Barrakka Gardens
Upper Barrakka Gardens in Valletta offer stunning panoramic views of the Grand Harbour, one of the world's finest natural harbors and a key to Malta's strategic history under the Knights of St. John. Established in 1661 as private gardens for the Italian knights atop the Saints Peter and Paul Bastion, they feature elegant arcades (originally roofed until 1775), monuments to figures like Sir Winston Churchill and Gerald Strickland, vibrant Mediterranean flora, and the daily cannon salute from the adjacent Saluting Battery. The terrace provides an ideal vantage for watching cruise ships, the Three Cities (Vittoriosa, Senglea, Cospicua), and harbor activity, blending serene landscaping with Malta's maritime legacy.
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OTHER SPOTS
The Lower Barakka Gardens
Victoria Gate & Barbara Bastions
Marsamxett Harbour
Parliament
Renzo Piano's Parliament House in Valletta, completed in 2015 as part of the City Gate Project, features two massive limestone blocks elevated on slender columns for a sense of lightness, with perforated facades that filter sunlight and enhance energy efficiency. The modern design, blending Maltese stone with innovative technology, houses the parliamentary chamber, offices, and a shaded courtyard linking to a restored railway tunnel, all while respecting the historic bastions nearby.
FOOD + DRINK
MORE RESTAURANTS
ION 11, St Barbara Bastions
Undergrain 167, Merchant Street
Beef Bar The Phoenicia Hotel, The Mall Floriana
Grain Street 167, Merchant Street
Rubino 53, Old Bakery Street
Risette 81, Old Theatre Street
Da Pippo 137, Melita Street
N 139, St Christopher Street
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NONI
Noni is a celebrated one Michelin-starred restaurant in Valletta, Malta, led by chef Jonathan Brincat, who transformed a 400-year-old bakery into an intimate fine-dining venue. Housed in a stone-vaulted cellar, it offers exclusive tasting menus that fuse traditional Maltese and Mediterranean flavors with French techniques and Asian influences, emphasizing seasonal ingredients, zero-waste practices, and sustainable sourcing from local producers.
211 Republic Street, Valletta
Bridge Bar
Valletta's night scene pulses with a sophisticated, historic charm distinct from Malta's rowdier Paceville clubs. Strait Street, once dubbed "the gut," now thrives as a vibrant hub of cocktail bars like Tico-Tico and Lolita Bar, where retro-chic vibes meet creative mixes amid live jazz at spots such as Bridge Bar and Offbeat Music Bar.
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MORE BARS
AKI 175, Strait Street
Bottega 200, Merchant Street
Tico Tico 61, Strait Street
Caffe Cordina
Caffe Cordina is an iconic historic café in the heart of Valletta’s Republic Square, housed in the former Treasury of the Knights of St John, with ornate vaulted ceilings and paintings that trace Malta’s past. Founded by the Cordina family in the 19th century and relocated to Valletta in 1944, it has evolved from a humble confectionery into an elegant meeting place with an outdoor terrace that animates the piazza. Known for its traditional Maltese pastries, handmade nougat, and classic coffees, it has welcomed presidents, dignitaries, and locals alike, cementing its status as both a café and a cultural landmark.
​244 Republic Street
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SPECIALITY COFFEE
Lot61 30, Old Theatre Street
Coffee Circus 106, Triq San Gwann
5Beans 55, St Lucia Street
Tal-Kafe (Maltese coffee) 162, St Christopher Street
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PASTRIES & CAKES
Sunday in Scotland 173, St Lucia Street
Manouche 7 St John's Square
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SHOP
Hollywood
Hollywood Valletta, located at 92 Republic Street, is a meticulously restored 200-year-old shopfront revived by Maltese artist Thomas Camilleri as "OÄ¡Ä¡etti Sbieħ - Beautiful Objects," blending historic charm with contemporary curation. Once a British servicemen's bazaar and neighborhood stationer post-WWII, it sat shuttered until Camilleri's vision transformed it into a gallery-like space showcasing Maltese craftsmanship—from Lazarus Tiles and hand-printed photography to jewelry, typography, and small-batch art by local makers. With salvaged marble floors, modular shelving inspired by old Maltese homes, and iconic signage now featuring Maltese script, it stands as a cultural anchor in Valletta's Due Balli area, open daily from 10am-6pm for visitors seeking authentic, human-scale treasures.
​92 Republic Street, Valletta
STAY AT VALLETTA SUITES
CULTURE
MUZA
MUÅ»A is housed in the historic Auberge d’Italie, a 16th-century palazzo once home to the Italian knights of the Order of St John. Reimagined and opened in its current form in 2018, it presents Malta’s artistic heritage through thematic narratives—Mediterranean, Europe, Empire, and The Artist—rather than traditional chronological hangs, juxtaposing Old Masters with contemporary works, maps, sculpture, and design objects.
​Auberge D'Italie, Merchants St, Valletta
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OTHER MUSEUMS & GALLERIES
MICAS Bieb il-Pulverista, Floriana
Malta Society of Arts 219 Republic St
Spazju Kreattiv Castille Square
