The best Mellieha restaurants and cafés: 9 personal picks

Discover the best Mellieha restaurants and cafés: fresh fish, Maltese pastizzi, spectacular views, great coffee and sunset drinks. Tips from personal experience.

Dining in Mellieha

To be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect from the food in Malta. Mediterranean cuisine, fresh fish, but beyond that? It turned out to be much better than I’d hoped. During my stay in Mellieha, I ate really well. The town has a surprisingly varied selection of restaurants and cafés.

There are plenty of beach clubs along the coast, but the historic center has some lovely spots for outdoor dining too. And don’t overlook the local “hole-in-the-wall” takeaways. That’s often where you’ll find the most authentic Maltese food. In this article, I’ll share the cafés and restaurants in Mellieha that I visited myself, along with my honest take on what I ate.

Mellieha restaurants: my personal recommendations

First up: the restaurants where you can sit down for a proper lunch or dinner, and enjoy a drink or two.

Liska Restaurant: for the best fresh fish

If you only visit one restaurant in Mellieha, make it Liska. It is the ultimate spot for seafood, and honestly, it was one of the best meals I had during my entire trip to Malta. Everything is incredibly fresh, expertly prepared, and beautifully presented.

The location is another huge plus. From the terrace, you have a stunning view of the parish church, which is beautifully lit up at night. It makes the experience even better: amazing food paired with a gorgeous setting. The atmosphere is relaxed, yet it still feels a bit special.

My tip: Ask for the daily catch or try the octopus. It is cooked to absolute perfection and incredibly tender, without any of that chewiness you sometimes get.

Antonine Al Fresco: the best view in Mellieha

It is easy to forget that hotel restaurants can be hidden gems, even if you are not staying there. Antonine Al Fresco is an Asian fusion restaurant perched on the rooftop terrace of the Maritim Antonine Hotel. If you love dinner with a view, this is the place to be.

We managed to get a table right at the edge, giving us front-row seats to an incredible backdrop. From there, you look out over the town’s historic churches, the coastline, and even the neighboring islands of Gozo and Comino. Time your visit right, and you will catch a spectacular sunset.

The restaurant serves great cocktails and excellent Asian specialties. We ordered the curry, and it was delicious. Best of all, while you might expect a rooftop spot like this to be overly pricey, the prices are very reasonable and right in line with other restaurants in Mellieha.

One80 Kitchen & Lounge: centrally located

One80 Kitchen & Lounge is one of the more upscale dining options in Mellieha. It is located right in the center, along the main road that connects the coastal area to the historic upper town. The restaurant features a modern vibe, a varied menu, and excellent service. While it is a bit pricier than other spots in town, the quality is definitely worth it.

We shared a fresh seafood platter with a side dish, paired with a bottle of 1919, which is one of Malta’s top wines. Everything was absolutely delicious. Even though the restaurant sits right next to the main road, the traffic is never too disruptive, and you still get a beautiful view of the coastline and the sunset.

Sea View Café: a hidden gem (literally)

The name speaks for itself, and the view here is truly spectacular. Sea View Café is tucked away behind a cemetery and a playground, meaning you probably won’t just stumble across it by accident. However, once you find this spot, it is more than worth the effort.

We stopped by for a smoothie, and it was incredibly refreshing. Honestly, though, this is the ultimate spot for sunset drinks. While I didn’t get a chance to eat a full meal here, the menu looks very promising with plenty of options for everyone. It is definitely on my list for next time!

Blu Beach Club: go for the drinks, not the food

To be completely honest, while Blu Beach Club is a beautiful venue, the food was not the highlight of my visit. I ordered a chicken burger, and it was a bit of a letdown. It wasn’t terrible, but it definitely didn’t blow me away. The service was also a little indifferent, as the staff didn’t seem particularly eager to help us.

That being said, I wouldn’t completely rule out going back. The location is fantastic. It sits right on the water, and if you manage to snag a good spot, you will get that perfect, laid-back beach club vibe. If you visit strictly for drinks, an appetizer, or a lazy afternoon in the sun, Blu Beach Club is actually an excellent choice.

Maltese snacks

Sometimes you don’t feel like sitting down for a full meal and just want to grab a quick bite. That is often the best way to sample authentic local flavors.

McSims

McSims isn’t a traditional restaurant, but rather a small takeout spot with a few locations across the island. It is a simple counter packed with local specialties, giving it a truly authentic feel. This is the ultimate place to try pastizzi, the famous Maltese savory pastries traditionally filled with ricotta or peas.

I tried the cheese version, which was delicious, but the highlight was an anchovy pastry (which I think had also olives and peas inside) that turned out to be a wonderful surprise.

The combination of a salty, savory filling wrapped in flaky, crispy pastry is simply irresistible. I paid less than €6 for three pastizzi and two other pastries, so you definitely shouldn’t pass them up.

Bixkilla Traditional Bakes

I usually check Google Maps before trying a new spot, but in the case of Bixkilla traditional bakes, I’m glad I didn’t. Its 3.8 rating probably would have kept me away, which would have been a real shame.

Bixkilla is a small bakery selling traditional Maltese pastries and snacks. While the woman behind the counter didn’t have many vegetarian options on display, she went out of her way to make us a custom sandwich with grilled vegetables and olives, and it was delicious. I ordered a tuna sandwich that was perfectly seasoned, and it absolutely hit the spot.

Coffee and sweets in Mellieha

As you may know, I love visiting local coffee shops while traveling, and Malta was no exception.

TuttoBuono: Italian Delicacies

If you take just one coffee recommendation from this article, make it TuttoBuono. I ordered a cannoli to go with my coffee, and it was truly divine. With its crispy pastry and creamy filling, it was absolutely perfect. I could have easily eaten another one.

TuttoBuono is also just a wonderful little spot to sit down and relax. In addition to their specialty coffees, they serve delicious schiacciata (a Tuscan flatbread similar to focaccia) with a variety of toppings.

Starbucks: a surprising location

I’ll admit it: I also went to the Starbucks in Mellieha. I usually try to avoid large chains when I travel, but the location here is simply too beautiful to pass up. I have no idea how a Starbucks ended up in such a gorgeous spot, but there it is. Sometimes, a spectacular view trumps principles (plus, there weren’t many other coffee shops nearby anyway).

At the end of the day, it is still Starbucks, so don’t expect top-tier artisanal quality. But if you just want to relax for a while with an iced coffee and a beautiful view, it is definitely a great option.

Good to know before you go

Here are a few things I learned after spending several days exploring the food scene in Mellieha:

Book your tables in advance: Be sure to make reservations for popular spots like Liska and Antonine Al Fresco, especially during the peak summer season. The best tables with a view fill up fast. We visited in June and luckily managed to get seated right away everywhere we went, but booking ahead is always the safest bet.

Don’t skip the local flavors: Malta has a rich culinary tradition with incredible flavors. Be sure to try traditional Maltese cuisine at least once. Heading to McSims or a similar hole-in-the-wall spot is the absolute best way to get an authentic street food experience.

Look for lunch specials: Dining out midday is often much more budget-friendly. Many restaurants offer lunch menus that cost significantly less than their dinner options.

Cards are widely accepted: You can use your card almost anywhere. I hardly ever needed cash, as even small amounts could easily be paid with a debit or credit card.

Stroll through the town center: Take a short walk to soak up the local atmosphere. There are far more wonderful little restaurants than I had time to visit. Mellieha is small enough that you can easily wander around to see what catches your eye. For instance, a place called Sveta’s looked incredibly charming, sitting right on a lovely little square.

These are my top recommendations for restaurants and cafés in Mellieha. While there are undoubtedly plenty of other great options in town, these are the spots where I personally had a wonderful experience. Which one are you most excited to try?