Best 7 Fine Dining Restaurants Near the Grand Harbour in Valletta, Malta in 2025
Valletta, Malta’s stunning capital city, is not only rich in history but also boasts a vibrant food scene. In 2025, the culinary landscape near the Grand Harbour has elevated considerably, reflecting both local Mediterranean flavors and international influences. For those who love food, prioritize healthy eating, and cherish dining out as a special event, Valletta offers impeccable fine dining options that promise unforgettable experiences.
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The Culinary Scene in Valletta
Valletta's culinary landscape is an amalgamation of its rich cultural heritage and modern gastronomic trends. The city has become a hotspot for fine dining, with several establishments recognized in prestigious guides like the Michelin Guide. The restaurants here are celebrated not only for their exquisite cuisine but also for their atmospheric surroundings, many of which offer breathtaking views of the Grand Harbour.
Top 7 Fine Dining Restaurants
Let's dive into the best fine dining restaurants near Grand Harbour, outlining their specialties, pricing, and focus on healthy and gourmet options.
1. 59 Republic
Location: St George's Square, opposite the Grand Master's Palace
Cuisine: Gourmet
Pricing: $$$
Healthy Options: Yes
Description: Featured in the Michelin Guide, 59 Republic is located right in the heart of Valletta. With an outdoor terrace offering a scenic view of St George’s Square, this restaurant delivers an upscale dining experience with a strong focus on gourmet cuisine. Expect finely crafted dishes using the freshest local ingredients.
2. ION
Location: 4th floor of the Iniala Harbour House Hotel, overlooking Grand Harbour
Cuisine: Contemporary
Pricing: $$$$
Healthy Options: Yes
Description: ION stands out as one of Valletta’s premier dining spots, earning a Michelin star for its exceptional cuisine. The restaurant's setting on the 4th floor of the Iniala Harbour House Hotel provides stunning views of the Grand Harbour. The charming and attentive service enhances the dining experience, with a menu that emphasizes modern and innovative dishes.
3. The Harbour
Location: Valletta, overlooking Grand Harbour
Cuisine: Fine Dining
Pricing: $$$$ Healthy Options: Yes
Description: The Harbour restaurant is revered for its luxurious atmosphere and incredible views of the Grand Harbour. Hosting a two-Michelin Star chef residency recently, the restaurant focuses on delivering exquisite fine dining with dishes that are as visually appealing as they are delectable.
4. Zest
Location: Spinola Bay
Cuisine: Asian Fusion
Pricing: $$$
Healthy Options: Yes
Description: Known for its stylish setting and intimate dining experience, Zest restaurant, situated in the heart of Spinola Bay, offers a menu filled with favorites from across Asia. The restaurant provides a vibrant mix of flavors and a unique dining experience that pays homage to modern Mediterranean cuisine.
5. The De Mondion Restaurant
Location: Mdina (short drive from Valletta)
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Pricing: $$$$
Healthy Options: Yes
Description: While not directly in Valletta, a short drive will bring you to The De Mondion, celebrated for its fine Mediterranean cuisine. Perched atop the Xara Palace Relais & Châteaux, the restaurant offers sweeping views of the Maltese countryside, creating a perfect blend of fine dining and picturesque surroundings.
6. Hammett’s Mestizo
Location: Valletta
Cuisine: Meso-South American
Pricing: $$$
Healthy Options: Yes
Description: Located in the periphery of St. Julian’s, Hammett’s Mestizo has quickly established itself as a leading dining location for modern Mediterranean cuisine enhanced with Meso-South American flavors. The restaurant combines vibrant culinary influences from Central America to the Caribbean, offering a unique fusion dining experience.
7. Noni
Location: Valletta
Cuisine: Modern European
Pricing: $$$$
Healthy Options: Yes
Description: Located in the heart of Valletta, Noni is known for its modern European menu that beautifully balances traditional Maltese flavors with contemporary techniques. This Michelin-starred restaurant focuses on the use of premium, fresh ingredients to create healthy and sophisticated dishes.
Conclusion
Dining out in Valletta, particularly near the Grand Harbour, is a delightful experience for food enthusiasts, especially those who appreciate fine dining and healthy options. The city’s top restaurants offer an array of gourmet cuisines set against the backdrop of Malta’s historic and scenic beauty. Whether you’re visiting Valletta or are a local resident, these fine dining restaurants promise an elegant culinary journey.
Sip and savor the best that Valletta has to offer and indulge in these exquisite culinary destinations, each carefully chosen to provide an unparalleled dining escapade.
FAQ
What are the best fine dining restaurants near the Grand Harbour in Valletta?
Valletta offers several exquisite fine dining options including 59 Republic, ION, The Harbour, Zest, The De Mondion Restaurant, Hammett’s Mestizo, and Noni. These restaurants present a mix of local Mediterranean flavors and international influences.
Where is 59 Republic located, and what is its specialty?
59 Republic is situated at St George's Square, opposite the Grand Master's Palace. The restaurant is known for its gourmet cuisine and possesses an outdoor terrace that offers scenic views. Learn more about 59 Republic.
What makes ION a premier dining spot in Valletta?
ION is located on the 4th floor of the Iniala Harbour House Hotel and offers a Michelin-starred dining experience. It provides a stunning view over Valletta's Grand Harbour and is renowned for its exceptional cuisine and charming service. Discover more about ION.
Why is The Harbour restaurant in Valletta popular?
The Harbour restaurant is celebrated for its luxurious atmosphere and breathtaking views of the Grand Harbour. It recently hosted a two-Michelin Star chef residency, focusing on delivering exquisite fine dining experiences. Read more about The Harbour on Wanderlog.
Can you recommend an Asian fusion fine dining restaurant near Valletta?
Zest, situated in Spinola Bay, offers an intimate dining experience with a menu comprising favorites from across Asia. It provides stylish settings and a vibrant mix of flavors inspired by modern Mediterranean cuisine.
Is there a fine dining restaurant in Mdina that is near Valletta?
Yes, The De Mondion Restaurant in Mdina is a short drive from Valletta and is celebrated for its fine Mediterranean cuisine. It is located atop the Xara Palace Relais & Châteaux, offering sweeping views of the Maltese countryside.
What type of cuisine does Hammett’s Mestizo offer in Valletta?
Hammett’s Mestizo combines modern Mediterranean cuisine with Meso-South American flavors. It is noted for its vibrant culinary influences from Central America to the Caribbean. Find out more about Hammett’s Mestizo on Eat Out Malta.
Where can one find modern European dining in Valletta?
Noni, located in the heart of Valletta, is known for its modern European menu that balances traditional Maltese flavors with contemporary techniques. The restaurant has earned a Michelin star for its sophisticated dishes.
What are the price ranges for these fine dining restaurants?
The fine dining restaurants in Valletta have varying price ranges. Most of these restaurants are priced between $$$ to $$$$, reflecting their upscale dining experiences and high-quality cuisine.
Are there healthy dining options available at these fine dining restaurants?
Yes, all the recommended fine dining restaurants near the Grand Harbour in Valletta offer healthy options in their menus, catering to various dietary preferences.
About the Author and Reviewer
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur.
Why does it matter for the Restaurants Directory? Well, not only is Violetta a healthy lifestyle geek, but she has also been living in multiple countries around the globe, which let her accumulate a lot of experience, especially when it comes to local cuisines and their connection to the health of the nation. She has been very active in the physical and mental health domains, having integrated health into the startup ecosystems. She has also built multiple apps to track calories and to be in control of your healthy habits.
In her projects she always takes a multidisciplinary approach and creates products and services that have a value add that's benefitial to overlooked groups or focising on the topics that have not been combined before. In the startup cities directory she introduced a MeanCEO Index, which is the first of its kind ranking for startup cities that is meant to focus on female entrepreneurs. A similar approach is used with the Restaurants in Malta Directory that also has a ranking system that does not exist when it comes to restaurants. Healthy eating is not a luxury, but a necessity in a world where sedentary lifestyle is taking years away from our lives. We need to eat food that adds years to our lives instead of taking time away. That's why this project is so important, especially in Malta, where the problem of obesity is all too known. The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified Malta as one of the European countries with the highest obesity prevalence. It's time to change the mindset.
More about Violetta and her projects
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities.
