Best Restaurants in Marsaxlokk: Where to Eat in Malta’s Fishing Village

Marsaxlokk is one of Malta’s best places to eat, especially if you love fresh fish and Mediterranean food. As the island’s traditional fishing village, its waterfront is packed with restaurants overlooking colourful luzzijiet, the distinctive Maltese fishing boats that fill the harbour.

But with so many restaurants along the promenade, choosing where to eat isn’t always easy.

From relaxed seafood restaurants to refined dining and traditional Maltese cooking, here are some of the best restaurants in Marsaxlokk to try during your visit.

1. Roots Restaurant

Roots Restaurant

Sitting directly along Marsaxlokk's waterfront, Roots Restaurant is one of our favourite places to eat in the village.

The menu focuses heavily on Mediterranean cuisine and seafood, with fresh fish, octopus, calamari and seafood pasta among the kinds of dishes you can expect. It strikes a good balance between quality food and the relaxed atmosphere you'd want from a fishing village.

Its location on Xatt is-Sajjieda also means you can enjoy your meal just metres from Marsaxlokk's colourful fishing boats.

Roots is particularly good for a long lunch by the harbour or a relaxed dinner after exploring Malta's southern coastline.

Best for: Fresh seafood, Mediterranean dishes and waterfront dining.

2. Azure Bistro

AZURE Bistro

For something a little quieter and more intimate, Azure Bistro is another excellent Marsaxlokk restaurant worth knowing about.

Located just off the main waterfront on Duncan Street, Azure offers a more understated setting than some of the larger restaurants lining the promenade.

The restaurant focuses on Mediterranean cuisine and is a great option for couples or anyone looking for a relaxed evening meal away from the busiest part of the harbour.

It's also particularly convenient if you're staying in the centre of Marsaxlokk, with the waterfront only a short walk away.

Best for: A quieter Mediterranean dinner and relaxed atmosphere.

3. Tartarun

Tartarun Restaurant

If you're serious about seafood, Tartarun is one of the most established names in Marsaxlokk.

Run by the Schiavone family, the restaurant has strong connections to the village and focuses on locally caught fish prepared with a combination of Mediterranean influences and more contemporary techniques.

The Michelin Guide includes Tartarun among its Malta restaurant selections, and the menu revolves around the day's catch alongside more creative seafood dishes.

It's more refined — and generally more expensive — than many of the casual restaurants around the harbour, making it particularly suited to a special dinner.

Best for: A refined seafood experience.

Website: Tartarun Restaurant

4. Liska Restaurant

Liska Restaurant

Liska has become another popular choice along Marsaxlokk's waterfront.

It combines Mediterranean flavours with a contemporary approach while maintaining the relaxed atmosphere you'd expect from a seaside restaurant.

Its position overlooking the harbour makes it especially appealing for lunch, when Marsaxlokk's colourful boats and waterfront provide the backdrop.

Best for: Contemporary Mediterranean food and a waterfront lunch.

5. Ta' Victor

Ta' Victor

If you want to try something more traditionally Maltese, Ta' Victor is well worth considering.

Rather than concentrating exclusively on seafood, the restaurant is known for Maltese and Mediterranean cooking and is a good place to discover some of the flavours associated with traditional local cuisine.

It's particularly suited to visitors who want something different after several days of seafood.

Best for: Traditional Maltese cuisine.

6. T'Annamari

T'Annamari Restaurant

Malta's proximity to Sicily has had a huge influence on its food, and T'Annamari embraces that connection.

Chef-patron Salvatore Piccione brings Sicilian traditions and ingredients to Marsaxlokk, combining them with fresh seafood sourced through connections with local fishermen.

The result is a restaurant that feels perfectly at home in Marsaxlokk while offering something noticeably different from the typical waterfront seafood restaurant.

Best for: Sicilian cuisine and seafood.

Website: T'Annamari Restaurant

7. La Capanna

La Capanna Restaurant

La Capanna is another solid option for visitors looking for a relaxed Mediterranean meal in Marsaxlokk.

It's the kind of restaurant that works particularly well for an easy lunch after exploring the harbour or visiting nearby attractions such as St Peter's Pool.

Best for: A casual Mediterranean lunch.

8. Harbour by Johann

Harbour by Johann

Harbour by Johann is another popular restaurant overlooking Marsaxlokk's waterfront.

Its varied menu makes it a useful choice if you're travelling with a group where not everyone wants seafood, while still providing the harbour atmosphere that makes dining in Marsaxlokk special.

Best for: Groups, harbour views and varied tastes.

What Food Should You Try in Marsaxlokk?

If there's anywhere in Malta where you should order fish, it's Marsaxlokk.

Fishing has shaped the village for generations, and many restaurants still source fish from local fishermen.

Instead of automatically choosing something from the regular menu, ask your server what fresh fish is available that day. Depending on the season and the catch, you might find sea bass, sea bream, swordfish or other Mediterranean fish.

Other dishes worth trying include:

• Fresh octopus
• Calamari
• Seafood pasta
• Seafood risotto
• Grilled local fish
• Aljotta, traditional Maltese fish soup
• Lampuki when in season

Is It Better to Eat Lunch or Dinner in Marsaxlokk?

Both offer completely different experiences.

For the classic Marsaxlokk atmosphere, lunch is hard to beat. You'll be sitting beside the harbour while fishing boats come and go, particularly around the busy waterfront.

Sunday is the liveliest day because of the famous Marsaxlokk market, although restaurants and the promenade can become considerably busier.

Dinner is quieter.

Once many of the daytime visitors leave, Marsaxlokk settles back into a much calmer seaside village. Walking along the promenade around sunset before having dinner is one of the nicest ways to experience the area.

A Local Tip

Don't automatically choose the first restaurant you see.

Marsaxlokk has a huge concentration of restaurants along a relatively small waterfront, so it's worth walking along the promenade, looking at the menus and seeing what fresh fish is available that day.

For a relaxed seafood meal beside the harbour, Roots Restaurant is a great place to start. For something smaller and quieter, try Azure Bistro. And if you're looking for a more refined seafood experience, Tartarun is one of Marsaxlokk's best-known choices.

Whichever you choose, having a meal overlooking Marsaxlokk harbour is part of the experience of visiting Malta's south — and one of the best ways to enjoy the village.

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