Halal Food in Malta

Halal Dining in Malta — the Overview

Malta welcomes millions of visitors each year, and the island's dining scene has evolved to reflect that diversity. For Muslim travellers and halal-conscious diners, the picture is broadly positive — and improving. While Malta is a predominantly Catholic country, its strategic position at the crossroads of Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East means it has long had a cosmopolitan food culture.

Halal dining options are concentrated in the main tourist and residential areas: Sliema, Valletta, St Julian's, and the Gzira–Msida corridor. Smaller towns have fewer dedicated options, but seafood is reliably available everywhere, and self-catering with supermarket halal products is straightforward in most areas.

According to Visit Malta, the island receives visitors from across the Arab world, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, and the tourism authority acknowledges dietary diversity as an important part of the visitor experience. You will not struggle to eat well here — but a little preparation goes a long way.

For context on the broader Maltese food scene, our guide to traditional Maltese food covers the local cuisine in depth. If you have other dietary considerations, our vegetarian Malta guide may also be useful.

Halal-Certified, Halal-Friendly & Pork-Free — Know the Difference

One of the most important practical points for Muslim diners in Malta is understanding what restaurants actually mean when they describe themselves as "halal." The terminology is not always consistent.

Our recommendation: for Turkish kebab shops and established Middle Eastern restaurants in Malta, the meat is almost always halal-sourced even without a certificate — these businesses typically buy from the same halal wholesale suppliers. However, always ask if you are unsure. Most restaurant staff will answer honestly and directly.

Where to Eat: Halal Restaurants by Area

Valletta

Malta's capital has a growing number of halal-friendly options. Turkish and Middle Eastern restaurants have opened in the side streets away from the main tourist drag, and many of the city's kebab shops are halal-sourced.

For the full picture of where to eat in the capital, see our Valletta food guide which covers over 30 restaurants.

Sliema

Sliema has the broadest selection of halal and halal-friendly dining on the island. The area's large expat and tourist population has driven demand, and you will find Turkish kebab joints, Indian and Pakistani restaurants, and Middle Eastern takeaways alongside the usual Mediterranean options.

St Julian's

St Julian's is Malta's entertainment hub and has a wide range of international dining. Middle Eastern and Turkish restaurants are present, and the sheer volume of Asian restaurants means halal options are accessible without much searching.

Other Areas

Cuisines With Reliable Halal Options

Beyond dedicated halal restaurants, several broader cuisine types in Malta offer naturally safe or easily verifiable options for Muslim diners.

Turkish

Turkish restaurants are the most reliable halal option in Malta. Turkey has strong halal food standards, and Turkish restaurateurs in Malta consistently source from halal suppliers. Doner kebab, shish, lahmacun, and baklava are safe choices. Browse kebab restaurants on HubpyMalta.

South Asian (Indian & Pakistani)

Indian and Pakistani restaurants almost universally use halal meat in Malta. The customer base demands it, and the supply chain reflects this. Chicken tikka masala, biryani, lamb karahi, and dal are all likely to be halal. Confirm with the waiter for certainty, but in practice these kitchens are reliable.

Middle Eastern & Lebanese

Middle Eastern restaurants — Lebanese, Egyptian, Jordanian, and Moroccan-influenced — are naturally oriented around halal food. Mezze, shawarma, falafel, and hummus are staples. Much of this cuisine is also excellent vegetarian-friendly.

Mediterranean Seafood

Seafood is the most universally safe option in Malta regardless of which Islamic school of thought you follow. See the dedicated section below.

Italian & Mediterranean (with caution)

Italian and Mediterranean restaurants typically do not serve halal-certified meat, but they offer extensive seafood and vegetarian options that are straightforward for Muslim diners. Pizza, pasta with tomato sauce, vegetable risotto, grilled fish, and antipasti are widely available and present no halal concerns beyond alcohol in cooking (ask about sauces).

Seafood: The Safe Default in Malta

Malta is one of the finest places in the Mediterranean to eat seafood, and for Muslim visitors, seafood is by far the most straightforward dining choice. The vast majority of Islamic scholars across all major schools of jurisprudence consider seafood permissible without any slaughter requirements.

Malta's seafood is genuinely excellent. The island has a centuries-old fishing tradition, and the waters around Malta and Gozo are clean and productive. Fresh fish arrives daily at restaurants throughout the island.

What to order

• Fresh fish of the day — ask what came in that morning. Lampuki (dorado), dentici (sea bream), and spnott (sea bass) are all excellent.
• Grilled octopus — a Maltese staple, simple and superb.
• Stuffed calamari — a local speciality, often with rice, herbs, and tomato.
• Grilled king prawns — best with lemon and olive oil, widely available.
• Aljotta — the traditional Maltese fish soup, aromatic with tomato, garlic, and herbs. Naturally halal and deeply flavourful.

For the best seafood experience in Malta, visit the fishing village of Marsaxlokk on a Sunday — the market and surrounding restaurants are an institution. Our Valletta food guide also covers excellent fish restaurants in the capital.

Supermarkets & Halal Butchers

For self-catering visitors or those who prefer to prepare their own food, Malta has a reasonable range of halal meat sources.

Halal Butcher Shops

Dedicated halal butcher shops exist in Hamrun and Marsa, catering primarily to Malta's South Asian and Arab communities. These sell halal-certified beef, lamb, and chicken. If your accommodation has a kitchen, this is the most reliable route to fully certified halal meat.

Supermarkets

• Lidl — carries some halal-labelled poultry products, clearly marked on packaging. Good budget option for basics.
• Greens Supermarket — the higher-end chain; stock varies by branch but the larger stores carry a wider range of international products, including some halal-labelled items.
• Arkadia — large supermarket chain with decent fresh produce and meat counter; halal labelling is limited but the deli can sometimes advise on sourcing.
• Local minimarkets in Sliema, Gzira, and Hamrun — many small independent grocery shops in these areas are run by South Asian or Arab proprietors and stock halal meat.

What to look for on packaging

On supermarket packaging, look for the Arabic word حلال or the English word "halal" alongside an approved certification mark. In Malta, products certified by UK or European halal bodies are common. Products labelled "produced in accordance with Islamic law" are also generally reliable.

Dining During Ramadan

If you are visiting Malta during Ramadan, the experience will differ from what you may expect in Muslim-majority countries, but Malta is a practical and respectful destination for fasting visitors.

What to expect

Malta does not operate modified trading hours for Ramadan. Restaurants open and close at their usual times, and there are no public iftar (fast-breaking) events in most tourist areas. However:

• Turkish and Middle Eastern restaurants often stay open late and are well-used to accommodating iftar timing — particularly in Sliema and St Julian's where late dining is normal.
• Paola Mosque (see prayer section below) organises community iftar events during Ramadan. Visitors are welcomed.
• Self-catering is extremely practical in Malta — supermarkets are open late, and suhoor preparation is simple if your accommodation has even a basic kitchen.
• Hotel room service — most hotels will accommodate early morning suhoor requests if you notify them in advance.

Malta's warm evenings in the summer months mean that outdoor dining at dusk is genuinely pleasant. Many restaurants along the Valletta waterfront, Spinola Bay in St Julian's, and the Sliema promenade are excellent spots for iftar.

As reported by Times of Malta, Malta's Muslim community has grown consistently in recent years, and public awareness of Ramadan is greater than it once was. Most restaurant staff will be respectful and understanding if you explain that you are fasting.

Prayer Facilities in Malta

Malta has a modest but established Muslim community, and prayer facilities are available, particularly in the central and harbour areas.

Practical Tips for Muslim Visitors in Malta

Useful Arabic / Maltese phrases

• "Is this halal?" — most restaurant staff understand this in English; in Maltese, "Dan halal?" works, though English is universally spoken.
• "No pork, please" — "Mingajr majjal, jekk joghgbok" in Maltese, though English is always understood.
• "Does this contain alcohol?" — straightforward in English; ask specifically about wine in sauces.

General dining advice

• Stick to the cluster: Sliema, Valletta, and St Julian's offer the widest halal selection. In smaller villages, lean on seafood.
• Breakfast: Hotel buffets are generally safe — eggs, fruit, pastries, cheese, and cereals present no halal concerns. Ask about the bacon/sausage being kept separate if cross-contamination is a concern.
• Pastizzi: Malta's famous pastry snack uses pork lard in the traditional recipe. Some bakeries now make butter-based versions — worth asking before you buy.
• Street food: Avoid sausages and pork-based street food, but grilled corn, fresh fruit, and hobz biz-zejt (Maltese bread with tomatoes, olives, and capers — no meat) are all fine.
• Gozo: The smaller island has fewer dedicated halal options, but fresh seafood is exceptional and widely available throughout Gozo.

Malta is welcoming

It is worth stating plainly: Malta has a long history as a crossroads of Mediterranean cultures and is a genuinely tolerant and welcoming country. Muslim visitors regularly report positive experiences. Restaurant staff are generally helpful and will not make you feel awkward for asking about ingredients. The country's tourism infrastructure is well-developed, and dietary diversity is understood as part of serving an international visitor base.