Top Malta restaurants retain Michelin star, new entry for Bib Gourmand
Plenty of choice to eating out in Malta with five Michelin stars, four Bib Gourmands, and 21 recommended restaurants
![Under Grain, Valletta](http://content.maltatoday.com.mt/ui/images/photos/undergrain_valletta.jpg)
The five restaurants awarded One Michelin Star in 2021 have all retained their Star status for another year.
These are: Under Grain in Valletta; Noni in Valletta; ION – The Harbour in Valletta; De Mondion in Mdina; and Bahia in Balzan, previously located in Lija.
The latter moved from a neighbourhood spot in Lija to elegant new premises within the Corinthia Palace Hotel in Balzan.
“The talented kitchen offers three menus: ‘Past’ features sophisticated dishes inspired by various time periods throughout Maltese history; ‘Future’ explores new, sometimes daring combinations of flavours; while seasonal à la carte ‘Present’ focuses on local ingredients,” the Michelin Guide said in its official announcement.
As for the Michelin Bib Gourmand, a new restaurant joins the line-up for its good quality, good value cooking, bringing the total number of ‘Bibs’ in this year’s Guide to four: Grain Street in Valletta, which comes from the same stable as Michelin-starred Under Grain.
This joins the three other restaurants who all retain their Bib Gourmand distinctions: Terrone in Birgu; Rubino in Valletta; and Commando in Mellieħa.
As well as Grain Street, Michelin inspectors found three other restaurants worthy of a place in the guide: Marea in Kalkara, described as a “cool, contemporary restaurant” with a tiered terrace overlooking the Grand Harbour, and its kitchen mixes Mediterranean food with Japanese influences; AKI in Valletta, a stylish basement restaurant with an Asian-influenced menu; and Rebekah’s in Mellieħa, which occupies a period farmstead and specialises in hearty Mediterranean flavours.
Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the MICHELIN Guides, said: “Thanks to the increasing optimism surrounding Covid-19, many people are starting to think about travel and holidays once again. The beautiful islands of Malta and Gozo should be on everyone’s list. Five MICHELIN Stars, 4 Bib Gourmands and 21 recommended restaurants mean there is plenty of choice when it comes to eating out”.
Tourism minister Clayton Bartolo said the gastronomic sector plays a crucial role in the government's vision of making Malta a hub of tourism excellence in the Mediterranean. “The road to achieving this goal is an ambitious one but together we can make it happen.”