IBER&CO & CASA PEPA: Two ways to love Spain
From a pioneering Spanish tavern to a carefully curated gourmet shop, Antonio Cortés’ Iber&Co story continues to bring the flavours, traditions and ingredients of Spain to Malta, with authenticity at its heart, from the table to the pantry
IBER&CO
The story of authentic Spanish gastronomy in Malta didn't begin in a shop or at a market stall. It began at a table — Iber&Co's table.
Founded by Antonio Cortés, Iber&Co is the taberna that set the benchmark for genuine Spanish dining on the island. Not a restaurant that happens to serve Spanish food, but a true taberna built on the principles that have made Spanish food culture one of the world's most beloved: honest ingredients, time-honoured regional recipes, and the kind of warm, generous hospitality that makes guests feel expected before they even walk through the door.
The menu travels the breadth of Spain — tapas built for sharing, plates that reward patience, wines chosen to open conversations. Everything here is done with conviction: sourced right, cooked with care, served with the pride of someone who genuinely believes in what they're putting on your table.That belief hasn't gone unrecognised. Iber&Co holds the ICEX Colmados from Spain certification from Spain's official Trade and Investment Agency — a mark awarded only to establishments that meet the highest standards of Spanish culinary authenticity outside Spain itself.
For Antonio, though, the taberna was never meant to be the end of the story. It was the beginning.
CASA PEPA
What started at Iber&Co's tables found its natural next chapter on the shelves of Casa Pepa. Opened by Antonio Cortés alongside his partner Damián, this curated gourmet shop in Naxxar is the extension of the same passion — built on the belief that authentic Spanish food deserves to be not just experienced, but taken home.
Casa Pepa carries the finest Spanish products: Iberian charcuterie, artisan olive oils, aged cheeses, hand-selected conserves. Every item reflects the same uncompromising commitment to quality and origin that defines the Iber&Co name — and carries the same ICEX certification to confirm it.
A taberna, then a shop. A dining room, then a pantry. The story keeps growing — and it's all very much worth following.
For more information regarding Foods and Wines from Spain visit the website here.
