The MICHELIN Guide Malta 2022 was launched today. It features 31 restaurants spread across the islands of Malta and Gozo and includes five restaurants awarded One MICHELIN Star and four restaurants awarded a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand.
MICHELIN Stars
The five restaurants which were awarded One MICHELIN Star in the 2021 Guide all retain 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.
MICHELIN Bib Gourmands
One restaurant is newly awarded a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand, for its good quality, good value cooking, bringing the total number of ‘Bibs’ in this year's Guide to four. Grain Street in Valletta comes from the same stable as MICHELIN Starred Under Grain and serves great value sharing plates.
This joins the three other restaurants who all retain their Bib Gourmand distinctions: Terrone in Birgu; Rubino in Valletta; and Commando in Mellieħa.
New Additions to the Guide
As well as Grain Street, our inspectors found three other restaurants worthy of a place in the Guide. Marea in Kalkara is a cool, contemporary restaurant with a tiered terrace overlooking the Grand Harbour, and its kitchen mixes Mediterranean food with Japanese influences. AKI in Valletta is a stylish basement restaurant with an Asian-influenced menu. In contrast, Rebekah's in Mellieħa occupies a period farmstead and specialises in hearty Mediterranean flavours.