Paul had been to Malta before, but it was my first time. And on the lead up to our trip, he was constantly raving on about the delicious Maltest pastizzis.
I’d had pastizzis before… Yet, being from Australia, the nearest to the Maltese pastizzi are the frozen kind I can get at supermarkets. And this would probably be an insult to the pastizzi!
So when we arrived in Malta, one of the first few things we had to do was try the fresh pastizzis. I’d had visions of devouring lots of Maltese pastizzis, and now it was becoming a reality.
Of course, we needed money to buy them… and we had an interesting experience with the changing money. You can read about it HERE.
And just so you know, the prices of the pastizzis we tried, were based on buying pea and ricotta ones. Usually for other varieties they can cost a little more.
Our First Pastizzi On Arrival In Malta
Paul and I were staying in Sliema Malta, at Hotel 1926. So after we’d checked in… we decided to go for a stroll to start our search for the best pastizzi in Malta. And it didn’t take us long, because within a couple of minutes we found this place…
San Carlo Food And Drinks
Address: Near the Corner of Tower Road and Triq Tigne, Sliema
Price: From 0.50 Euro each
At San Carlo they had a variety of pastizzi including tuna! Plus, they had a variety of other hot food, drinks, sweets and more.
Yet, we wanted to have the traditional Maltese pastizzis, which included ricotta and pea. So Paul tried a ricotta pastizzi and I had a pea one. They didn’t look like what we had enivsaged, and was almost a let down…
Yet, for first up pastizzis they tasted fine, but the pastry wasn’t as flaky as we would’ve liked.
Margaux Restaurant at Hotel 1926
Thornton, Sliema, Malta
When we were in Sliema, we were staying at Hotel 1926, where we paid extra to indulge in their breakfast buffet. And included in their breakfast were ricotta pastizzis…
And after going up for another round of pastizzi, we noticed that they had pea pastizzis. Yet, in comparison to the ricotta, they were below average.
The size of the pastizzis at Hotel 1926 breakfast, compared to the other Maltese pastizzis were the smallest. Yet, they were still tasty.
Champ Pastizzeria
Address: Tower Road, Sliema
Price: From 0.40 Euro each
As we were wandering around Sliema, we were heading towards the waterfront from our hotel.
And as we passed several clothing stores and cafes, we saw Champ Pastizzeria in Sliema, Malta…
These pastizzis looked very inviting and we had to stop to try them! The pastry was flaky and the flavor was yummy. So far the best pastizzis.
Sphinx Pastizzeria
Address: 17, 14 Ix – Xatt Ta’ Qui – Si – Sana, Sliema
Price: From 0.40 Euro each
As we were walking along the promenade in Sliema… enjoying the sunshine and magnificent views, in unmissable bright pink lettering we saw Sphinx Pastizzeria. And, for the tall folks there’s a “Mind Your Head” sign!
Not only did their pastizzis look melt in your mouth delicious, so did the other foods that they had! We needed to find our 3rd stomach… LOL!
We thought that they only had the ricotta pastizzi, yet tucked in the corner next to them was the pea one.
After taking a huge mouthful of the pea pastizzi, the flavor was delicious. And it tasted like it had the mildest curry flavour through it, which made it different and from our perspective, even more yummy.
They both had crispy, flaky, buttery pastry… yet, my favourite of the two flavours was pea.
Bye bye Champ Pastizzeria in Sliema, as Sphinx Pastizzeria in Sliema has toppled you off the No. 1 position!
Plan Smarter, Travel For Less
Now that you have your trip inspiration, it’s time to start planning the logistics. To help you cut down on costs and stress, we’ve put together our top-tier travel tools in one convenient place. You can easily compare accommodation rates, secure reliable airport transfers, grab convenient eSIMs, and lock in peace-of-mind travel insurance. Head over to our curated travel resources to map out your perfect itinerary and keep your budget in check.
Jeff’s Pastizzeria
Address: Triq l-Inkurunazzjoni, Cospicua
Price: From 0.40 Euro each
While we were having a look around the 3 Cities… we needed to re-fuel so we could keep our energy up for more exploring. After having drinks in Senglea, we decided to head towards Cospicua.
And then it was like our pastizzi radars were on high alert, because we stumbled across Jeff’s Pastizzeria…
These Maltese pastizzis looked like they were just fresh out of the oven.
They seemed slightly bigger in size compared to the others we’d tried… and they were delicious too. Yet, so far Sphinx in Sliema is the winner so far.
Crystal Palace
Address: 84 Triq San Pawl, Ir-Rabat
Price: From 0.40 Euro each
So we found out that many people claim that the ultimate pastizzi in Malta are from Crystal Palace in Rabat…
So, after sightseeing in Mdina, which we highly recommend, it would be wrong of us to not try the pastizzis.
What we loved about the pastizzis here, was that we got them literally fresh from the oven. So they were temperature HOT!
So out of all the pastizzis we’d tried so far, these were the biggest in size. The pastry was so flaky and buttery.
I made such a mess and my face was covered in flaky pastry!
The ricotta pastizzi was light and almost fluffy, and the pea pastizzi was mouth-wateringly delicisous. For me, the pea pastizzi just nudged it over the ricotta in flavor.
Yet, agree with others in that Crystal Palace may just have the best pastizzi in Malta. But extremely close runner-up was Sphinx in Sliema.
However, the search for the ultimate pastizzi in Malta continues!
Maxim’s Pastizzeria
Address: Fortress St, Mosta, Malta
Price: From 0.40 Euro each
As we were taking a stroll down the eerily quiet Constitution Street in Mosta… my eyes looked up at the right time to see on the corner, in bright red and white, Maxims Pastizzeria…
We were surprised it was open, because it looked like everything else around it was shut. If we recall, we were there on a weekend.
So make sure you check out our blog about Things You Need To Know About Malta HERE…
So while we had the opportunity, we got some pastizzis! While the pastry was generally flaky and rich, the bottom seemed quite hard. And dare I say if they were cooked moments longer they would’ve been burnt!
They were still tasty and filling, yet not the most outstanding we’ve had.
The Best Pastizzi In Malta So Far…
So after trying 7 pastizzerias in amazing Malta and more to go, here are the rankings thus far…
- Crystal Palace Pastizzeria in Rabat
- Sphinx Pastizzeria in Sliema
- Jeff’s Pastizzeria in Cospicua
It’s only just begun, with plenty more pastizzis to try while exploring Malta.
TO BE CONTINUED!
Need Accommodation in Malta?
To make your booking process easier, here are popular accommodations categorized by budget and location:
Luxury
The Phoenicia Malta – An iconic 5-star Art Deco landmark sitting just outside the city gates of Valletta. Set within 7 acres of private landscaped gardens overlooking the Grand Harbour, it features a secluded infinity pool, an upscale spa, fine dining, and plush, classic suites.
Mid-Range
Osborne Hotel – Housed in an historic building that once served as a Knights’ residence, blending classic Maltese touches with modern amenities. Featuring a cozy bar and lounge, access to a fitness centre, in a peaceful atmosphere just steps away from Valletta’s attractions.
Boutique
The Gomerino Hotel – A stylish, luxury boutique hotel designed to reflect a 1700’s baroque palace with unique history. Celebrated for blending ancient stone architecture with modern design, it features a stunning rooftop pool and terrace with panoramic views of the Grand Harbour, a subterranean spa, and refined suite interiors.
Budget / Backpackers
Mandera’s Boutique Suites & Dorms – Modern hybrid hostel set inside traditional Maltese stone architecture. Featuring cosy dorms with privacy curtains, shared full kitchen, free selected beverages, and fast Wi-Fi. Alternative is private suites, all within a convenient central location.
Families
Grand Hotel Excelsior Malta – Nestled within the 16th-century historic fortifications, along the waterfront with panoramic views of Marsamxett Harbour and historic skyline. It offers a resort-style experience with family rooms, spa and swimming pool with breathtaking views.
Save on Activities for Your Next Trip
Trying pastizzis in Malta is one of the many things you can experience here. But what else can you do? Delicious street food walking tours, intimate wine tasting tours, exploring the historic Three Cities… through to Harbour Cruises, to witnessing amazing architecture, and more. CLICK HERE or below to find your adventure!
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