Does Malta Have Halal Food?

If you’re planning a trip to Malta and searching “does Malta have halal food” before you book your flights, you’re not alone. It’s one of the first things Muslim travellers ask about this small Mediterranean archipelago — and the honest answer is: yes, but you need to know where to look.

Malta isn’t a Muslim-majority country, but it has a genuine, growing Muslim community and a slowly expanding halal food scene shaped by tourism, migration, and a wave of new Middle Eastern and South Asian restaurants. Here’s what you actually need to know before you land.

The Short Answer

Malta does have halal food, concentrated mainly around Valletta, Sliema, St. Julian’s, Paceville, and Marsa. You’ll find halal-certified kebab shops, Pakistani and Indian curry houses, Middle Eastern grills, and a handful of halal butchers supplying home cooks. What you won’t find is a halal option on every corner — this is still Catholic-majority Malta, so a bit of planning goes a long way.

Where Malta’s Halal Food Actually Comes From

Malta’s halal scene has grown alongside its Muslim community, which includes long-established Maltese Muslim families, migrant workers from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Libya, and a steady flow of Gulf and North African tourists. This mix is why the halal menu here leans heavily toward South Asian curry houses, Middle Eastern grill houses, and Turkish-style kebab shops rather than fine dining.

Where to Find Halal Restaurants in Malta

• Marsa: Home to some of the most authentic and affordable Pakistani and Bangladeshi halal eateries, popular with the local migrant community.
• Paceville & St. Julian’s: Malta’s nightlife hub also hosts several halal-friendly kebab and shawarma spots that stay open late.
• Sliema: A mix of halal Middle Eastern grills and Indian restaurants, well suited to tourists staying along the seafront.
• Valletta: Fewer dedicated halal restaurants, but a growing number of cafés now offer halal chicken and lamb dishes on request.

Halal Meat Shops and Groceries

If you’re self-catering or staying longer, Malta has a small but reliable network of halal butchers, mostly in Marsa, Hamrun, and parts of Sliema. These shops sell fresh halal chicken, lamb, and beef, and several also stock halal-friendly spices and frozen goods aimed at the South Asian and Middle Eastern community.

Mosques and the Muslim Community

Malta is home to the Mariam Al-Batool Mosque in Paola, the country’s main mosque and Islamic cultural centre. It’s a good starting point not just for prayer, but for word-of-mouth recommendations on where locals actually eat — the community here is tight-knit and generally happy to help visitors find halal options.

Tips for Muslim Travellers Visiting Malta

• Book accommodation near Sliema, St. Julian’s, or Marsa for the easiest access to halal food.
• Use a dedicated Malta halal directory rather than generic map apps, since certification status often isn’t listed there.
• Vegetarian and seafood dishes are widely available everywhere and are a safe fallback in areas with fewer halal options.
• During Ramadan, some restaurants near the mosque adjust their hours — it’s worth calling ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions