Just a few years back, being vegan in Malta honestly felt like a struggle: most places did not think much about plant-based food, and if you were lucky, you'd get a plain salad or a basic pasta (without cheese). Forget about finding a proper vegan café - they were almost impossible to come across! Fast forward to now and the change is amazing. Malta feels like a completely different place when it comes to plant-based eating!
With more expats moving here, more international visitors, and more awareness about plant-based living in general, the food scene has sort of exploded. Suddenly there are dedicated vegan restaurants, creative little cafés and even mainstream spots making sure their menus include proper vegan dishes (not just the usual lettuce-tomato-cucumber salad, yay!)
The best part is that it is not only in Valletta or Sliema any more. You will find these gems scattered all over the island, tucked into seaside towns, hidden in quiet neighbourhoods and even in small villages you might otherwise pass by. Exactly for this reason, many travellers choose to rent a car in Malta - it gives them the freedom to chase down those cafés that are out of the way and turn eating out into part of the adventure!
Today, the answer is: yes! And it’s getting better every year. What used to feel like a challenge has become part of the culture. Nearly every restaurant will have vegan options on the menu and more places are taking plant-based dining seriously than ever.
Our Malta Vegan Guide
Is Malta Easy for Vegans?
Today, the answer is: yes! And it’s getting better every year. What used to feel like a challenge has become part of the culture. Nearly every restaurant will have vegan options on the menu and more places are taking plant-based dining seriously than ever.
It’s now common to see cafés highlighting oat or soy milk lattes, bistros offering plant-based twists on Mediterranean classics and even larger dining chains marking vegan-friendly dishes clearly on their menus. Most cafés also offer almond milk and non-dairy options are so widely available that vegan coffee drinkers rarely need to worry about their morning latte.
Balance Bowl is a fully vegan restaurant in Gzira.
Must-Visit Vegan Restaurants in Malta
Balance Bowl (Gzira)
Balance Bowl is a fully vegan restaurant in Gzira.
Here you can try pyzy, schnitzel and potato curry - none of which is Maltese of course, but they get extra points because all their food is made from scratch, on site - even the sauces!
The second vegan restaurant in Malta (Qawra) is Anurakti: a sugar-free place that has everything from Shepherd's pie to protein cookies! They also shine in the cheesecake and vegan-feta areas, yumm.
The third and final (currently at least) vegan restaurant in Malta is Josephine's Coffee in the Corinthia. Don't be fooled by the name - they do more than coffee - like baked goods and little sandwiches.
Although Alive isn't vegan (nor vegetarian cause they serve fish so that makes them pescatarian I guess), it's mentioned here because they have unbeatable vegan cakes! Raw cakes, baked cakes - amazing vegan cakes. They also have vegan burgers, lasagne and falafel too.
Beyond the well-known vegan restaurants, Malta has plenty of smaller spots where plant-based dining is part of the menu, even if the place isn’t fully vegan.
Anurakti Healthy Hub (Qawra)
The second vegan restaurant in Malta (Qawra) is Anurakti: a sugar-free place that has everything from Shepherd's pie to protein cookies! They also shine in the cheesecake and vegan-feta areas, yumm.
Josephine's Coffee (Attard)
The third and final (currently at least) vegan restaurant in Malta is Josephine's Coffee in the Corinthia. Don't be fooled by the name - they do more than coffee - like baked goods and little sandwiches.
Alive (Marsalforn Gozo) (vegan friendly)
Although Alive isn't vegan (nor vegetarian cause they serve fish so that makes them pescatarian I guess), it's mentioned here because they have unbeatable vegan cakes! Raw cakes, baked cakes - amazing vegan cakes. They also have vegan burgers, lasagne and falafel too.
Further Hidden Gems & Local Vegan Finds
Beyond the well-known vegan restaurants, Malta has plenty of smaller spots where plant-based dining is part of the menu, even if the place isn’t fully vegan.
Many Indian and Thai restaurants across the island serve naturally vegan-friendly curries, rice dishes and vegetable plates, making them a safe and flavourful choice (check out Happy Cow for details, as usual).
Maltese cuisine is an exciting blend of Italian Northern African and Spanish foods. I'll give you the bad news first and then we can get into the good:
Are there any accidentally vegan-friendly Maltese foods?
Maltese cuisine is an exciting blend of Italian Northern African and Spanish foods. I'll give you the bad news first and then we can get into the good:
- Ftira (the Maltese bread) is definitely not vegan (it has tuna fish in it);
- Stuffat tal-Fenek is a popular national dish, but it has rabbit in it;
- The traditional pastry pastizzi comes in two flavours: ricotta and peas. The pea version can easily be made vegan (and even the ricotta version if you use tofu) but in the bakeries you'll almost always find it has egg in it, unfortunately.
Now for the good news:
So when you start to look carefully Malta starts revealing it's inventive vegan dishes!
- The national drink of Malta is called kinnie, not only is it accidentally vegan, but on the Kinnie website they have a recipe for a delicious vegan kinnie cake! Yum!
- Ftira (the bread) is not vegan, but ftira (the pizza) is! (Just to be confusing.)
- Kunserva doesn't just have a fun name it's also an accidentally vegan Maltese tomato sauce;
- Ħelwa Tat-Tork is like halva (but the Maltese version).
So when you start to look carefully Malta starts revealing it's inventive vegan dishes!
Further Travel Tips for a Vegan Trip to Malta
- Use apps like HappyCow or Google Maps to quickly find vegan-friendly restaurants near you. Malta’s food scene changes often and these apps can help you discover new openings and pop-ups.
- Stock up on snacks from health food shops like Good Earth or Holland & Barrett (especially if you’re planning day trips)
- Explore local supermarkets! Larger chains such as Lidl, PAVI, and Greens often have well-stocked vegan sections, including vegan favourites like seitan, tofu and dairy alternatives. Smaller groceries will carry basics but usually offer a more limited range (and higher prices);
- You can also visit local markets for seasonal fruits and vegetables, where the produce is fresh, affordable and perfect for cooking, quick meals or snacks too. The farmers’ market in Ta’ Qali is one of the best places to stock up, and the village of Imġarr is another great spot where you can buy vegetables at very reasonable prices!
Wrap Up: Why Malta is a Great Vegan Travel Destination
Malta has come a long way in only a few years: what used to be a difficult place for vegans is now full of options, from creative restaurants to cozy cafés and fresh local markets! The change shows how food culture here is opening up and becoming more inclusive.
Of course, there is still more work to do, and more awareness is always needed, but every new menu option and every new vegan café is a step in the right direction. It is not just Malta that is changing either. More and more destinations around the world are becoming vegan-friendly, which makes travelling easier and far more enjoyable.
If you are like us and have a passion for exploring new places while staying true to a vegan lifestyle, you are in the right place. Our blog is here to share tips, hidden gems and real experiences to make your travels smoother and more rewarding. Being vegan on the road should not feel like a challenge, it should feel like an adventure! (Photo credit: Unsplash)
