Ordering food in Maltese makes your dining experience in Malta much more enjoyable.

Waiters and local restaurant owners deeply appreciate visitors who make an effort to speak their language.

Knowing a few basic phrases will help you navigate menus and communicate with staff confidently.

Here’s a straightforward guide to the most common words and phrases you need for a restaurant visit in Malta or Gozo.

Booking a table in advance

Many popular restaurants in Malta require a reservation during the busy summer months.

You can easily book a table over the phone using a simple Maltese phrase.

The verb we use for booking is nibbukkja, which is borrowed directly from English.

If you have a larger group, you simply replace the word tnejn (two) with your party size.

For example, you’d use erbgħa for four people or sitta for six people.

Arriving at the restaurant

When you walk into a cafe or restaurant, the host will usually ask how many people are in your party.

You can politely state your group size using the word mejda (table).

If you already made a reservation over the phone, you can tell the host that you have a booking.

Asking for the menu and ordering

Maltese menus are often printed in English, but ordering your food in Maltese is a great way to practice the language.

First, you might need to ask the waiter to bring you the menu.

When you’re ready to order, the most important word to know is nixtieq.

This translates to “I would like” and is the most polite way to request something.

You can also ask the waiter if they serve specific items, such as vegetarian dishes.

Essential food and drink vocabulary

Learning the names of common food items will help you understand local menus and chalkboard specials.

Here’s a table of essential Maltese food vocabulary.

You’ll also need to know how to order your beverages.

Here are the most common drink translations in Maltese.

When ordering drinks, you might want to specify if you want a glass or a bottle.

You can use the word tazza for a glass and flixkun for a bottle.

Asking for the bill

When you’ve finished your meal and are ready to leave, you’ll need to ask the waiter for the check.

The Maltese word for the bill is il-kont.

If the food and service were excellent, it’s very common to leave a tip and thank the staff before leaving.