How To Make Friends In Malta?
Moving house to another country has its ups and downs. Drowning in paperwork, we tend to neglect other areas like making new friends.
A study shows that in 2020, almost 5 out of every 100 people live in an EU/EFTA country other than their country of birth1.
That's a lot of us out there working and living abroad without having made new friends. As if relocating wasn't hard enough!
One of the easiest ways to meet new people and make friends in Malta is to visit local pubs and bars.
(Updated March 2023)
7 Great Pubs To Meet New People In Malta
1. The Crafty Cat Pub
Address: Mall, George Borg Oliver, Tower Road, St Julian's
Lots of young British expats and you can have a good pint of Guinness too.
2. The Dubliner
Address: George Borg Oliver, Tower Road, St Julian's
Very hearty food, with a great atmosphere. Impressive menu, with some reasonable prices.
3. Hole in the Wall Bar & Cafe
Address: 31 High Street, Sliema SLM 1549
Small and cozy place, with some good music, always filled with some interesting people you can talk to.
4. The Plough and Anchor
Address: 263 Tower Road, Sliema SLM 1660, Malta
A British-style pub is full of Toby mugs and funny quotes. Really fun and has friendly staff too.
5. Black Gold Saloon
Address: Triq Ix - Xatt, Tas-Sliema, Malta
A popular expat hangout with regular events and live music nights. The location is awesome, almost cozy.
6. Surfside Sports Bar & Grill
Address: Tower Road, Sliema, Malta
A great spot for meeting fellow expats with a nice view and average prices. Even on hot days, it feels good as the sea breeze comes in.
7. Cafe Jubilee
Address: 125 Triq Santa Lucija Valletta, VLT 1183, Malta
A quirky, eclectic cafe that attracts a mix of locals and foreigners. Very delicious food, great service, and an antique ambiance.
Take one's pick! We listed some real gems in St Julian’s, Sliema, and Valletta. All those places are filled with expats living in Malta.
Visiting pubs is one of the easiest ways to make friends. And it shouldn't break the bank, as we mentioned, the cost of living in Malta is affordable.
If you don't feel like going out, what other options are there?
How do I socialize in Malta?
Apart from pubs, there are many different events organized in Malta. Things like social evenings, book clubs, or film nights you can find posted on Malta Social and Facebook groups.
Is Malta friendly for foreigners?
Yes. Malta is warm and welcoming to foreigners. It's always good to stay respectful of locals and their traditions.
Is Malta good for nightlife?
Malta has a most famous nightlife district, Paceville in the town of St Julian's. Full of loud clubs, non-stop parties, and late-night dancing, drinking, and singing.
Good luck hunting down pubs and let us know of any other good pubs in Malta! Otherwise, when you reach out online be kind out there. 😊
1 Eurostat, ”EU and EFTA born population living in another EU or EFTA country - statistical overview”, September 2021