Malta: Mdina and Rabat Food Tour

Mdina and Rabat make a fine pair for a food tour because you get far more than a meal. In three and a half hours, you walk through Malta’s old capital, trace roughly 3,000 years of local history, and eat your way from a quick pastizz to rabbit and bragioli with wine. The food is the anchor, but the streets and stories give the meal meaning.

I like two things here in particular. First, the tasting list covers everyday Maltese food rather than only polished restaurant dishes, from street-food pastizzi to the local soft drink Kinnie. Second, the tour links Mdina and Rabat instead of treating them as separate sights, and guides such as Chris and Christine have been praised for bringing local background and personal connections to the walk.

The main consideration is pace. You are eating several courses while touring two historic towns in 3.5 hours, so this is not a slow, sit-down dinner or a detailed visit to every sight. You should also arrive ready to eat, and tell the guide about dietary restrictions before the food begins.

Key points at a glance

• Seven distinct food and drink stops: Expect pastizzi, Kinnie, ħobż biż-żejt, craft beer, rabbit, bragioli, wine and imqaret.
• Mdina and Rabat in one walk: You see the old capital and the neighboring town in a single guided experience.
• A local-food focus: The menu leans toward familiar Maltese dishes and small local establishments, not generic sightseeing snacks.
• English-speaking guides: Guides including Chris and Christine have led departures, with history and local culture built into the walk.
• Game of Thrones locations: The route passes filming spots in Mdina and Rabat, useful for fans and curious onlookers alike.
• $80 includes the tastings: Food and drinks are covered, so the price is easier to judge as a combined tour and meal.

Why Mdina and Rabat work so well together

Mdina is Malta’s old capital, enclosed by stone walls and often called the Silent City. Rabat sits just outside it and gives the visit a more lived-in feel. Put simply, Mdina supplies the grand historic setting, while Rabat supplies many of the food stops and the everyday local rhythm.

That contrast is one of the best reasons to choose this tour. You are not left looking at handsome streets in Mdina and then sent elsewhere for lunch. The walk connects the old capital with the town beside it, showing how the two places relate.

The route also covers a long stretch of Maltese history. You are told about the cradle of Maltese civilization as you move through streets shaped by centuries of settlement, religion, trade and daily life. The tour does not promise a full archaeological course, but it gives you enough context to understand why these towns matter.

Game of Thrones fans get an extra reason to pay attention. The walk passes filming locations in both towns. You do not need to know the show to enjoy the stone lanes and old gateways, but the filming connection adds a fun layer to the scenery.

Starting with pastizzi and Kinnie in Rabat

The meeting point is on benches across the road from Is-Serkin, also known as Crystal Palace Bar. From there, the tour starts with one of Malta’s most familiar snacks: pastizzi.

Pastizzi are small pastries associated with Maltese street food. The tasting gives you an early introduction to the kind of food this tour favors: simple, filling and closely tied to local daily life. You are not beginning with a formal restaurant course. You are beginning with something people grab as a snack.

The first food stop also includes Kinnie, Malta’s local soft drink. This is useful because it gives you a taste beyond the usual European beer and wine circuit. Kinnie has a distinctive bitter orange profile, so it may be unfamiliar if you expect a standard sweet soda.

This opening stop lasts about 20 minutes. That is enough time to eat, hear the first stories and get comfortable with the group without using up too much of the walking tour.

Mdina after the first bite

After the opening tasting, the route moves into Mdina for about an hour of guided touring. This is the longest sightseeing portion, and it is where the food tour becomes a proper town tour.

Expect the guide to explain the setting as you walk rather than deliver a long lecture in one place. That format suits Mdina. The pleasure here is in moving through the narrow streets, noticing the stone architecture and understanding how the old capital developed.

A strong guide makes a real difference at this point. Chris has been praised for his local background and knowledge of Malta’s history, and Christine has also been singled out for explaining Mdina and Rabat clearly. The experience is conducted in English, so you can follow the historical detail while keeping an eye on the streets and filming locations around you.

The hour in Mdina is also a practical reason to wear comfortable shoes. The tour combines walking with multiple tastings, and you will be on your feet for much of the experience. The supplied details do not specify the exact route or any accessibility arrangements, so ask before booking if mobility needs are important for you.

Coffee, cheese and ħobż biż-żejt

The tour returns to Rabat for another short food stop, listed at about 20 minutes. Here you can expect coffee and a tasting that includes cheese, according to the experience details shared by past participants, followed by the chance to prepare your own ħobż biż-żejt.

Ħobż biż-żejt is Maltese bread with olive oil and Mediterranean toppings. The hands-on element makes this stop more memorable than simply receiving another plate. You get to assemble your own bread, then taste it with local ingredients.

I like this part because it explains Maltese food through a familiar habit: bread, oil and savory toppings. It is less formal than the later dinner course and gives you a better sense of how Mediterranean foods fit together.

The exact toppings are not specified, so do not expect a fixed list beyond the Mediterranean-food focus. If you have dietary restrictions, tell the guide in advance. One recent participant with restrictions found that the guide accommodated them as far as possible, but the tour includes several traditional dishes and cannot promise every variation.

Two Maltese craft beers and small local bites

The next Rabat stop lasts around 30 minutes and includes two local craft beers, snacks and small tasting plates. This works as the tour’s middle course, giving you a chance to compare Maltese beers rather than rushing straight from coffee to dinner.

You do not need to be a beer enthusiast to enjoy this stop. The point is to connect a local drink with local food, and the small-plate format keeps the meal moving. It also helps spread the food across the full 3.5 hours instead of placing everything in front of you at once.

Be aware that this is a substantial tasting tour. Pastizzi, bread, snacks, beer and coffee can add up before the main course arrives. If you want to enjoy every sample, start the day with a light meal and pace yourself with the drinks.

The tour does not provide a stated nonalcoholic substitute for the beer. Since Kinnie is included earlier and the tour includes wine later, ask about alternatives before booking if you do not drink alcohol.

Rabbit, bragioli and a glass of Maltese wine

The final major stop is presented as dinner and lasts about 45 minutes. This is where you taste rabbit and bragioli with a glass of red wine.

Rabbit is one of the dishes most closely associated with traditional Maltese cooking. Trying it here gives you a useful introduction to a food that may not appear on every casual restaurant menu. Bragioli is another classic Maltese dish, generally prepared as beef rolls with a savory filling, though the precise preparation at the stop is not specified.

This is not just a token sample. The tour describes the stop as a dinner with regional food, and the overall tasting list is generous enough that you should arrive hungry. One practical tip is worth repeating: do not plan a large lunch before this tour.

The dinner stop also gives the guide a chance to explain the food in context. You can ask how dishes are prepared, how they fit into Maltese home cooking and what makes them different from better-known Italian or Mediterranean fare. The guides’ local connections and background are a major part of the experience, especially here.

The wine is included, as are the rabbit and bragioli. That matters when judging the price because you are not paying $80 for walking and then buying a separate meal afterward.

Finishing with imqaret

Dessert is imqaret, a traditional Maltese sweet made with dates. It provides a clear finish after the savory courses and wine.

Imqaret is a fitting ending for this tour because it is another local specialty rather than a generic pastry or scoop of ice cream. You have tasted street food, bread, meat, beer, wine and a local soft drink by the time dessert arrives. The menu gives you a broad first look at Maltese eating habits in one afternoon.

The supplied schedule places the final meal and dessert together in the 45-minute dinner stop. So you should expect dessert as part of the last course, not a separate café visit.

What the $80 price really covers

At $80 per person, this tour is best judged as a guided town walk combined with a full tasting meal. The included food covers pastizzi, ħobż biż-żejt, rabbit, bragioli and imqaret. Drinks include Kinnie, Maltese beer and local wine.

That is a good amount for a 3.5-hour experience. You are also paying for an English-speaking licensed guide, historical commentary in Mdina and Rabat, and the convenience of having the food stops arranged for you.

The value is strongest if you want an introduction to Maltese cuisine and would otherwise spend time choosing restaurants and snacks on your own. It is less compelling if you only want to see Mdina, since you could visit the town without committing to several courses and drinks.

The food is spread across several stops, which gives you time to walk between tastings. Still, the price does not include a separate attraction ticket, and the experience is not described as a museum tour or an interior visit to a particular monument. You are paying for streets, stories, local dishes and drinks.

Who will enjoy this food tour most

I would choose this for first-time visitors who want an efficient introduction to central Malta. It suits people who like history but do not want a full-day lecture, and it works especially well for anyone who plans to eat local food but does not know where to start.

It is also a good match for small groups and solo visitors who prefer company while walking and eating. The tour has been described as relatively small on at least one departure, allowing time for conversation with the guide and other participants. Group size can vary, so do not assume every departure will feel identical.

Food-focused couples and friends should find the format easy to enjoy. The tastings are varied, the meal is included, and you get plenty of chances to ask questions.

Families may also like the mix of stories, snacks and filming locations, but the alcohol-based tastings and several-course format may not suit every child. The supplied information does not state a child price or special children’s menu.

This is not the right pick if you need a strict vegan, vegetarian or allergy-controlled menu unless the operator confirms what can be changed. Dietary restrictions have been accommodated as far as possible, but the advertised menu centers on pastry, bread, meat, beer and wine.

Timing, meeting point and practical advice

The tour lasts 3.5 hours and begins and ends at the benches across from Is-Serkin, the Crystal Palace Bar, in Rabat. You return to the same place after the final tasting.

Check the available start times when you book. The experience does not provide a single fixed departure time in the supplied details.

Wear shoes suitable for a walking tour and arrive ready for a long series of tastings. Since you will be moving between Rabat and Mdina, a small bag is easier than bulky luggage.

The tour is in English and led by a fully licensed tourist guide. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours in advance, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms help if your Malta plans are still shifting, but the main booking decision should be the food menu and walking format.

Should you book the Mdina and Rabat Food Tour?

Book it if you want to combine Malta’s old capital with a serious introduction to local food. The tour gives you pastizzi, Kinnie, bread with Mediterranean toppings, two beers, rabbit, bragioli, wine and imqaret, all while a guide explains Mdina and Rabat.

I especially recommend it for first-time visitors, curious eaters and Game of Thrones fans who want more than a quick photo stop. Guides such as Chris and Christine add personal background to the history, and the small-group feel reported on some departures can make the afternoon relaxed and conversational.

Skip it if you want a quiet private meal, a short sightseeing walk or a tightly controlled diet. For everyone else, $80 is a fair price for a guided historical walk plus enough food and drink to replace a substantial meal.

FAQ

Where does the Mdina and Rabat Food Tour meet?

Meet on the benches across the road from Is-Serkin, also known as Crystal Palace Bar, in Rabat. The tour returns to this same location.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts 3.5 hours. Available starting times are shown when you check the booking options.

What food is included?

Included tastings are pastizzi, ħobż biż-żejt with Mediterranean foods, rabbit, bragioli and imqaret.

What drinks are included?

The tour includes Kinnie soft drink, Maltese beer and local wine. It also includes coffee tasting during the Rabat food stops.

Is the tour conducted in English?

Yes. The tour is conducted in English with a live, fully licensed tourist guide.

Can I cancel or pay later?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the tour for a full refund. You can also reserve your place and pay later.