DE MONDION BAHIA UNDER GRAIN

The luxurious Xara Palace Hotel is set in a 16th century building in the heart of the beautiful walled city of Mdina and, on its top floor, you’ll find this intimate, elegantly dressed restaurant featuring impressive artwork of the island. If you’re here in the summer, a table on the terrace is a must, to enjoy stunning views out across the east of the island to the coast.

At De Mondion cooking is technically adept and combinations, well-judged, with menus showcasing the best of the island’s produce in sophisticated, classically based Mediterranean dishes – the suckling pig is a speciality. The impressive wine list offers a broad choice with some great quality vintages and it’s worth asking the sommelier for recommendations from their local selection. Despite the hotel’s sumptuous style, service remains friendly and not overly formal.

Bahia is located on the first floor of the elegant Corinthia Palace Hotel. The restaurant is named after the prestigious naval orange which is grown in the region, and a preserved orange tree sits at the centre of one of the dining rooms. The other room features an open kitchen and both areas are bright, elegant and incredibly comfortable.

The talented kitchen headed by Tyrone Mizzi offers two 7-course surprise menus: ‘Past’ takes diners back in time with sophisticated dishes inspired by various periods in Maltese history, including the Stone Age and Roman times, while ‘Future’ allows diners to explore new, sometimes daring combinations of flavours in dishes which push boundaries. Meanwhile, ‘Present’ is a seasonally changing à la carte menu which focuses on local ingredients delivered in a contemporary vein.

Enter the Rosselli Hotel and descend via the lift to this elegant cellar restaurant, where you walk past the kitchen before entering into a dining room with a vaulted stone ceiling and dark, moody décor. Under Grain is inspired by Merchant Street’s former tailor shops and evidence of this theme is all around, from the sewing pattern menu to the clothing displays – and even a pincushion bill-holder.

As a tailor would create something exquisite from cloth, the chef here does the same with fine ingredients, skilfully applying his talent to produce a beautiful end product. Expertly cooked Mediterranean dishes burst with bold, gloriously harmonious flavours and, while their base may be classic, the overtones are modern. Professional, personable service and a relaxed atmosphere add to the experience. The wine list is well-chosen and contains plenty of gems from the world, especially from Italy and France.