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Latest update: 25 September 2023
St Julian’s is the throbbing nightlife district of Malta. It is packed with bars, cafes, clubs and restaurants. So you can imagine that many tourists stay here. Find out what to expect in St Julian’s.
Populous Malta
Malta is very crowded. It is consistently in the top ten most populous countries in the world. The island is tiny and has more than 500,000 inhabitants. The beautiful weather and the blue water are of course very attractive. But because so many people live there and tourists come, Malta is almost continuous construction, especially in St Julian’s. The buildings become higher and higher. And to be honest, that sometimes ruins the beautiful views over the water. But St Julian’s is still a popular base for many because of its location.
What to do in St Julian’s?
St Julian’s (or San Ġiljan in Maltese) borders Sliema and is right on the water. The place lives from tourism. Not that there are many sights in this busy part of Malta. No, you will mainly find hotels, entertainment, and dining options. During the day you can shop and enjoy the sun.
Enjoy the pedestrian promenade
St Julian’s is a coastal town and thus borders the water. A pleasant promenade runs along the water. If you want, you can follow it all the way from Sliema to Valletta. But that’s quite a walk! Fortunately, there are benches in several places to rest and enjoy the views for a bit.
Bustling Balluta Bay
The Balluta Bay is a picture. It is a beautiful bay with a mini beach, a square with terraces, and a church. The Knisja tal-Karmnukerk is a Roman Catholic church that you can visit for free. At the water’s edge is a large swimming pool where the locals play water polo. You have a perfect view of the training from the boulevard, so maybe you can even catch an official game.
At Balluta Bay is restobar NAAR. You can have brunch, drink cocktails during happy hour, and have a good dinner. It has outdoor seats, but you can also sit inside if it’s windy. The menu is quite extensive, including vegetarian and vegan food. If you come early, you can use the early dinner discount: 20% discount on your bill!
Spinola Bay
Spinola Bay is a beautiful bay surrounded by restaurants and cafes. There is a large ‘LOVE’ sign on the promenade, and typical Maltese fishing boats are in the bay. In the evening, when the lights come on, and it gets dark, it is extra atmospheric.
It isn’t easy to choose from the many restaurants here. However, if you want a quick bite, I recommend Zen Sushi (this one). Otherwise, Crust (here) offers good food and drinks.
Tip! Prepare for your trip and read the practical tips for your Malta holiday.
Marina Portomaso Marina
Take a detour through the Portomaso Marina. Luxury boats are docked in this marina. You can even rent them. If you’re with a group, that could be an option. Or, if you dare, your parasailing adventure starts here.
There are a handful of cafes and restaurants in the marina. Honestly, it’s a breath of fresh air: away from the hustle and bustle of Balluta Bay and Spinola Bay. By the way, you don’t have to go up or down the stairs; there is an elevator!
If you are ready for a good coffee or a healthy smoothie, you can go to Café G. It is just behind the marina. You almost walk past it because it is below the street level. But inside, it is very atmospheric and relaxed.
Party in Paceville
Paceville is the nightlife area of Malta. Particularly at weekends, everyone in Malta seems to come out and gather here. When I was 17, I had my first holiday alone in this area. I went on a language trip but mainly saw the discotheques. When I walk through Paceville now, I don’t recognize anything anymore – that says something about the enormous growth continuously occurring in Malta (and also something about my memory and alcohol consumption at the time).
Want to discover all the pubs? Then join a pub crawl!
But there are also plenty of nice bars where the party isn’t as crazy. For example, try The Thirsty Barber (Google Maps location). They serve the most delicious cocktails in a beautiful bar, and sometimes they have live music.
St George’s Bay
You can walk straight onto St George’s Bay beach from the bars in Paceville. It is a small sandy beach where the revelers come to break out. St George’s Bay mainly attracts a young audience. It is not the most beautiful sandy beach in Malta, but it is close to St. Julian’s.
Hotels in St Julian’s
In St Julian’s, there is something for everyone’s budget. From cheap, shared rooms to luxury suites. I ended up staying in Sliema, but these hotels in St Julian’s were also on my shortlist:
- Hotel Argento: modern, fresh rooms, and the breakfast buffet looks good.
- 123 Mainstreet: warm, stylish rooms with many nice details.
- Ivy Hotel: large, spacious rooms with balconies.
- be.HOTEL: beautiful swimming pool, gym, and luxurious furnishings.
More Malta inspiration?
Useful links for your Malta trip
- Accommodation. Still favorite: Booking.com. Would you rather stay in a hostel? Check Hostelworld.
- Activities. You book the best tours and activities with GetYourGuide and Viator. For ‘free’ walking tours, try Freetour.com or GuruWalk and for bike tours, Baja Bikes offers excellent service.
- Attractions and museums. Interested in a 5% discount on museums and other attractions? Use this discount code at Tiqets: KIMOPREIS22
- Boat. For ferries in Malta, check Direct Ferries.
- Car rental. My go-to car rental companies are EasyTerra and Sunny Cars as they have all-inclusive / worry-free offers. You could also check Discover Cars for good deals.
- Flights. Compare all your options! Be sure to check out Momondo, Transavia, Skyscanner, and Kiwi.
- Money. Your debit and credit cards may not get accepted everywhere. You could opt for a Revolut card as an additional card when you travel.
- Package deals. Rather go on a catered trip to Malta? There is plenty of choice all over. For the Dutch: ANWB vakanties, Tui or Vakantie Discounter. Or maybe D-Reizen or Sunweb.
- SIM card. Beware of unexpectedly high calling and internet costs. Buy a local SIM card when you arrive, or arrange one online via Airalo.
- Travel gear. Buy your gear at Bever or Decathlon, or simply at Bol.com.
- Travel guides. I like paper travel guides to browse through, for sale at Bol.com and Amazon, among others.
- Yoga retreat. Or treat yourself to a yoga retreat in Malta!
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