Sliema, Malta

Malta is one of my favorite places I’ve been. I would jump at an opportunity to go back.

I traveled with my roommates to Malta, a small but densely populated country with a rich history. It is the smallest country in the EU (European Union) and is among the smallest countries in the world.

The town is calm and family-friendly. Our hotel looked out over the harbor in St. Julien’s Bay. There are horses roaming about as a mode of transportation in Sliema, and what a wonderful surprise that was to see!

We went to a restaurant called Giorgio’s Cafeteria, and the food was amazing. I ate rabbit pasta, and it was both unique to me and delicious. I learned that rabbit is a popular and traditional food in Malta. There were many options for coffee and sweet treats, like hot cocoa. I ordered hot chocolate, which was served in a tall, clear glass with a sweet biscuit on the side. The hot chocolate was the best I’ve ever had, and the bruschetta for the table was perfect. Their menu also includes pistachio milkshakes, house-made pomegranate and mint lemonade, affogato (a scoop of vanilla ice cream that floats in a cup of warm espresso), and pastries.

The next morning, we had brunch at Busy Bee Cafe, and I ordered a pistachio mocha. I thought it might have pistachio flavoring or pistachio milk. I was pleasantly surprised to see pistachio crumbles and dark chocolate shavings as a garnish on the mocha foam. Cafes in Malta really know how to make coffee and hot chocolate.

The shops were vibrant, creative, and colorful. Walking into Sliema’s Ben and Jerry’s ice cream shop made me feel like I had just stepped into a cross between Alice in Wonderland and Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory.