Malta’s nightlife reputation comes from one street, and that street is not the whole story. There are four fairly different nights out here. Picking the wrong one is the usual reason people come home disappointed.
A few of the most popular sites cannot be entered without a booking.
Four very different nights out
Paceville
It is packed, cheap and very young. Most places have no door charge, and nothing really starts until well after midnight.
If you are past your mid-twenties you probably will not enjoy it. And if you book a hotel nearby, you will hear it whether you go out or not.
Where to stay for nights out
Valletta
Fifteen years ago Valletta was dead after dark. Now it has the best evening on the islands: small wine bars and restaurants in the side streets off Strait Street.
It fills up early and winds down around one. Eat late, walk between places, and you have got the night sorted.
Eating out in Malta
Beach clubs
Big outdoor parties run along the northern coast all summer. Malta’s dance music reputation came from here rather than from Paceville.
They are seasonal and ticketed, so check the dates before you build a weekend around one.
What is on while you are here
Village bars
The bars along the Sliema and Gżira seafront are easy going and mixed. No scene to speak of, which suits a lot of people.
Then there are the village bars: open all year, cheapest drink you will find, and full of people who live here. This is less a night out than simply an evening.
Which area suits you
Night buses only run on a few routes and they fill up fast. Bolt, Uber and eCabs all work here, and most people use them. Prices outside Paceville at three in the morning are steep, so book through the app rather than flagging down a car.