Cocktails with a soundtrack: the Malta bars where bands, DJs or jazz are part of the night.
Last checked 14 November 2026. No bar paid to be included.
Swipe to see all 14 bars →
Cocktail bar
A small neon-lit bar on the corner of St Paul's Street, where people sit out on cushions on the limestone steps. It is known for regular live jazz, sunset seats outside and house drinks such as the Cafe Society Spritz and the Mediterranean Mule.
📍 13 St John's Street, Valletta
Cocktail bar
An art-filled bar run by Bulgarian owner and mixologist Iliyan Iliev, himself an artist. Alongside classic and tiki drinks there is a menu of house specials based on famous works of art, plus signatures like the KAMY Old Fashioned and regular live music.
📍 60 Old Bakery Street, Valletta VLT 1454
🕒 Mon to Sat 5pm to 1am; Sun 5pm to 1.30am (OpenStreetMap; check before you go)
Speakeasy
Fodor's Choice
Malta's first speakeasy. You walk in through a British phone box into a 1920s barbershop, with Prohibition-era cocktails at about €8 to €12, live music and a smart casual dress code. A Fodor's Choice pick.
📍 Ball Street, Paceville, St Julian's
Gin and tapas bar
A gin and tapas bar on Strait Street, Valletta's old nightlife lane. Staff know their gins and the menu runs to drinks like the Valletta Mule and the Malta Spritz, with tapas to share and live music some nights.
📍 132 Strait Street, Valletta
Bar
One of Valletta's best-loved bars, with views over the Grand Harbour and live jazz on most Friday nights, when people spill out onto the steps. Get there before 8pm for a seat for the jazz.
📍 St Ursula Street, Valletta
Tequila and mezcal bar
A tequila and mezcal bar on Tower Road. Order the La Luz Margarita or the Mezcalito and check for live music nights.
📍 139 Tower Road, Sliema
Whisky and cocktail bar
An underground, cellar-like bar on Strait Street with more than 140 whiskies, one of the biggest selections on the island, plus cocktails and bistro food. An acoustic duo plays on Fridays. It is small, so it can feel snug when busy.
📍 Strait Street, Valletta
Bar and grill
A bar and grill on the Strand looking across to Valletta, with signature drinks such as the Black Sheep Old Fashioned and the Malta Mule, food from the grill and live music.
📍 72 The Strand, Sliema
Gin bar
A gin specialist near Spinola Bay with a long gin cocktail list and staff happy to recommend. Ask for a gin flight to try several side by side.
📍 Spinola, St Julian's
Cocktail and cigar lounge
A lounge and cigar bar down at Portomaso Marina with a menu of classic and new cocktails made with premium spirits and live jazz many nights.
📍 Portomaso Marina, Level -3, St Julian's
Music bar
A reggae bar with frequent live music, a terrace with sea views in the evening and drinks like the Reggae Rum and the Island Mule, at some of the friendliest prices in St Julian's.
📍 7 St Joseph Street, St Julian's
Pub
The latest version of Sliema's oldest pub, all indie rock and craft beer, with posters of legendary gigs on the walls and live music.
📍 Sliema
Pub
Often called one of the best bars in Malta, with dark green walls, lots of plants and its own annual music festivals.
📍 115 Depiro Street, Sliema
Beach club
Malta's most famous and biggest beach club, a large infinity pool looking over St Paul's Bay, with DJs and a celebrated sunset. Open from April to October; summer pool parties sell out, so book ahead.
📍 Triq it-Trunciera, St Paul's Bay
Tap a pin for the bar. Numbers match the list.
Start with Cafe Society, KAMY Cocktail Bar, The Thirsty Barber, Yard 32 and Bridge Bar. Our full list has 14 bars.
This guide is written by the team at M.AD Agency. We run Cocktail Week, the ten-day cocktail festival held town by town across the UK and Ireland. Since 2022 we have taken it to more than 20 towns and cities and worked with hundreds of bars. Malta is next. We put this guide together from our own research and trusted local guides, ahead of bringing Cocktail Week to Malta.
No bar paid to be included and nobody can buy a place. We check the guide regularly as bars open, change and close.
Cocktail Week in Malta
Run a bar in Malta that should be here? Get in touch at hello@cocktail-week.com and tell us about it.
We use cookies to see how people use the site and to show you relevant ads. Nothing is set unless you say yes. Cookie policy