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Hours
Mon
6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Tue
6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Wed
6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Thu
6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Fri
6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Sat
6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
MICHELIN
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Ratings and reviews
4.5
Travelers' Choice 2024
MICHELIN
View more on MICHELIN GuideRATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Food and ambience
Local cuisine, International, Mediterranean, European, Healthy, Vegetarian friendly
“My wife had the Scarpinocc Seafood, followed by duck breast, and Date & Fig D...”
“Whether fish, duck, beef, lamb or the vegetarian options, you receive flavorf...”
“... Chef on the night) for fish & beef steak as those were exquisite (our dau...”
“... were incredible - as were the sirloin steak, duck and super tasty starters!”
MICHELIN Guide's Point of View
Boasting an excellent location in the historic centre of Rabat, this restaurant full of character has a bar, a garden room and a “cave room”, the latte...
Read more on MICHELIN GuideDoes this restaurant offer highchairs for toddlers?
Details
About
Situated in the charming village of Rabat, opposite St Paul's Church, The Grotto Tavern Restaurant boasts a typical Maltese house of character, which has been transformed into a lovely restaurant retaining original Maltese features and an interconnecting cellar featuring a 2000 year old cave. The Grotto Tavern's kitchen brigade have and continue to satisfy the palate of a multinational clientele with sublime cuisine, bringing together the finest seasonal produce with innovation, finesse and expertise to bring forth tantalising dishes. The Grotto Tavern Restaurant guarantees a discreet and an impeccably attentive service allowing patrons the time to savour and enjoy the cuisine and the company.
PRICE RANGE
$67.00 – $88.00
CUISINES
International, Mediterranean, European, Healthy
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
Meals
Dinner, Drinks
FEATURES
Reservations, Private Dining, Seating, Street Parking, Free off-street parking, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, American Express, Mastercard, Visa, Free Wifi, Discover, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service
Top 3 reasons to eat here
Sponsored by: Grotto Tavern
1. the service
"The service was 5 star, Michael, head waiter is welcoming and knowledgeable"
holliec868
2. The Food
"Chef Mark’s talents are endless producing a menu bursting with flavour "
holliec868
3. Impeccable experience
"Another wonderful dining experience at this now Michelin star restaurant.
"
claycoop
Contribute
4.5
790 reviews
Excellent
665
Very good
77
Average
22
Poor
15
Terrible
11
These reviews are machine translated from their original language. Show machine translations?
This service may contain translations powered by Google. Google disclaims all warranties related to the translations, express or implied, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and noninfringement.
Paolo P
171 contributions
Dec 2024 • friends
Very particular place in the city of Rabat, requires advance booking especially for the opportunity to dine in a room made directly from stone with soft lighting and very romantic setting, you can dedicate yourself to the person who accompanies us tasting a very sought after and experimental cuisine.
Waiting to decide what to eat we tasted a gin and tonic with herbaceous notes (personally I would not take it back).
The staff folded us that we could orient ourselves on two menus one five-course and a second menu seven courses, we took the seven with a good Chianti as wine.
Personally I was satisfied with the experience especially for the location (positive note the cellphone does not take so opens a beautiful romantic evening without distractions), the dishes in my opinion not all satisfied me.
We would stay again.
P.s. Very qualified and trained staff.
Automatically translated
Written December 16, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jonathan Pace
Thank you for your glowing review on TripAdvisor about your visit to Grotto Tavern. We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your time with us and appreciate your kind words. We work hard to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere, and we are delighted that we succeeded in making your visit memorable. Many thanks for your patronage, and we hope to see you again soon.
Written December 18, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
toota101
Sydney186 contributions
Favorite Review
Jul 2023 • family
Excellent, we highly recommend Grotto Tavern. The service, food and atmosphere was fantastic. Greg and the team of wait staff were wonderful, the chef came to check in to make sure we were satisfied. I would definitely recommend and visit again!
Written July 1, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jonathan Pace
Thank you ever so much for taking the time to leave such a lovely review on TripAdvisor regarding your dining experience at Grotto Tavern. It's wonderful to read your comments about our food, service, and ambiance. We appreciate your feedback and are delighted to have had the pleasure of hosting you. We hope to have the honour of serving you again soon.
Written July 2, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Getaway68364058330
1 contribution
Mar 2024 • couples
We have visited Grotto Tavern on more than one occasion either alone as a couple or accompanied by friends. The cave, which gives its name to the restaurant, is a romantic and evocative location.
Particular attention is noted in the choice of seasonal and local ingredients, which combined with skill and assembled with an artistic touch by chef Mark produce dishes that are the envy of well-known restaurants with various Michelin stars.
The sommelier and mixologist Michael gives added value to the experience; his cocktails are balanced and never banal, his ability in choosing and decanting wine guarantees adequate tasting.
Greg and Masie always guarantee attentive and impeccable service that completes the experience.

Written March 24, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jonathan Pace
Thank you for the wonderful review you have given us on TripAdvisor.
It is heartening to know that we achieved the standards we set for ourselves, and it's all thanks to customers like you who appreciate our efforts.
We are delighted to read that you enjoyed our food, service, and atmosphere, and we hope to have the pleasure of serving you again at Grotto Tavern sometime soon.
Written March 26, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hazel H
Herstmonceux37 contributions
Dec 2024 • couples
This restaurant is very romantic if you eat in the cave area. It’s unique and very unusual. We had very high expectations, but felt sadly disappointed with the food itself. We’ve eaten at some much nicer restaurants, and the food was really lacking. We had the 5 course menu, which isn’t really 5 courses, course one is bread and cheesy yogurt (which is horrible) and a couple of hors d’oeuvres. Then you choose a starter, main course and dessert, all of which are tiny and then 2 petit fours each. We had a jelly and a chocolate. The jelly had been rolled in salt, which was horrible, and I literally had to spit it out (embarrassing). We questioned it, and they apologised and said it should have been sugar and sent out another one. Apart from a limited apology, there was no other mention of it. We paid our bill (€225) and left. I have attached pictures of some of the courses. If I’m honest, small plates are fine if the quality is there, but these were underwhelming to say the least. Although much flamboyance was made of each dish by the waiter… we have visited many restaurants, but I would not return to this one.
Written December 28, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jonathan Pace
Dear Hazel,
Thank you for taking the time to share your recent dining experience with us. We deeply appreciate your honest feedback as it helps us to continually improve and ensure we meet the high expectations of our valued guests.
We are thrilled to hear that you found the ambiance of the cave area to be romantic and unique, as creating a memorable setting is something we take great pride in. However, we sincerely regret that your experience with the food did not meet your expectations.
Regarding the 5-course menu, we understand there may have been a misunderstanding. While we present the bread and hors d'oeuvres as the first course, we recognize that this might not align with every guest’s perception of a traditional course. Our intention is to offer a thoughtfully curated experience from the very beginning, and we are sorry if this aspect fell short for you.
We also regret the issue with the petit four and the jelly rolled in salt instead of sugar. While we did our best to rectify the mistake promptly, we acknowledge that the situation could have been handled more thoughtfully. Please rest assured that we will address this with our team to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
Your comments have been shared with our culinary team, who will review and refine our offerings.
While we understand that you may not wish to return, we would be grateful for the opportunity to welcome you back in the future to show you the improvements we’ve made.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention, and we wish you many wonderful dining experiences ahead.
Warm regards,
Written January 3, 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
TCP
112 contributions
Sep 2023 • couples
Absolutely not.
Mediocre, if not bad food.
Passable agnolotti but undercooked pasta, decent duck, terrible beef (tough meat with questionable flavour), disgusting dessert.
Terrible service, bordering on rudeness.
For a romantic evening (couple) they refused to put us in the "cave" room (even though it was half empty) keeping us in a dingy room next to a table of 8 noisy, rowdy and drunk people. Despite seeing our difficulty (it wasn't even possible to explain the dishes on the menu and at those prices I expect at least to talk to the waiter without shouting) they didn't think of doing anything to move us to another area despite having dozens of empty tables available .
Absolutely not recommended.

Written September 24, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marina
10 contributions
Oct 2024 • couples
We picked Grotto Tavern to celebrate my partners's birthday and it surpassed our expectations.
From food to service to overall atmosphere everything was spotless.
We were seated in the cave area and we picked the tasting menu.
To start off the evening we've had cocktails that were quite unique and pleasant surprise.
The courses were well paced, well portioned with excelent presentation, and in good quality.
The tasting menu is diverse and thoughtful.
Something I would especially note on is the excelent service. The staff made us feel welcomed and they were thoughtful. We felt like the experience was personalized with a handwritten birthday card and wine recommendations.
This was an excelent, approprietly priced and extensive experience, and we will go back while on Malta for a more casual meal too.
Thank you Michael, Greg, Isaac and Masie for an amazing evening.
Written October 3, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jonathan Pace
Thank you for the wonderful review you have given us on TripAdvisor.
It is heartening to know that we achieved the standards we set for ourselves, and it's all thanks to customers like you who appreciate our efforts.
We are delighted to read that you enjoyed our food, service, and atmosphere, and we hope to have the pleasure of serving you again at Grotto Tavern sometime soon.
Written October 5, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Damian M
Paris12 contributions
Dec 2024 • family
A wonderful surprise, standing out for its creativity and novelty. The grotto itself makes for a different dining setting, as is the visit to the bomb shelter that runs off the main hall. Of the plates, all boast local ingredients and are perfectly cooked and presented. Whether fish, duck, beef, lamb or the vegetarian options, you receive flavorful and thoughtful dishes.
The staff are stars at completing the experience, with Michael, Greg and Masie dealing in local knowledge as much as culinary guidance. A real treat, and wonderful value.
Written December 1, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jonathan Pace
Thank you for your glowing review on TripAdvisor about your visit to Grotto Tavern. We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your time with us and appreciate your kind words. We work hard to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere, and we are delighted that we succeeded in making your visit memorable. Many thanks for your patronage, and we hope to see you again soon.
Written December 2, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Viktor R
5 contributions
Feb 2025 • family
We came here to celebrate my gfs bday. The food was next level spectacular. We had the grotto experience of 5 course meal and a couple of wine. The appetizer lamb was the best i had and my gf had the ravioli and she reckons it was the best she evee had. For mains I had the duck, my gf had the pork and her cousin the beef. The duck was perfectly cooked and it had a juicy flavor. My gf wouldnt share the pork cause it was that good. The beef was also the best. What makes the experience even more wonderful apart from a unique setting of being inside a cave was the attention of the staff. Explaining every course and recommending the perfect wine. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED and will definitely come back again when in Malta.
Written February 4, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jonathan Pace
Thank you for your glowing review on TripAdvisor about your visit to Grotto Tavern. We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your time with us and appreciate your kind words. We work hard to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere, and we are delighted that we succeeded in making your visit memorable. Many thanks for your patronage, and we hope to see you again soon.
Written February 7, 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Steve B
Milton Keynes31 contributions
Nov 2024 • family
Michael, Greg & Masie were the perfect hosts and made the visit a memorable one. On my second visit here the food, ambience and service were even better than the first time. The timeliness of the service, the variety, flavour and creativity of the dishes served were exceptional and the selections and quality of the wines offered were sublime. I may sound like I'm gushing, I'm not, the Grotto Tavern truly is an amazing experience especially if you dine in the "Cave Room". P.S.- don't forget a sneaky visit to the WWII air raid shelter whilst you're down there, quirky and fun.
Written November 27, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jonathan Pace
We are grateful for your kind words and excellent feedback about Grotto Tavern on TripAdvisor. It's wonderful to know that you had a great time with us, and we appreciate you taking the time to share your experience with others. It is our pleasure to provide you with amazing food and service, and we hope to have the honour of hosting you again soon.
Written November 28, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Traveler43925332554
17 contributions
Dec 2024 • friends
I'm a pro top chef and my guest is vegan so I inform the chef week before as we booked for New years Eve. Wowwy what a experience! We served a fully 9 course vegan dinner what was more then out standing!! My seriously deep respect for the chefs as they had to prepare separate a special menu for us. And they did it more then well! Also super well done of all the front staff, very correct n funny, as well the bar tender had made us a amazing selection of cocktails! So a very very well spended night. As also the venue in the cave is soo amazing 👏 🤩.
As coming for this type of level restaurants as a pro chef I'm very impressed and surely recommend everyone to visit the dream team of Grotto !! Well done proud of you all!
Happy new year to you all and looking forward to visit you again!
Helfred van Malkenhorst
Written January 7, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jonathan Pace
Thank you for your glowing review on TripAdvisor about your visit to Grotto Tavern. We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your time with us and appreciate your kind words. We work hard to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere, and we are delighted that we succeeded in making your visit memorable. Many thanks for your patronage, and we hope to see you again soon.
Written January 13, 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Miriam K
Bratislava Region44 contributions
Apr 2024 • business
From the moment we stepped into Grotto Tavern, we were treated to an exceptional dining experience that made our visit truly memorable. Our waiters, Greg and Michael, went above and beyond to ensure our evening was perfect. Greg kept us entertained with his charming wit, while Michael’s recommendations, especially the red wine, were spot-on, enhancing our meal beautifully.
The real star of the evening was the food, courtesy of Chef Mark. Each dish was a masterpiece of flavor, meticulously prepared and presented. The quality and creativity of the cuisine were evident, making every bite a delight.
A special touch to our evening was the handwritten birthday card presented to our friend by the staff. It was a thoughtful gesture that really made our celebration feel personal and cared for.
I highly recommend Grotto Tavern to anyone visiting Malta. The combination of delicious food, attentive service, and a warm, inviting atmosphere makes for a dining experience you won't want to miss. Kudos to the team at Grotto Tavern for making our evening so special!
Written April 16, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jonathan Pace
Thank you for your glowing review on TripAdvisor about your visit to Grotto Tavern. We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your time with us and appreciate your kind words. We work hard to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere, and we are delighted that we succeeded in making your visit memorable. Many thanks for your patronage, and we hope to see you again soon.
Written April 17, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Taffcamil1
Mellieha138 contributions
Apr 2023 • couples
Wonderful, ambient, intimate atmosphere sat in the natural cave. 7 courses with loca l wine psiring. All the dishes were unique flavour combinations and different textures, beautifully plated. The service explanations of the food, wine and location and genuine friendliness and care taken by Michael and Greg made it a perfect experience for our date night. Also, it's great value for money compared to numerous other food and wine pairings we've tried in Malta and Gozo. We highly recommend this restaurant. We wanted to bring our friends in a few weeks, and they kindly suggested to slightly alter the 7 dishes so we could try some of their other dishes . Welll see you again soon and try the a la carte menu too.
Written April 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jonathan Pace
Thank you ever so much for taking the time to leave such a lovely review on TripAdvisor regarding your dining experience at Grotto Tavern. It's wonderful to read your comments about our food, service, and ambiance. We appreciate your feedback and are delighted to have had the pleasure of hosting you. We hope to have the honour of serving you again soon.
Written May 4, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jay F
1 contribution
May 2024 • couples
We had the 7 course tasting menu coupled with the wine pairing. From beginning to end the service was flawless. We had both Micheal and Greg as our hosts and their knowledge and warmth helped make the experience one to remember.
We were in the cave room, which although pictures are great they really don’t do justice to how romantic and unique the experience is because of the venue.
The tasting menu itself was delicious and high quality from the first bite and somehow only got better from there.
If you’re considering this location for a meal as a couple, friends or family I would genuinely recommend to anyone who is reading this review and unsure whether to give it a go. A lot of my family and friends want to visit Malta from what they have seen of our trip and this is where I have directed all of them to visit for their “wow” meal of the holiday.
Written May 25, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jonathan Pace
Thank you for the wonderful review you have given us on TripAdvisor.
It is heartening to know that we achieved the standards we set for ourselves, and it's all thanks to customers like you who appreciate our efforts.
We are delighted to read that you enjoyed our food, service, and atmosphere, and we hope to have the pleasure of serving you again at Grotto Tavern sometime soon.
Written May 26, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Kyle A
1 contribution
Apr 2024 • couples
We visited Malta last month and went for the full 7 course tasting menu and wine pairing. The food was outstanding, and there was a good selection of local wines which paired well with all the dishes. The location inside the cave was amazing and so unique, and the service was first class, we were served by Michael, Greg, Isaac and Masie, who were all great to talk to and happy to discuss the food and wine with us of which they were very knowledgeable. When we're next in Malta we will definitely be back!
Written May 24, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jonathan Pace
Thank you for the wonderful review you have given us on TripAdvisor.
It is heartening to know that we achieved the standards we set for ourselves, and it's all thanks to customers like you who appreciate our efforts.
We are delighted to read that you enjoyed our food, service, and atmosphere, and we hope to have the pleasure of serving you again at Grotto Tavern sometime soon.
Written May 24, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
arjen
1 contribution
Nov 2023 • couples
We went here on our last evening of the holiday, on the advice of an acquaintance. The entrance is small, but behind it there is more than meets the eye. We had made a reservation for Grotto and not the family section. We went for the "five" course menu. I wouldn't really call it five courses. The snacks from the kitchen are more amuse-like. I also don't count coffee as a course. Starters were of super quality. Good wine selection. When taking out the starter, we indicated that we wanted to choose a red wine and wait a while before the main course. Despite this, the main course was served within five minutes, but wine had not yet been selected. Unfortunately, back to the kitchen. Unfortunately, the first red wine (Grand Cru St Emilion) was not in stock, nor was the other Bordeaux (Lalande Pomerol). Fortunately, it was resolved well by Micheal. Had some cheese and a digestif with coffee (the choice is not very wide). Great fun and a richer memory.

Written November 14, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jonathan Pace
We are grateful for your kind words and excellent feedback about Grotto Tavern on TripAdvisor. It's wonderful to know that you had a great time with us, and we appreciate you taking the time to share your experience with others. It is our pleasure to provide you with amazing food and service, and we hope to have the honour of hosting you again soon.
Written November 18, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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