Palazzo Preca Restaurant

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2,395 reviews

#38 of 235 Restaurants in Valletta$$ - $$$, Seafood, Mediterranean, Vegetarian friendly

+356 2122 6777+ Add website

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Hours

Sun

12:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Mon

12:00 PM - 9:45 PM

Tue

12:00 PM - 3:45 PM

Wed

12:00 PM - 3:45 PM

Thu

12:00 PM - 3:45 PM

Fri

12:00 PM - 9:45 PM

Sat

12:00 PM - 9:45 PM

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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

2,395 reviews

#38 of 235 Restaurants in Valletta

Travelers' Choice 2024

RATINGS

Food

Service

Value

Atmosphere

Food and ambience

Local cuisine, Seafood, Mediterranean, European, Healthy, Vegetarian friendly

“... and quality of the ingredients, accompanied with lovely local wine.”

“... than that can't fault it Seafood is a speciality and the lobster was a hit”

“Burrata, beef pasta, fish carpaccio and fish were all of great quality fresh,...”

“Luckily the duck for me was filling so he had half of that too.”

Location and contact

54, Strait Street, Valletta, Island of Malta VLT 1434 Malta

+356 2122 6777

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Does this restaurant primarily serve Healthy cuisine?

Yes

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About

Palazzo Preca Restaurant offers a captivating dining atmosphere in the heart of Valletta, where historic charm meets modern elegance. Our intimate setting, adorned with traditional Maltese decor and subtle Mediterranean touches, sets the perfect stage for a culinary journey through Maltese cuisine. With soft lighting and cozy seating arrangements, our environment evokes a sense of warmth and comfort, inviting guests to relax and savour each moment. Combined with the soothing melodies of music, the ambience at Palazzo Preca creates the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable dining experience. Immerse yourself in the flavours of Malta amidst the inviting ambience of Palazzo Preca Restaurant

PRICE RANGE

$22.00 – $48.00

CUISINES

Seafood, Mediterranean, European, Healthy

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options

Meals

Lunch, Dinner

FEATURES

Reservations, Private Dining, Seating, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, American Express, Mastercard, Visa, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Gift Cards Available

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4.5

2,395 reviews

Excellent

1,717

Very good

470

Average

135

Poor

Terrible

Retired_MMXVI

Nuneaton27 contributions

One word sums up this restaurant “superb” ...

Feb 2020 • couples

I try to be frugal with my reviews and only write when exceptional or poor. This restaurant offers and delivers superb food and service at a very reasonable price. They could provide master classes to those that haven’t a clue about what good service and quality food is! Highly recommended.

Written February 27, 2020

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.

CHews

Chelmsford289 contributions

Very good but lacking attention

Jan 2020 • couples

This is a lovely restaurant and we found the staff welcoming and charming with a friendly demeanour. The menu is interesting and it is an added bonus to be shown fresh fish to choose from. We went for the Meagre and Sea-bass. I asked for the sea bass to be grilled and filleted as I found the bones tricky. Both fish dishes were very good but both had loads of bones which made eating a bit of a trial. Filleting a fish should be second nature to a chef so we were a bit disappointed. The starter of prawn ravioli was the best dish I had in Malta though -so this more than made amends. Good wine list and plenty of half bottles. Do try the Maltese whites - not too bad. A relaxed dining experience and worth the praise it gets but not for those who like their fish filleted!

Written January 23, 2020

Chris A

Marsascala7 contributions

Excellence at its best.

Jul 2020 • couples

Never before had I felt an obligation, or responsibility to right a review or recommend a service or restaurant. That was until we had dinner here. The waiting staff, the chef and the manager all making it their personal responsibility to make sure you are cared for in the best possible way. The place, an old Palazzetto, is simple but charming with a sparkle. We had a 3 course meal with an extra tasting and each serving was perfectly delicious. Needless to say we're going back.

Written July 18, 2020

Linda

3 contributions

Failed expectations

Sep 2021 • none

We visited Palazzo Preca twice back in 2019, because we had such a great experience. This year, we could not wait to dine here again. The ambience is still very nice, but the service, although professional, felt very impersonal. In addition, we waited over 40 minutes for our starters, while watching customers, who ordered after us, being served 2 courses during our wait. The starter was delicious, row prawns. Fresh, delicate and well presented. The spaghetti vongole was also really good. The sauce complemented the vongole, light and tasty. We looked forward to our mains: shellfish platter and grilled tuna with caponata, a special. The waiter made room on the table, just before the platter arrived but, what a disappointment....It was a slightly larger mains plate, half filled with mussels drowned in a sauce that was so salty and overbearing that you could not taste any of the shellfish. The menu claimed that the dish had rasor clams, and in fact had one... There was also a scallop, a cooked oyster and quite a few pieces of octopus. All of these were overcooked, chewy and tasted exactly the same. The soft crab was nice, but deep fried, taking away the sweetness of the meat. The fried calamari were ok, although I was already put off by the rest. At 32 euros, my mouth was also bitter at the end... The tuna was also overcooked and had too much seasoning, spoiling the taste. The caponata was served in a tiny ramekin on the plate, dark and uninviting, left untouched. I understand that taste is subjective and maybe other people may appreciate these mains, but a top restaurant should not serve overcooked shellfish. Also, when a dish is called platter, I would not expect all the different components to taste the same.

Written September 11, 2021

moraira

863 contributions

A Curate's Egg...good and bad

Dec 2019 • none

We enjoyed the atmospehre of this original Valetta house, it is very good The service is some good and some bad. The welcome was dreadful and about half the people serving us were good, the rest not so. For example a request for more bread was met with "certainly" but it never appeared. The food was very middle of the road, good but not gourmet There was a very full and interesting wine list which was not overpriced Avoid the tables for two on the way in to the restaurant, nobody in their right mind would want to sit on those tables I had the feeling of being processed, by an organisation that was nmore concerned with turnover than whether I was enjoying my meal Would I go back? Probably not, with the wealth of restaurants in Valetta

Written January 2, 2020

Chris A

257 contributions

Delicious food, excellent service

Feb 2020 • none

What started on a bit of a disappointment turned out to be one of the finest dining experiences I have had so far. At first, I felt a bit let down that the original table I had booked was occupied by other patrons due to a misunderstanding, but I was directed to another table in the red room, which was a lot better than the one I had originally booked We opted for mushroom in garlic and local cheeslet as starters, followed by fresh fish of the day and beef tagliata. The food was cooked to perfection and the service was excellent. The waitress was very helpful to guide us to make a good choice from the menu. Will certainly visit again in the near future.

Written February 10, 2020

Fat Food Lover

Kent18 contributions

Extremely fine dining experience.

Sep 2021 • couples

I’ve eaten here before and I’ll continue to do so as this is by far one of the best restaurants in Valletta. I chose calamari for my starter, portion size was decent enough and it tasted divine. The batter was light and fluffy, which is how it should be. I ordered the seafood risotto for my main and was so glad I had. It was creamy, with the right amount of seasoning, the seafood was well cooked and it was pure joy from start to finish. I then had the sticky toffee pudding for dessert, I even managed to persuade the staff to serve me some custard with it. The custard was beautiful as was the pudding. The service throughout was professional and polite, staff were attentive and pleasant. The bill came in at around €115 ( I was with my wife in case you thought it was just me) and we were more than happy with that.

Written September 17, 2021

InspectorLeStrade

Xaghra106 contributions

New food love affair !!!!!

Oct 2021 • none

We now live in Gozo and do come over regularly for varying reasons and on each occasion eat out and walked past this eatery a few weeks ago. Decided to visit last week after reading reviews. A wise decision as this will now become our ‘defacto’ place to eat 'local' food. Décor. Easy on the eye and sort of warm so to speak. It also is slightly worn which adds to its charm like some notable and famous restaurants in Paris. Food. To be honest, I and my friends could not fault it. The risotto was done to perfection. To many chefs prepare risotto too Al Dente but this was just perfect. My favourite is squid and this was my choice. Cooked to perfection and a super portion. Our other friend had the duck. He couldn’t stop talking about it. The vegetables, roast potatoes etc were delicious. Service. Could not fault it and I would say on a level getting close to Celler Can Roca (Girona) where we do frequent. So, what does this say overall for us? Now we have found a restaurant run by two passionate Lady Chefs with a very good team that will be “our place” to enjoy on a regular basis and know that the food will always satisfy. I have read many of the negative reviews here as well and did not experience any of the issues described but rest assured if I do come across something negative I will discuss it with the owners first to rectify and only then, post a critique if nothing is done. For example I did point out that the toilet seat in the gent's was completly broken and must be repalced with a new one. The waste bin in the cubicle was dented, rusty and had seen better days and that the toilet brush was in a bad way and for 2 euros can be repalced evey month. I had a quiet diplomatic word with the new barman and he thanked me for the observations and would deal with these issues as a matter of urgency. So when we next visit I am sure these items will have been dealt with.

Written October 17, 2021

paulcalleja90

Island of Malta7 contributions

An exquisite experience

Jun 2021 • none

We were curious to try Palazzo Preca, situated in the vibrant and lively Strait Street in the capital city of Valletta. We were treated with warm bread and some butter on our arrival and the waiters kept coming to ask if we needed anything. The chef also gave us a starter as compliments, some kind of tasty arancini with nero di sepia. We then ordered the specials of the evening, Tuna steak with caponata as well as the Irish Fillet with caramelized onions with grilled vegetables and lovely potatoes to share. The flavours coming out of these two dishes were exquisite! I haven't eaten a piece of meat fillet this delicious in years. Truly impressed and happy that we have chosen to dine at the Palazzo Preca. This was our very first visit to the restaurant, and it surely won't be the last! I highly recommend visiting Palazzo Preca team for the food, the ambience, and the service offered on a lovely Summer evening. Thank you.

Written June 19, 2021

Ramona1983

Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us a 5 star rating - it's much appreciated!"

Written July 10, 2021

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Vickstar

Worcester109 contributions

Lovely dinner and good service

Nov 2021 • none

We had booked an evening meal and I had some reservations as there seems to be some mixed reviews of the restaurant. We personally had a great experience at PP and found the staff very attentive. In fact, compared to other restaurants we ate at hike in Valletta, the service was much quicker and we had been enjoying the slower food experience. I decided to try the rabbit as I wanted to try the local dish and it was beautiful and very well cooked. My husband had a great spaghetti calamari dish. We also both had desserts which were lovely. A thoroughly enjoyable meal in a beautiful setting.

Written November 4, 2021

Mazinga-P5

Verona34 contributions

A fish haven

May 2021 • friends

Set in a unique part of Valletta, in an actual small palace. Was hesitant as I imagined it would be a rip off targeting tourists yet I was horribly wrong… it turned out to be excellent all the way. If you love fish this place is it. Mains opted for Barracuda and was abundant, tasty and nicely flavored. Was surprised at the prices of wines. Cheaper than most places although same brands. Service is local, friendly and not stiff Will return and will recommend

Written June 14, 2021

Ramona1983

Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us a 5 star rating - it's much appreciated!"

Written July 10, 2021

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Adam

Bat Yam377 contributions

Outstanding ! Bravo !!

Aug 2022 • friends

We visited this restaurant totally by chance whilst walking around the city during a short cruise stopover in Valetta. We were just walking by when a diner who had just left suddenly turned to us and said “You must eat here now ! This place is amazing !!” So on total impulse, we did and it was. Escaping from the heat outside, we entered the cool, pleasant and tastefully decorated restaurant and were promptly seated by one of the waiters. Service here is beyond any I have ever encountered at the many restaurants I have visited. The gentlemen take their profession seriously and the warm welcome extended combined with a truly unprecedented level of service were second to none, further augmenting the overall dining experience at this establishment. The menu is varied, each dish striving to better the last, all tastefully & perfectly presented. When you are served fresh rolls hot from the oven with Madeira butter flowers for starters and hear a choir singing “hallelujah !” in your ears, you know that the courses that await will be nothing but truly delicious. I truly think that every diner leaving the restaurant can’t do so without sharing their experience with people walking by outside. The wine list was also extensive and our choice only contributed to the overall resounding success of our unplanned visit here. Two last comments. The first. Had I known they have published their own recipe book I would surely have bought one. The second. My apologies to the gentleman there who took care of us, as I have forgetten your name but I hope that you remember me as I will surely return to visit you on my next trip to Malta. Of all the restaurants that we visited during our cruise to the Greek Islands, Malta, Sicily, Napoli and Rome, the Pallazzo Preca was the very best by far. Bravo !

Written August 6, 2022

Ramona1983

Dear Adam, thanks for leaving us such an excellent review. We are thrilled you loved your experience; our staff will be happy to read what you wrote. We put customer experience and satisfaction as our priority, and your review reaffirms the hard work we put in every day. So thanks for your kind words, and we look forward to seeing you again. P.S. For Next time, We do have our Recipe book it’s called “It’s about time “, 192 pages, 90 recipes.

Written August 8, 2022

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Martina B

3 contributions

The only chefs that have there own cooking book

May 2021 • solo

Probably the best meal we had in Malta, but be sure to reserve a table in advance especially if its on weekends however we decided to on a tuesday lunch. the food is great, the portions are generous, the wine list is extensive and the service was good. I had aljotta (a local fish soup), octopus, and a creme brulee with a caramelized top . The husband takes care of the floor and his wife &sister takes care of the kitchen we also had there #gourmet chocolates and also bought there book of recipes.

Written May 31, 2021

Ramona1983

Thank you for your positive reviews. We are thrilled that you had A fantastic experience, and I hope you enjoy cooking from our recipe book.

Written June 7, 2021

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Ben A

North Finchley7 contributions

Stunning.

Sep 2021 • couples

Quite probably one of the best meals we have ever had. From the amuse bouche to dessert every course was faultless. The price is ridiculously cheap compared to Michelin starred restaurants in London, 3 courses with wine came in less than €100, in London this meal would have been £250-300, and I would have happily paid it as the quality was that good. My only complaint is that I can never have Tiramisu again as the Palazzo Preca version is unbeatable and all others will pale by comparison.

Written September 11, 2021

England1 contribution

Extremely Disappointed

Oct 2021 • couples

Really disappointed with this restaurant, had hoped it was going to be lovely. Arrived and we were totally ignored, husband had to go find someone re our booking. Had emailed to book and received an email confirmation and an automatic booking confirmation. Had also advised one of us was a vegetarian. When we eventually got someone to acknowledge us they didn’t know anything about our booking! We had received an email in the Morning reminding us of our booking!! We sat at table opposite till and washing up hatch. Phone kept ringing no one answering it, air conditioning in vent high up blowing out freezing air so had to switch seats with husband, but worse was the washing up hatch kept being left open so we could see the delights and smell it!! The door to kitchen and the wall by the door were filthy, fully appreciate constantly used, but even more so should be scrubbed clean. The attitude of the waiters was shocking, no personal care or interest, just wam bam thank you mam. Brought out an amuse bouche, contained salmon, so I could not eat, brought freezing cold olives. I had advised I was a vegetarian but no thought given. Food less than average, mushroom risotto not cooked properly, still hard. The whole ambience of the restaurant was in no way calm, relaxing or romantic. It gave you the feeling that the customer was an annoyance and something that needed to be served as quick as possible with the least care or interaction. You clearly have been a good restaurant but if you ride on that without constantly reassessing you will end up with a failing business.

Written October 25, 2021

Ramona1983

Dear Odessey, First of all we would like to thank you for visiting Palazzo Preca Restaurant and we are very surprised with your review however we would need more information about your recent visit so we can go more into detail. Please know that we take all complaints very seriously. In the meantime, we have sent you an email but we had no reply to this . We also have left you all our details and also if we can contact you. Should you wish to return to Palazzo Preca, I will personally ensure you that I am ready to meet with you .

Written October 28, 2021

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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