Malta nightlife, from Paceville to a quiet drink in Valletta

Malta has a reputation as a party island, and to a degree it’s earned. But look at the numbers and the proper clubbing is very concentrated. The Malta Tourism Authority register lists just 13 licensed nightclubs in the whole country, and seven of them are in St Julian’s, four in Paceville. The rest of Maltese nightlife is bars, terraces and village feasts.

Paceville, where the clubs are

Visitmalta doesn’t beat about the bush. The main clubbing action is in Paceville, on the coast near St Julian’s, where clubs and bars are everywhere. It describes a scene that runs all year and all week, from big clubs to bars with house DJs and free entry. The district climbs the hill that separates Spinola Bay from St George’s Bay, and I cover it in detail in my guide to Paceville.

To me, Paceville is somewhere to go out, not somewhere to sleep. If you’re here to party, I’d book in St Julian’s or Sliema, a short walk away, and stroll up. That way you actually sleep and still have the night on your doorstep. The options are in my guide to hotels in St Julian’s.

Is there nightlife beyond Paceville?

Yes, just a different kind. Valletta has 57 licensed bars, and the Michelin Guide calls Merchants Street the centre’s main pedestrian street, full of bars and eateries. That’s the night I’d pick for a long drink. St Paul’s Bay, with Buġibba and Qawra, has 84 bars, and Malta Public Transport describes it as known for its nightlife.

Visitmalta adds Malta’s other night, the cultural one. Organ recitals in baroque churches, plays at the Manoel Theatre, open-air Shakespeare in the San Anton gardens in July, casinos, cinema and dinners in palazzos or by the harbour. For the palazzo option, Palazzo Parisio in Naxxar opens Luna for dinner and holds gin and live music nights in its garden on Wednesdays. In summer there are also the village festas, with brass bands and fireworks. July brings the year’s big free concert too, Isle of MTV Malta, in Il Fosos Square in Floriana.

Gozo after dark

Gozo is calmer, but it does party in summer. The Ministry for Gozo mentions La Grotta, an open-air club on a clifftop that has been going since 1986, and says summer is when parties, open-air festivals and boat parties hit their peak. For something gentler, there are wine bars in Victoria and seafront lounges in Mġarr, Marsalforn and Xlendi.

One practical detail that can ruin a night. The Ministry for Gozo warns that the island’s public transport runs until 23:00, so after that it’s a taxi or a ride-hailing app.

What the official advice says

The Foreign Office says crime against tourists is rare. It’s also specific about Paceville. In some of its bars and gentlemen’s clubs, people have been drugged by criminals and then forced to spend large amounts or assaulted them. Its advice is to be careful who you buy drinks from, keep them in sight and check your bill. It also reports assaults, including sexual assault, and tells you not to split up from your friends.

There’s another rule worth knowing. Since 2021 Malta has allowed cannabis to be grown and used at home, but lighting up in public is illegal and will get you a fine, and possession of up to 7 grams is legal for Maltese residents only. It’s not a country to be casual about it.

Getting back to your hotel

You’ve got options. Malta Public Transport runs N night routes for €3, plus an on-demand night service booked through the tallinja app. Spain’s foreign ministry notes that the official taxis are white, often don’t use the meter and are best agreed on price beforehand, and that Uber, Bolt and eCabs operate too. If you’ve had dinner in Valletta and you’re staying in Sliema, the night ferry costs €3.50 single from 19:30.

If you’d rather party on the water, there’s another option in summer in my guide to Malta boat parties. And if you’re travelling as an LGBTQ+ group, what the sources say is in my guide to gay Malta.