The Villa Bologna Restaurant — Restaurant in Attard

Date: 7th November (First visit: Lunch on the 5th November)

This was our second visit to Villa Bologna, this time for dinner.

Upon arrival, there was no one to greet us, so we walked into the bar area. A member of staff—who turned out to work in the pottery, not the restaurant—rather abruptly asked us to leave the area. It wasn’t the warmest welcome, and I did mention this feedback to the maître d’ at the end of our meal.

Once seated, the overall experience improved. We sat in the courtyard, which had a pleasant atmosphere—around three-quarters full—with a relaxed, low-lit ambience.

Both cocktails (a Negroni and an Old Fashioned) were very good, though initially delivered to the wrong table. Thankfully, we managed to reclaim them without too much fuss.

We ordered two pizzas, both excellent: • Amalfitana – tomato confit, Cetara anchovies, olive powder, buffalo stracciatella, oregano (€15) • Ortolana (V) – tomato, mozzarella, sautéed aubergine, bell pepper purée, courgette (€15)

Once again, both pizzas were mistakenly delivered to the table next to ours before being redirected. The crusts and toppings were excellent—well-balanced and full of flavour.

When it came time to pay, things became a little chaotic. The first bill was incorrect, as were the next two. Only on the fourth attempt did we receive an accurate one, correctly reflecting our order and the number of water bottles.

Tip: Do double-check your bill!

First visit review: 5th November 2025 for lunch.

Villa Bologna is a charming spot that beautifully blends a pottery shop with a restaurant, offering both indoor and outdoor dining in an elegant setting. The interior is a delight — black and white chequered floors, yellow striped wallpaper, and walls adorned with pottery plates give it a distinctly Mediterranean character. There’s even a lovely corner featuring tiled artwork that adds to the artisanal feel.

Tables outside are dressed in red and white chequered cloths topped with white overlays, while indoors, crisp white tablecloths create a more classic atmosphere.

The complimentary bread was fine, served with a spicy passata dip.

I tried the Spaghetti alle Vongole — fresh clams with garlic, chilli, and parsley. While the portion was on the smaller side for €25, the flavours were a little underwhelming, with the dish lacking salt and little flavour. The clam portion also felt a bit stingy.

On the brighter side, both the Negroni and the Ginger Spritz were excellent and well balanced.

Service was...

Quite a mixed bag to be honest, so I’ll try to describe it as best as I can.

We arrived a little bit early and were sat in a lovely garden setting. Ordered our drinks and they came out in reasonable time.

We received an amouse-bouche and made our order. The evening started strong.

First, within a short time, we got served perfectly cooked Calamari. Hands down a 10/10.

This is where things started going downhill.

The restaurant filled out pretty fast. The tables next to us received and ate their starters and mains and mains and desert respectively, whilst we were 90% done with our bottle of wine and still waiting on our mains. The staff couldn’t keep up, though they were doing a good job and it was clear that it was due to being understaffed.

Finally our mains came out: Seabass with zucchini 2 ways (The fish was cooked perfectly and the zucchini was really good, though the ratio was off, with there being only enough vegetables for a few bites). 8/10

Pizza (anchovies, black olive powder, capers…) - The dough was very good (looked like a biga), however the sauce ratios were off (and the tomato sauce taste like it was store bought), which made the dough soggy and the overall taste of the pizza was mediocre. 5/10

Broccoli with Chilli - I am not sure if the person cooking it ever tried cooking or eating it before. It was overcooked by 3-4 minutes minimum, to the point where it lost all of its bright green colour it’s supposed to have when it’s cooked correctly and was basically a gray and tasteless piece of sponge. The menu mentioned it came with chilli, but I’m not sure what happened to it. 0/10

Fries - Probably some of the worst we’ve ever had. Pale, tasteless, not crispy, just wrong. My wife really wanted fries and she managed to eat a few with some mayonnaise but about 90% got left. 0/10

We left without finishing up all our food and we didn’t even look at the dessert menu as we lost...

An Exceptional Dining Experience at Villa Bologna – A True Gem in Malta

Our dinner at Villa Bologna Restaurant was one of the true highlights of our trip to Malta. Nestled within the lush gardens of an 18th-century villa, the setting was nothing short of magical—peaceful, refined, and full of charm.

From the moment we arrived, we were warmly welcomed by the staff, who showed genuine hospitality and attentiveness throughout the evening. Traveling with four adults, a 9-year-old child, and a 6-month-old baby can be challenging, but the team at Villa Bologna went above and beyond to make us feel comfortable and relaxed. They offered thoughtful recommendations, explained the dishes with passion, and even helped us select a bottle of exceptional Prosecco that perfectly complemented the meal.

The food was simply outstanding—both in presentation and flavor. Every dish felt crafted with care and creativity, featuring fresh, locally sourced ingredients, some straight from their own garden. We particularly enjoyed the handmade pasta, the delicate seafood options, and the well-balanced vegetarian plates. Every bite was a celebration of Mediterranean elegance with a modern twist.

What makes this place even more special is the attention to detail: the way the tables are set, the ambient lighting in the garden, the curated wine list, and the sense that every guest is truly cared for. It’s no surprise that so many visitors (and locals!) consider this restaurant a hidden treasure.

Unlike other venues that try to impress with trends or theatrics, Villa Bologna offers something much more valuable—authenticity, taste, and warmth. This is what fine dining should feel like: effortless, delicious, and memorable.

We would gladly return and recommend Villa Bologna to anyone seeking a special night out in Malta. It’s not just a meal—it’s an experience you’ll carry with you long after...