Merkanti Village — Restaurant in Dingli

A True Gem of Maltese Cuisine – 10/10 🌟

Today my wife and I had the pleasure of enjoying lunch at Merkanti Village in Dingli, and what an experience it was! The place is beautifully decorated, with a relaxing and inviting atmosphere that instantly puts you at ease. The setup is spot-on—charming, comfortable, and perfectly in tune with the rural surroundings.

We started off with the snails (bebbux) in a delicious sauce—hands down the best snails we’ve ever had. Perfectly cooked, full of flavor, and just the right portion for a starter.

For the main course, I had the fried rabbit with garlic and sauce, served with crispy chips. It was tender, bursting with flavour, and cooked to perfection. My wife chose the stuffed calamari, and it was equally impressive—delicious, rich in taste, and perfectly accompanied by sauce and fries.

We paired our meal with a bottle of white Luma wine, which complemented our dishes beautifully.

Before the starter, we were served fresh, crunchy Maltese bread with onions and tomato sauce—a wonderful touch that really set the tone for the meal.

For dessert, I chose the Ħelwa tat-Tork (Halva with peanuts), a sweet ending that was just as satisfying as the rest of the meal.

Service was top-notch: prompt, professional, and warm. Everything was served without delays, and we felt genuinely cared for throughout. A huge thumbs up to Chef Ryan, who truly impressed us with his talent and respect for traditional Maltese cuisine.

A heartfelt thank you to Jake, whose love, care, and dedication to every guest make Merkanti Village such a special place.

We at Valletta Apartments 19 highly recommend this gem to all our guests, friends, and family. If you’re looking for an authentic and memorable Maltese culinary experience, book now—you won’t be disappointed.

We’ll definitely be...

We stumbled upon here on our way to a different restaurant. The outside is very unimposing, possibly east to miss but at the same time it is a very classy entrance, thought and time went in to the design.

On the inside the restaurant opens up to reveal a place much larger than the doorway would suggest. The decor is clean, modern and vibrant. You feel instantly at calm. Tables are distanced apart which gives you space and less interruptions from other diners.

We chose our food - the salty sourdough with anchovies, excellent. The calamari, also excellent, and the Focaccia, also excellent. The latter two were very large, don't come here unless you're hungry!

Before the starters arrived we were treated to two pre-starters on the house - bruscetta and water biscuits with a broad bean dip, you guessed it. Excellent.

Main courses followed, all excellent..Swordfish for me, Octopus stew for my partner and Octopus in garlic for our friend. Portions again are very generous. I don't want to influence anyone in to reducing what they are going to order but sharing a starter might not be a dreadful idea unless you're quite hungry.

Meal was concluded with some complimentary halwa and peanuts in their shells, akin to a waffa thin mint back in the Monty Python days (YouTube it) and a complementary Limoncello.

All for under €100, wow.

It was an astounding meal, we left extremely happy and obviously incredibly full. Just to mention the service, which was friendly, fast and helpful. Honestly couldn't fault anything

If we lived here we'd...

Yesterday I had the pleasure of dining at Merkanti Village, and it was truly a memorable experience. This charming spot serves up authentic Maltese cuisine in a cozy, welcoming atmosphere that’s perfect for both families and romantic date nights.

We ordered a Maltese platter featuring rabbit, snails, and horse, and also octopus in garlic and every bite was bursting with traditional flavor. The dishes were perfectly cooked, well-seasoned, and beautifully presented a real treat for anyone looking to explore the rich culinary heritage of Malta.

The service was warm and attentive, making us feel right at home, and the ambiance struck the perfect balance between rustic and refined. Whether you're a local or visiting the island, Merkanti Village is a must-visit.

Highly recommended for anyone wanting to enjoy genuine Maltese hospitality and delicious,...