Palazzo Preca

Palazzo Preca is a fine-dining restaurant inside an 18th-century palazzo at 54 Strait Street (Triq id-Dejqa), Valletta, Malta. Strait Street, once the city's notorious entertainment lane, has been revived as a dining and nightlife street, and the restaurant occupies one of its restored historic buildings. The cuisine is Maltese and Mediterranean, with a strong emphasis on seafood and island classics. Signature dishes include aljotta, the traditional Maltese fish soup, a traditional rabbit stew priced at about EUR 23.90 (about $27), Lobster Thermidor and a whitebait fishcake. Rabbit and fish soup are emblematic of Maltese home cooking, and the stew in particular is a dish visitors often order to taste the national speciality in a refined setting. The dining room reflects its architecture, with stone walls, high ceilings and period detail creating an atmospheric, slightly theatrical mood that suits a long dinner. Noise is moderate, and dress is smart-casual. The beverage programme covers Maltese and international wines, as well as cocktails and spirits to accompany the seafood-focused menu. Prices are in the upper mid-range, with main courses typically in the EUR 20 to 30 range, so a three-course meal with wine is a moderate to high spend by Maltese standards. Opening listings differ. One source gives Monday, Friday and Saturday 12:00 to 10:00PM and Tuesday to Thursday 12:00 to 4:00PM, with Sunday closed, so hours should be confirmed before visiting. Reservations are recommended, particularly on Friday and Saturday evenings when Strait Street fills with diners and drinkers, and booking a few days ahead is sensible. Strait Street runs parallel to Republic Street through the heart of the capital, within easy walking distance of the Upper Barrakka Gardens and St John's Co-Cathedral.