Rubino

Rubino is a long-standing restaurant at 53 Old Bakery Street (Triq il-Forn) in Valletta, Malta, holding a Michelin Bib Gourmand for good-value cooking. It was founded in the early 1900s as a Sicilian restaurant and pastry shop, and that heritage still shapes a modern Maltese menu with Sicilian influences. The kitchen is known for dishes rooted in island tradition, including fenek moqli, rabbit braised in red wine, house-smoked octopus, baked pasta and lampuki, the Maltese dolphinfish, when it is in season in autumn. The blackboard menu changes through the evening as dishes sell out, so what is on offer at the start of service may differ from the final tables. The dining room is traditional and characterful, with a historic Valletta setting, a warm and unhurried mood, and a mixed crowd of locals and visitors. Dress is casual to smart-casual and noise levels are moderate to lively when the room is full. Wine is mostly European, with Maltese labels available, and the list suits the hearty, rustic food. Prices sit in the mid-range, noticeably below Valletta's starred tasting-menu restaurants, which is part of the reason for its Bib Gourmand recognition. Lunch and dinner are served, but days vary, so visitors should confirm opening times with the restaurant. Reservations are recommended; the room is small, and evenings, particularly Friday and Saturday, are the busiest, so booking a few days ahead is sensible, and longer in peak summer. Old Bakery Street runs through the western half of the Valletta grid, a short walk from Republic Street and the Upper Barrakka Gardens, so the restaurant fits easily into a day of sightseeing in the capital.