A Local’s Guide to Sliema: Where to Swim, Eat and Unwind
Sliema sits on a peninsula with two very different waterfronts: rocky swimming spots along Tower Road on one side, and the ferry quay facing Valletta on the other. That mix is most of its appeal.
We manage holiday homes in and around Sliema, and our office is on the Qui-Si-Sana seafront, so this is the area we know best. Here is how we’d suggest spending your time.
Start with the seafront walk
The promenade runs from Qui-Si-Sana along Tower Road towards Balluta Bay, and it’s the best free thing to do in Sliema. In summer, go early or in the late afternoon, as midday heat on the front is hard going. You’ll see swimmers in the water well before most people have had breakfast.
Where to swim
Sliema has no sandy beaches, and most people don’t mind. Swimming here means rock platforms and old stone bathing pools, with easy entry into clear water.
- Fond Għadir: a row of square-cut pools along Tower Road. Locals call them the “Roman Baths”, although they date from the Victorian era. They’re sheltered and shallow in places, which suits families who want calm water.
- Għar id-Dud: further along beneath the promenade, with deeper water off the rocks. The concrete remains of an old open-air dance hall sit in the bay, and snorkellers like to explore them.
- Balluta Bay: a small, tide-dependent beach on the edge of Sliema and St Julian’s, with cafés behind it. For proper sand, St George’s Bay in St Julian’s is the nearest option.
Rock entries can be slippery, so water shoes are worth packing, and check the sea conditions on windy days.
Where to eat
Sliema has plenty of choice, but these are the places we recommend. Three of them sit along the Tigné waterfront, looking across the harbour, so it’s easy to build an evening around them.
- Tora. Contemporary Chinese cooking with a serious cocktail list, on the Tigné Seafront. The terrace looks across the water to Valletta, especially good after dark, and Peking duck is the signature dish. Book ahead for dinner and weekends.
- Ta’ Kris. Traditional Maltese cooking, such as rabbit, bragioli (beef olives) and octopus stew. The restaurant spent 25 years in Sliema before moving to The Strand in Gżira in August 2025. It’s a short taxi ride or a walk along the waterfront, and worth booking for evenings.
- Hammett’s Gastro Bar. Asian-inspired sharing plates and cocktails on the Tigné Seafront, from chef and restaurateur Chris Hammett. The plates are made for sharing, so order a few between you. It’s relaxed enough for a casual night out.
- Chophouse. A steakhouse at Tigné Point with a terrace overlooking Valletta across the harbour. It also offers a tasting menu with wine pairing for a longer evening. Book a terrace table for the view, and save it for a special night out.
Take the ferry to Valletta
The ferry leaves from the Sliema Ferries quay and the crossing takes about ten minutes, which is far easier than driving into Valletta. If you’re hungry when you arrive, Is-Suq tal-Belt is a good stop. It’s a restored 19th-century covered market on Merchants Street that reopened as a food hall in 2018, and it suits groups who can’t agree on one cuisine.
Spend a day at a Sliema beach club
If you’d rather have a sunbed than a rock platform, Sliema has several beach clubs along the waterfront. They differ a lot in mood, so choose by the kind of day you want.
- Manta (Tigne Seafront) has a pool and a Mediterranean restaurant, with Valletta across the water as the backdrop. It’s also one of the few beach clubs that welcomes children during the day.
- 1926 La Plage (Sliema seafront) belongs to the boutique hotel 1926 Le Soleil. It’s the calmer, more refined option, with the emphasis on good food and relaxed afternoons.
- MedAsia Playa (Qui-Si-Sana) has pools, a lounge and a restaurant serving Asian and Mediterranean dishes. It gets livelier later in the day, with DJs and evening events.
- Exiles (below the Tower Road promenade) is the local favourite, with casual food and drinks, sunbeds right up to the water’s edge and live music in summer. The entry to the sea is rocky, so water shoes help.
Most beach clubs are seasonal, so check opening dates if you’re visiting outside summer, and book ahead in peak season where you can.
Have a coffee at Giorgio’s
Giorgio’s has been Sliema’s favourite coffee stop since 1987. It’s on the corner of Bisazza Street, close to the Sliema Ferries, with outdoor tables that suit watching the town go by.
Come for a cappuccino and a pastizz in the morning, or stay for lunch or an Aperol spritz later.
It’s popular with locals and visitors alike, and has recently been refurbished.
Take a boat trip from The Strand
Many of Malta’s boat trips start from The Strand and the Sliema Ferries, so it pairs well with a morning coffee at Giorgio’s. The classic outing is a day cruise to Comino and the Blue Lagoon, which can run from a few hours to a full day, and some combine it with Gozo. If you’d rather stay closer to home, harbour cruises take in Marsamxett and the Grand Harbour, and sunset cruises head out in the late afternoon and evening. Comino trips are best in the warmer months.
For something more private, we can also organise skippered sailing or power boat charters for your group or family. Ask us about a private charter →
email: info@buenavistaholidays.com
whatsapp: +356 7939 6674
Shop at The Point, Tigné Point
The Point is Malta’s largest shopping mall, with international brands, a supermarket and casual restaurants under one roof, which makes it a good plan for a hot afternoon or a wet day. It sits at Tigné Point, a short walk from the Sliema Ferries, and has its own car park. Step outside onto Pjazza Tigné for more cafés, restaurants and shops, or walk the waterfront towards Fort Tigné. For smaller shops, try Bisazza Street and the streets around it.
Getting around
Sliema is well connected by bus, and the ferry covers Valletta. If you’ve hired a car, street parking is tight, so most guests find buses, ferries and taxis easier. For a smooth start to your stay, we can also arrange an airport transfer, so a driver meets you on arrival and takes you straight to your apartment for check-in.
Stay in Sliema
Swim before breakfast, take the ferry to Valletta after lunch and be back on the Tigné waterfront for dinner, all without a car. Our Sliema apartments put you close to it all, and we can arrange airport transfers and private boat charters.
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