World Country Guide

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Food & Drink
There is a very good choice of restaurants and cafes from deluxe to fast food (hamburgers and fish & chips), including Chinese, fish and beachside bars. Table service is normal, but many bars and cafes have table and/or counter service. Local dishes include lampuki pie, bragoli and fenek (rabbit cooked in wine). Pork and fish dishes are recommended and vegetables are excellent. The best Maltese fruits are oranges and grapes; also delicious are strawberries, melons, mulberries, tangerines, pomegranates and figs.
Maltese beer is excellent, and foreign beers are also available. There is a wide variety of good and inexpensive Maltese wine and foreign wines and spirits. Licensing hours of bars, restaurants and cafes are usually 0900-0100 and beyond. Most hotel bars close between 1300 and 1600 and then reopen after 1800.

Nightlife
There are several discos, bars and nightclubs. Roulette, baccarat, blackjack and boule can be played at the ‘Dragonara’ casino, St Julian’s or at the Casino de Venezia in Vittoriosa. The Manoel Theatre is one of the oldest in Europe. Cinemas show mainly English and American films.

Shopping
Special purchases include Malta weave, pottery, blown glass, ceramics, dolls, lace, copper and brass items. Malta is renowned for its gold and silver filigree work and handmade lace. Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0900-1300 and 1600-1900.

Special Events
The Malta Tourism Authority can supply full details of events, including a complete list of the various Saint’s Days celebrated throughout Malta (see Contact Addresses section). The following is a selection of special events occurring in Malta in 2005:
Feb 3-8 Carnival (featuring masks, floats and dancing), Valletta. Feb 27 Malta Marathon, Mdina. Mar 10-13 Mediterranean Food Festival, Valetta. Mar 21-27 Easter Week. Apr-Sep Festa Season (commemoration to the various saints with church services, outdoor festivities and fireworks), various locations. May 6-7 Fireworks Festival, Valletta. May 21-22 Maltese Folk Singing Festival, Floriana. Jun-Jul Victoria International Arts Festival (classical concerts, vocal ensembles, ballet, jazz and lectures), Gozo. Jul 5-17 Malta International Jazz Festival, Valletta. Sep 25-26 Malta International Air Show, Luqa Airfield. Oct Rolex Middle Sea Race, Valletta. Oct 6-16 Historic Cities Festival, various locations. Nov 8-11 Malta International Choir Festival, Valletta. Dec 24-31 Christmas Entertainment Programme (carol singing, ethnic dance groups and Santa fun run), Valletta.

Social Conventions
The usual European courtesies are expected, but the visitor should also bear in mind the tremendous importance of Roman Catholicism; if visiting a church, for instance, modest dress covering the shoulders and legs will be expected. Smoking is prohibited on public transport and in some public buildings, including cinemas. Tipping: 10 to 15 per cent is expected in hotels and restaurants when not included in the bill. Taxi drivers are usually tipped 10 per cent of the fare.