Malta tastes better with guided food stops. This Mdina and Rabat tour blends real local bites with a guided history walk through Malta’s old capital areas, plus you’ll get to sample everything from pastizzi to rabbit, bragioli, and imqaret. The main tradeoff is that it’s mostly on foot, so you’ll want comfy shoes and an appetite that can handle a steady stream of tastings.

I also like how it’s run by a professional, fully licensed guide in English, not a “read off a tablet” setup. In the same way people describe it, you may end up with guide names like Chris or Christine, and the focus stays on stories you can actually connect to what you’re eating and seeing.

If you care about the Game of Thrones filming locations feel as much as the food, this route is built for both. And if you have diet restrictions, one booking noted they did their best to accommodate.

Key things you will enjoy on this Mdina and Rabat Food Tour

• Pastizzi and Maltese street snacks in the places locals go
• Mdina’s 1-hour guided walk in Malta’s old capital area
• Kinnie soft drink, plus two different craft beers during the tastings
• ħobż biż-żejt hands-on style, paired with Mediterranean foods
• Rabbit and bragioli, followed by imqaret for something sweet
• Old-city filming stops that tie into Game of Thrones in both Mdina and Rabat

Where Mdina and Rabat Food Fits Into the Maltese Day

Mdina and Rabat are close enough to treat as one story, but they feel different once you’re walking. Mdina is the old capital, perched and atmospheric, with lanes that make you slow down without trying. Rabat sits right beside it and works like the lively sibling, where food culture shows up fast and in a normal, everyday way.

This tour is built around that contrast. You don’t just taste things in a vacuum. You taste them while your guide connects them to the neighborhood, the history, and the kind of life that still runs there. That matters because Maltese food is simple on paper but specific in practice, and you get a clearer sense of what’s traditional and why.

And yes, you’ll also walk through Game of Thrones filming locations. If that’s your reason for coming, you’ll get more out of it than a photo stop, because the guide ties the scenery to the place itself, not just the show.

Meeting at Is-Serkin, Crystal Palace Bar, and Starting With the Right Pace

You meet at Is-Serkin, Crystal Palace Bar, on the benches just across the road. That’s a straightforward start, and it helps you get oriented fast. If you’re arriving from Valletta or anywhere else on the island, plan to arrive a few minutes early so you’re not rushing through first bites.

The total time is 3.5 hours, which is a sweet spot. Long enough to include real walking and multiple tastings, not so long that you feel dragged from place to place. The tour also keeps the flow moving in stages, starting with snacks, then moving into Mdina, then returning to Rabat for coffee, beer, and dinner.

One practical tip: this is not a “light tasting only” kind of tour. The stops are paced like you’re eating a full meal in chapters. If you skip breakfast or lunch, you’ll enjoy it more.

Rabat Warm-Up Snacks: Kinnie and the Stuff You’ll Actually Remember

You begin in Rabat with a guided introduction and local snacks for about 20 minutes. This is where the tour sets the tone. You get the first taste of Maltese flavors before Mdina’s historic atmosphere takes over, so your palate is awake and your brain is ready to match food to place.

A key highlight at this stage is Kinnie, a Maltese soft drink. It’s one of those local drinks that helps you understand the island’s “mix of sweet, bitter, and herbal” style. Even if you don’t love sweet drinks, it’s worth trying early so you can decide whether you want it again later with the beer or alongside dinner.

You’ll also start seeing the kinds of snacks that feel native to the area, not tourist-friendly versions. That first block is a good reminder that food tours work best when they don’t start with the fancy stuff. They start with the normal favorites.

Mdina for One Hour: Views, Storytelling, and Game of Thrones Stops

After Rabat’s opening, you move to Mdina for about 1 hour of guided walking. Mdina is where Malta’s “old capital” identity becomes obvious. The streets naturally slow you down, and the walls and viewpoints make it easy to understand why this area keeps appearing in films.

The guide brings the history into focus while you walk. You’ll be moving through an area described as part of Malta’s cradle of civilization, with a sense of 3000 years of history hanging around in the stones and layout.

If you’re doing this tour for the Game of Thrones angle, Mdina is one of your key zones. The tour specifically notes that you’ll walk along filming locations in both Mdina and Rabat. The value here is that you’re not just hunting for spots. You’re learning what you’re looking at, which makes the show references feel less random.

A heads-up: Mdina walking can mean uneven stone underfoot. It’s still manageable, but you’ll thank yourself for footwear with grip, especially if you’re visiting on a warmer day or after rain.

Rabat Food Tastings and Coffee: Where the Tour Gets Personal

Once you’re back in Rabat, you’ll enjoy another food and coffee tasting segment for about 20 minutes. This stop is smart because it breaks up the meal pacing. Coffee tasting can help reset your palate before beer and heavier dishes show up.

In a tour like this, coffee also gives you a local rhythm. Maltese dining is not always about huge plated courses. Often it’s about eating, snacking, and drinking in a pattern that feels social, and the coffee moment is part of that.

This segment also matters because it’s a “middle anchor” between Mdina’s sightseeing and the later dinner flow. If you’ve ever been on a tour where everything is either too fast or too late, you’ll appreciate this structure.

Two Craft Beers, Beer Snacks, and Tapas-Style Bites

Next is a Rabat block that focuses on Maltese beer plus food tastings and tapas for about 30 minutes. You’ll try two different local craft beers, and that’s a highlight for two reasons.

First, it gives you a real comparison instead of one token sip. Maltese beer styles can vary, and tasting two helps you understand what each one is bringing to the table. Second, beer works like a bridge between the savory street food and the more substantial dishes coming later.

During this part of the tour, you’ll also have local snacks that keep things moving. The tour’s description calls out tapas as part of this phase, which usually means more bite-sized variety rather than one big plate. For you, that’s ideal because you can sample without feeling stuffed too early.

If you do drink alcohol on tours, keep your water handy. The tour includes a mix of drinks, and the best experience comes when you pace yourself. You still want to taste everything clearly, not just survive it.

The Big Finish in Rabat: ħobż biż-żejt, Rabbit, Bragioli, and Imqaret

The final Rabat segment is the longest in one chunk, about 45 minutes, and it’s where the tour turns into dinner energy. You’ll have dinner, plus wine tasting and regional food.

Before this final meal, the tour description also highlights a hands-on-style food moment: ħobż biż-żejt, which is built around Mediterranean flavors. That part is memorable because it’s not just standing and sampling. You get to participate, and that makes the food feel more like a local habit than a restaurant trick.

Then come the star savory dishes:

• Rabbit, one of the iconic Maltese meats
• Bragioli/Bragioli, a traditional dish that’s hearty and very Malta in feel
• A sweet finish with imqaret, the Maltese pastry/dessert you’ll want to save room for

Wine is also part of the ending, and the tour description specifically mentions local wine plus red wine to go with rabbit and bragioli. So the arc of the meal makes sense: savory dishes, then wine, then dessert.

This is also where you’ll feel why the tour is worth doing as a guided experience. Rabbit and bragioli can sound like “two more dishes” if you see them only on a menu. In context, you taste them in a way that feels tied to tradition, and the guide’s story helps you notice what makes them Maltese rather than just generic Mediterranean.

And if you’re someone who likes a sweet ending, imqaret is the kind of finish that makes you leave the tour already thinking about a return trip to try it again.

Price and Value: Is $80 a Fair Deal for 3.5 Hours?

At $80 per person, this is priced like a proper food tour, not a casual snack walk. The question is what you get for the money.

You do not just pay for a guide. You pay for multiple tastings across drinks and meal components. The tour includes pastizzi, rabbit, bragioli, imqaret, Kinnie, Maltese beer (including two craft beers), and local wine. It also includes ħobż biż-żejt and Mediterranean foods, plus coffee and tapas. That’s a lot of food and drink for a 3.5-hour window.

It’s especially good value if you want to try several classic items you might not pick on your own. In Malta, a lot of traditional food is best understood by ordering in the right combo, and this tour does the pairing work for you.

Also, you get guided context in Mdina and Rabat, not just eating on the move. That means your money buys two things at once: flavor and understanding. For many visitors, that combination is the difference between eating a few bites and actually feeling like you experienced local life.

Who This Tour Suits Best, and Who Might Want to Rethink It

This tour is perfect if you fit at least two of these boxes:

• You want Mdina and Rabat in one experience, with real walking time in both areas
• You care about traditional Maltese food, not only famous landmarks
• You want history and filming locations in the same loop
• You like beer and wine tastings, plus a structured meal that ends with something sweet

It’s also a strong choice for small-group comfort. One booking highlighted a relatively small group, which helps the guide manage timing, answer questions, and still keep everyone tasting without long waits.

One consideration: because this is a food-first format, it’s not ideal if you prefer fully independent sightseeing. You’ll follow the guide’s pace, and the walking and stops are planned. If you want total flexibility to wander off the route, you might prefer a less structured plan.

And if you have dietary restrictions, one booking noted they accommodated restrictions as best as possible. That’s encouraging, but your best move is to mention it when you book so the team can plan as they can.

Quick Booking Check: Should You Book This Mdina and Rabat Food Tour?

Book it if you want a guided route that connects Malta’s food to the actual towns where it belongs. For $80, you’re getting multiple classic dishes, several drink moments, and a Mdina walk that ties history to what you’re tasting. The Game of Thrones filming locations are a bonus layer that works because the guide keeps it grounded in place.

Don’t book it if your main goal is pure sightseeing without tastings, or if you strongly prefer solo pacing. This tour is built for eating, and it will keep moving until you hit the sweet ending.

If you’re the type who likes to come home with food memories, a clearer sense of Mdina and Rabat, and at least a few local flavors you can name later, this one is an easy yes.

FAQ

How long is the Malta Mdina and Rabat Food Tour?

The tour lasts 3.5 hours.

What does the tour cost?

The price is $80 per person.

Where is the meeting point?

You meet on the benches just across the road from Is-Serkin Bar, also known as Crystal Palace Bar.

What food and drink are included?

Included items include pastizzi, ħobż biż-żejt with Mediterranean foods, rabbit, bragioli, imqaret, Kinnie soft drink, Maltese beer, and local wine. The tour also includes coffee tasting and tapas as part of the experience.

Is beer and wine included?

Yes. The tour includes Maltese beer (including two local craft beers) and wine tasting, including red wine with the rabbit and bragioli.

Is coffee part of the tour?

Yes, there is a coffee tasting included.

Does the tour include Game of Thrones filming locations?

Yes. The tour includes walking through filming locations in Mdina and Rabat.

Is there an English-speaking live guide?

Yes. The tour is given by a professional fully licensed tourist guide in English.

Can I cancel for a refund, and can I pay later?

There is free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later.