Best Restaurants in Gozo: Michelin, Seafood, Views & More

Michelin Guide Restaurants in Gozo

Unlike our larger sister island of Malta, Gozo does not boast any restaurants with a Michelin star, although I reckon it’s only a matter of time. However, we do have five restaurants recommended in the Michelin Guide for Gozo: Ta’ Frenc, Level Nine at the Grand, Tmun, Al Sale, and this year’s newcomer Scottadito in Nadur. They have been regular fixtures in the guide for the past few years.​

Ta’ Frenc is a Gozo fine-dining institution. Opening in May 1982, it is the restaurant visited by Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie in By The Sea as their characters attempt to repair their relationship. It’s also name-dropped in Man on Fire, the book written by local author A.J. Quinnell that inspired the Denzel Washington movie of the same name, and the upcoming Netflix series. Set in a traditional farmhouse in the countryside outside Xagħra, it offers wonderful views and delicious food and is very popular for occasions that deserve a celebratory feast.​

Tmun is another well-established eatery, originally opening in Xlendi in 1987 before moving to Mġarr Harbour in 2009. Like many restaurants on Gozo it is family run and the current head chef, Paul Buttigieg, is the son of the founders, Jane and Leli Buttigieg. As you might imagine, with a harbour-based location, fish and seafood are something of a house speciality. Both Ta’ Frenc and Tmun were recognised in the Michelin Guide in 2020 and have remained a fixture every year since.​

Now on to the newcomers: Al Sale can be found in Xagħra’s main square, just to the side of the church, and ambitiously launched in November 2020 amid the pandemic. Ambition that was well-founded as it soon became a favourite on the island with visitors and locals alike. It joined the Michelin Guide in 2024, alongside Level Nine at the Grand. Situated at the top of the Grand Hotel in Għajnsielem, and opening under the auspices of Michelin-star-winning Oliver Glowig, it offers fine dining with stunning views of Mġarr Harbour, Comino and Malta. Now under the care of Gozitan George Attard, who won the 2026 Michelin Young Chef Award.

Finally, the latest addition to the Gozo Michelin Guide club is Osteria Scottadito, opening in Nadur in 2018. It received recognition for its rustic yet refined Marchigiano-Romagnola dishes.​

If you want to push the boat out, you can’t go far wrong with any of these restaurants. However, the one I go back to is Tmun, a beautiful location with a delicious menu. I still dream about the fig and mascarpone tart I devoured on my last visit.

Best Fine Dining Restaurants in Gozo

We’re going to play a little fast and loose with the definition of ‘fine dining’ here. Not in terms of ingredient quality, service, or the wonderful experience but more in the formality I normally associate with fine-dining spots. Remember, Gozo sits in the heart of the Mediterranean, where slow, relaxed living reigns, plus it’s a holiday haven. So you might well find people in more casual dress, the tables might not be dressed in pure white linen and a less rarefied air. What you will find: elevated eats perfect for special nights. Obviously, the establishments listed above that have been recognised by Michelin also firmly fit into this category but these the places that go to when we fancy treating ourselves to a dinner date.

Our current favourite is Llenya, a steakhouse in Sannat that is part of the Quaint Boutique Hotel and run by Chef-Patron Jessica Mizzi. The food is excellent, the service spot on and the price is reasonable. A touche I particularly love is that Jessica is very much front of house, ensuring that your experience is just so. One of Llenya’s specialities is table-side flambe dishes, which she creates but she’s also pouring wine or greeting diners as they arrive.

Maldonado Bistro, on the outskirts of Victoria, was the first restaurant we ever visited on Gozo, and it’s one we return to regularly, we’ve even had Christmas lunch there. Expect modern Mediterranean with a Gozo twist, the menu changes frequently and it really is a wonderful spot. If you have the chance, we highly recommend trying the wine tasting and pair dinner experience. We’ve done this four or five times as it’s a great way to introduce visitors to local wines and dishes.

If you fancy dining with a view, then I’d recommend One80 Kitchen at Mgarr Yacht Marina, which has part of its dining area set overlooking the harbour. It’s great for seafood, I had some of the best octopus of my life at One80 during a very relaxed lunch with some visiting friends a few years ago. At the time the menu included a good selection of small plates, which they seem to have moved away from. Although sharing is still an option as they have big starters and mains to share on the current menu.

My final recommendation is Neolitik Kitchen & Lounge which is just off Independence Square in Victoria. Modern and cosy it offers an à la carte menu and Neolitik bites, which they brand as a snack menu but I’d class more as small bites. It’s constantly changing and is a great option if you fancy something a little lighter.

Best Gozo Restaurants for Authentic Local Cuisine

I guess first I need to tell you what to expect as authentic local cuisine for Gozo, which is rabbit, either fried or in a stew, Ftira Għawdxija, which is a flatbread-pizza with potatoes, anchovies, olives, capers and tuna. Sometimes it also includes ġbejna, which is a sheep or goat milk cheeselet, which is served fresh, dried or peppered. You should also expect to find raviolli, which is served with tomato sauce on the side and plenty of fresh fish and seafood. If you’re visiting from the middle of August to December, then definitely try Lampuki (also known as mahi-mahi or dorado).

Tal-Funar in Xagħra might just be the most authentic restaurant on the island as it cooks its dishes in its hundred year old wood fired stone oven, using ingredients from their farm. Expect hearty dishes packed with flavour, the roast local lamb is highly recommended.

If you’re happy to go with the flow and eat what has been prepared, the Ta’ Rosina in Sannat. Small, cosy, utterly authentic and apparently one of Billy Connelly’s favourite spots when he lived on Gozo. Family run, the owner Rosina Tabone cooks what she feels like, depending on her mood, the weather and what’s available. Expect Lampuki in season, Rabbit stew or beef olives. Booking in ahead is highly recommended.

Finally, it would be remiss to not include Manini’s Pub in Kerċem. A typical village bar, it has a small menu of burgers and pizzas, but it also does the best rabbit on Gozo, which must be booked at least 24 hours in advance.

Best Restaurants with a View in Gozo

This is a tough category as Gozo is blessed with gorgeous vistas, but along with One80 Kitchen and Level Nine at the Grand, these are our favourites when you want to eat with scenery as spectacular as the food. Established in 2005, Country Terrace offers panoramic views across Mġarr Harbour, to Comino and Malta beyond and is particularly excellent if you are hungry, as the portions are generous to say the least. A little further along the same road, and also with views over Comino and Malta is Xerri Il-bukkett, fondly called Cherry Bucket by my friends. It’s particularly good for rabbit and pasta dishes. It’s also one of the few places on the island that has a pool table, which you’ll find in the small bar to the left of the entranceway.

If gazing at the beauty of the Med is not your thing, then head to The View in Żebbuġ which has a terrace that looks over the west of Gozo and is perfect for sunset dining.

My favourite spot for dining with a view on Gozo is currently Terrazzo, Xlendi. It sits on the left-side cliff of Xlendi bay, offering views out towards the tower. The service is great, the menu extensive and the view is one of the best on Gozo.

Best Seafood Restaurants in Gozo

Most restaurants on Gozo offer fish and seafood on their menus, including some of those already mention, such as Tmun and One80 Kitchen, but these are the ones we head to when that craving hits.

Tucked away in Mġarr Harbour, Ghajnsielem, just under the legendary Gleneagles bar, you’ll find Sammy’s. This is the place that we ate at the most in 2025, and it looks like 2026 will be the same. Like some restaurants on Gozo, Sammy’s closes for the off season, usually late October until early March. I received a message from a friend only yesterday to tell me it had opened up again, and a message today from another mate asking if we want to have lunch there tomorrow. The menu is pretty short, although there is usually a range of specials on offer. The calamari is divine and the fresh tuna steak is pretty much perfection. It’s not a huge place, so making a reservation in advance is recommended.

Just across from Sammy’s, you’ll find Ta’ Tona which seems to be permanently packed throughout the summer months. If you want seafood with a view, then head to Mġarr ix-Xini and By The Sea. Named after the Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt movie that shot on Gozo in 2015, it sits on the beach in one of Gozo’s most beautiful spots. Reviews are mixed and prices are elevated.

Xlendi and Marsalforn, as the other two seaside locations on Gozo both have plenty of great seafood restaurants, and you can’t really go wrong with anyone you pick on the day. However, I would recommend Ta-Karolina in Xlendi, for a charming and authentic experience, along with a great meal. In Marsalforn, we head to Otters, which is the local Waterpolo club. It has views across the bay and some of the best service on the island.

Best Pizza & Pasta Spots in Gozo

You will not struggle to find good pizza and pasta anywhere on Gozo, they are part of almost every single menu and in general, but these are the places that do excellent pizza and pasta.

For pizza, it has to be Casa Vostra, especially if your preference, like mine, is for Naples style. Located opposite the Duke’s Shopping Centre in Victoria, it’s cosy and charmingly decorated, with a lovely, if small, garden area out the back. It is, rightly, very popular, though we have also been lucky with snagging a table if we have chanced it.

For pasta, it has to be Roża, which is also in Victoria. It actually feels like a slight injustice to not include this restaurant in the best fine dining or best seafood restaurants but honestly, the pasta here is sublime. Also, I swear the owner is a time lord. When Roża first opened, which I think was in early 2024, the inside area was tiny and there were more tables outside. It was genuinely amazing the quality of food that they produced in the small open kitchen. Today, it has an multiple, and beautiful inside areas, and I just spotted it has a ‘secret garden’. It’s a tardis of a restaurant.

Best Vegan Restaurants in Gozo

A caveat first: While most places will offer a vegan option, don’t take it as a guarantee. Indeed, there are a few spots that don’t really cater for vegetarians, so if possible check menus and reviews in advance.

Quite a few of the place’s we’ve already recommended, such as One80, Casa Vostra, Roża and Country Terrace are all good picks for both vegan and vegetarian options but for a carnivore free environment head to Marsalforn and Alive Bistro. It’s raw vegan desserts get rave reviews!

Best Family-Friendly Restaurants in Gozo

It’s the south Mediterranean; finding a restaurant that isn’t family-friendly is the true challenge. Everywhere will have a kids menu and high chairs available. Two stand outs standouts for me are Greens Sports Bar & Grill in Kerċem and Pizza&Co in Ghajnsielem.

Along with a good, reasonably priced menu and plenty of TV screens showing the latest sports, Greens has a dedicated child’s play area just outside. Pizza&Co No Limits earns a recommendation as it’s the only all-you-can-eat pizza place. For a very reasonable price you get all the pizza you can eat, slice by slice, a drink and a dessert. The children’s menu is based on height rather than age.