Lovage Bistro Qawra Book a table

Seasonal Mediterranean dinner in Qawra

Lovage Bistro is a small Mediterranean restaurant on Triq l-Imhar, run by chef patron Matthew Schembri, with a short menu that changes with the season.

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4.8 371 Google reviews
Pistachio risotto with burrata in a brown stoneware bowl on dark marble
  • Kitchen Tue to Sat: 18:30 to 22:00
  • Where Triq l-Imhar, Qawra
  • Chef patron Matthew Schembri

The kitchen

A chef's room, a few minutes in from the seafront

Lovage Bistro sits on Triq l-Imhar, a side street inland from the Qawra promenade. It is a small room with dark wood tables, a limestone wine rack along one wall and a few tables out front, open for dinner five nights a week. The guests are locals, and the visitors who come back.

Chef patron Matthew Schembri trained in gastronomy and spent more than a decade in catering before opening here. The menu is short and changes with the season: four starters, four pasta and risotto dishes, six mains and six desserts, each built around what is good that month. The pistachio and burrata risotto and the imqaret have stayed on it for years.

Chef patron Matthew Schembri in whites and a black apron, smiling in the kitchen
Chef patron Matthew Schembri in the kitchen

Three to order

Three plates from the current menu

  • Three crumbed baked sheep's cheese croquettes on a dark fig chutney, steaming, on a copper lit table

    Local sheep's cheese

    Baked in a crumb and served hot, with a fig chutney and local honey.

    EUR 13

  • Sliced duck breast on sweet potato puree with jus and micro herbs

    Duck breast

    Moroccan spices, a sweet potato puree and jus. Like every main it comes with seasonal vegetables and roasted potatoes.

    EUR 28

  • Imqaret date fritters in a row with ice cream and crumble on a dark slate plate

    Imqaret

    The Maltese date fritter, dusted with sugar and served with vanilla ice cream.

    EUR 8

Photos

The restaurant's own photographs. Open any one to see it full size.

Reviews

What guests say

  • Amazing food, best we have had whilst in Malta. Such a shame we didn't find it sooner. If you are looking for delicious food or have had enough of pasta and pizza, this is the place to eat. The food was that good we decided to go back the following night.

    AndyC72 Google review, August 2026 5 out of 5

  • Amazing food, big platters. The rib eye steak was seared perfect medium rare like I asked. Pistachio risotto was something we never ate and was delicious. Staff was super nice.

    Wilson Restrepo Tumina Google review, September 2024 5 out of 5

  • A local place. Warm people & service. Very high quality on the plate. Simply can recommend Matthew and his team for a wonderful experience away from the busy tourist spots.

    Lars von der Wettern II Google review, May 2026 5 out of 5

Read all reviews on Google Maps

Visit

Finding us on Triq l-Imhar

Triq l-Imhar is a side street inland from the Qawra promenade, a few minutes on foot from the seafront hotels. The room is small, so book ahead for Friday and Saturday. Same day tables and parties of six or more are by phone.

Find us

Address
Triq l-Imhar, Qawra, St Paul's Bay, SPB 1571
Phone
+356 7959 4098
Email
info@lovagebistro.com
Hours
Tue to Sat: 18:30 to 22:00 Closed on Sunday and Monday. Same day bookings and parties of six or more are by phone.
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Good to know

Questions guests ask

Where exactly is Lovage Bistro?

On Triq l-Imhar in Qawra, St Paul's Bay, a few minutes inland from the promenade. The plus code XC3C+QH leads to the door, and there is a map and a Google Maps link in the Visit section above.

Do you take bookings?

Yes. Book online through the reservations page for up to six people, or call +356 7959 4098. Same day bookings and parties of six or more are by phone.

What are the opening hours?

Dinner from 18:30 to 22:00, Tuesday to Saturday. The restaurant is closed on Sunday and Monday.

Is there a vegetarian option?

Yes. The carnaroli risotto with pistachio and burrata and the gnocchi with black truffle and cream are both meat free. Tell the kitchen about allergies or intolerances when you book.

What does dinner cost?

Starters are EUR 11 to 14, pasta and risotto EUR 13 to 15 as a starter or EUR 17 to 19 as a main, mains EUR 26 to 30 and desserts EUR 8 to 10. Google lists the spend at EUR 40 to 50 a head.

What is Lovage known for?

Chef Matthew Schembri's seasonal cooking. The pistachio and burrata risotto, the duck breast with Moroccan spices and the imqaret come up again and again in the Google reviews, along with the service.

Is it a good spot with children?

Yes. There is a children's menu, and guests on Google mention that the children's plates come out quickly.

A table at Lovage Bistro, Tuesday to Saturday

Book online for up to six, or call and the team will find you a table. The room is small, so weekends go first.

Book a table Call +356 7959 4098