Italian Restaurant in St Julian’s
Plan the perfect Italian pizza night
Matto is an Italian restaurant on St George’s Bay in St Julian’s, Malta, serving regional Italian food, handmade pizza and signature cocktails. Evenings start with sharing starters and aperitivo, then hand-stretched pizzas like the Margherita, Diavola Ribelle, Mortazza and Tartufata. Open daily 12:00 to 23:00, minutes from Paceville. Walk-ins welcome.
A pizza night at Matto
- Regional Italian food on St George’s Bay, St Julian’s
- Homemade focaccia, sharing starters and handmade pizza
- The favourites: Margherita, Diavola Ribelle, Mortazza and Tartufata
- Signature cocktails, Italian Negronis and Il Vaso for the table
- Open every day from 12:00 to 23:00, lunch through to late drinks
You know the kind of evening. Someone suggests dinner, someone else says “just one drink first”, and before you know it the whole thing has turned into a proper night out.
That’s pretty much how it goes at Matto. We’re an Italian restaurant on St George’s Bay in St Julian’s, a few minutes on foot from Paceville, so you can walk off dinner straight into the rest of your night. Fair warning though: the food has a habit of changing people’s plans.
Come after work, come for a date, come with the whole family on a Sunday. It’s regional Italian food, handmade pizza and cocktails you’ll tell people about. A little bit crazy, a lot Italian.
Sharing Starters at Matto
Start per il tavolo
Here’s the thing about pizza night: it doesn’t actually start with the pizza. It starts with a few plates in the middle of the table, per il tavolo, and everyone picking at things while the first drinks go down. Nobody’s committed to a main course yet. That’s the fun part.
If the table can’t agree on a starter, get the Antipasto Misto and the argument’s over. It’s the full works: 24-month-aged Parma ham, Grana Padano, burrata from Puglia, pancetta, Sicilian caponata, spicy nduja and warm homemade focaccia. There’s enough going on that everyone finds their corner of it.
The arancini are the other one people keep ordering. Spinach and smoked mozzarella inside, spicy tomato sauce on the side, gone in about ninety seconds. Want something lighter? The DOP Burrata Pugliese comes with grilled asparagus, toasted hazelnuts and a lemon balsamic that stops it from feeling too rich.
Antipasto Misto, the full opening act
Parma ham, Puglian burrata, caponata, nduja and homemade focaccia. Made for a table that actually shares.
Arancini, the warm start
Spinach, smoked mozzarella, spicy tomato sauce. Honestly, order them the minute you sit down.
Burrata, the lighter way in
Creamy DOP burrata with grilled asparagus, toasted hazelnuts and lemon balsamic.
Made for the middle of the table
A few plates, everyone reaching in, nobody waiting politely for their own.
Pizza in St Julian’s
Choose the pizza that suits your table
All our pizzas start the same way: a thin, hand-stretched base that’s given proper time to rise before it goes anywhere near the oven. That’s what keeps it light and airy instead of leaving you feeling like you’ve eaten a loaf of bread. After that, it’s just a question of what you’re in the mood for: simple, spicy, creamy, earthy. Split a couple with the table or guard your own. Va bene, there’s no wrong way to do it.
These are the four that keep coming out of the oven:
Margherita, the classic
San Marzano tomato, fior di latte, basil and oregano on a hand-stretched base, light and properly baked, with a little chew around the crust. If you judge a pizzeria by its Margherita (and you should), start here.
Diavola Ribelle, for a little heat
Spicy nduja, cool stracciatella and a drizzle of Gozo honey. Hot, rich and sweet in the same bite. The honey is the bit people ask us about.
Mortazza, the generous one
Mortadella, creamy burrata and Bronte pistachios. Rich on rich on rich, with a little sweetness and crunch against all that cream. Keep a drink close.
Tartufata, for the mushroom and truffle fans
Truffle and mushroom cream, mozzarella, chiodini and chestnut mushrooms, parsley, crispy onion. Deep and earthy, the kind of pizza that makes the table go quiet for a minute.
How we usually see it ordered
- Two of you? One starter, two pizzas, swap halves. You’ll taste twice as much of the menu.
- A group? Go big on the starters, then mix the pizzas: one classic, one spicy, one rich. Let everyone fight over the last slice of Mortazza.
- Purist? Margherita. Dough, San Marzano, fior di latte. That’s the whole story.
- Like a bit of heat? Diavola Ribelle. Nduja, stracciatella, Gozo honey. Trust us on this one.
Cocktails in St Julian’s
It starts with a drink
In Italy, dinner rarely starts with dinner. It starts with a drink and something small, and the evening builds from there. We do it the same way: aperitivo first, pizza after, and the “shall we get one more?” question can wait until you’ve earned it.
The PIZZA cocktail is where our slightly mad side shows: basil-infused Ketel One vodka, yellow cherry tomato juice, sweet and sour, focaccia and a mozzarella foam. Yes, it sounds strange. Yes, people order a second one. It basically tastes like the best bits of a pizza, poured into a glass.
If you’d rather play it straight, the Negroni Classico does exactly what a Negroni should: Malfy Original Gin, Campari and Antica Formula, bitter and balanced. And if there are a few of you, Il Vaso lands in the middle of the table with Fabbri Gin, amarena cherry, lemon, basil and grapefruit soda. It has a way of slowing the evening down, in the best possible way.
Just what St. Julians was missing! Authentic Italian cuisine with Italian staff. It was like being in Italy, and as an Italian, I felt right at home. Excellent pizza and delicious carbonara pasta.
Start with aperitivo. Stay for pizza.
Regional Italian food, handmade pizza, signature cocktails and a little bella confusione on St George’s Bay, St Julian’s.
Frequently asked questions
Can I come to Matto just for pizza and drinks?
Of course. Plenty of people do. Aperitivo, a couple of pizzas, no pressure to turn it into three courses.
Is Matto close to St Julian’s nightlife?
Very. We’re on St George’s Bay, a few minutes on foot from Paceville’s bars and clubs. Dinner here, night out there. It works.
Do I need to reserve a table?
Walk-ins are always welcome, but evenings and weekends do get busy, so booking ahead is the smart move, especially for groups. You can reserve a table online.
What do people usually order on a pizza night?
Couples tend to start with the arancini or the burrata, then split two pizzas. Groups usually go for the Antipasto Misto and a mix of Margherita, Diavola Ribelle, Mortazza and Tartufata, so everyone gets a slice of everything.