de Mondion

The Restaurant

de Mondion occupies the fifth-floor terrace of The Xara Palace, a 17th-century palazzo on Mdina's bastion walls. The sightline runs east over the Maltese countryside to the Mediterranean. The room holds thirty-five covers across two interior chambers and a bastion-edge terrace that operates April through October. It is the longest-running Michelin-starred restaurant on the island, having held one star consistently since 2009, and the sommelier, Miljan Radonjić, was named Michelin Sommelier of the Year Malta 2026.

Chef Clint Grech cooks from local producers — Gozitan ġbejniet, Maltese rabbit, lampuki in season, the dayboat catch from Marsaxlokk — with French technique applied sparingly. Recent signatures include a lampuki-and-caper crudo with pickled cauliflower, rabbit confit with brown butter and foie, and a pigeon course finished over Mediterranean herbs. The tasting menu runs to eight courses.

The wine list runs 400 references with serious depth in Meridiana and Marsovin (Maltese producers) alongside a full Burgundy and Barolo selection. The pairing is the correct answer for a full exploration of Maltese viticulture — the vermentino-based Gozitan whites reward close attention.

Service is correct without being formal. Jackets are encouraged for men in high season. The terrace tables should be specifically requested at booking.

Why It Works for Proposal

For a proposal, de Mondion's bastion-wall terrace at sunset is the single most romantic table on the Maltese islands. Book the terrace for 20:00 in summer. The floodlit walls of Mdina below and the open Mediterranean to the horizon create a setting no other Malta restaurant can approach.