"A 17th-century Norman house turned Mediterranean restaurant — the best courtyard dinner inside the walls for parties of six to twelve."
The Medina operates inside a 17th-century Norman house on Holy Cross Street, a five-minute walk from Mdina Gate. The property has been a restaurant since the 1980s and retains the domestic character of its original use — a front dining room with original stone walls, a private courtyard for summer service, and a smaller interior room for parties of six to ten.
The menu is confidently Mediterranean with Maltese and North African accents. Signatures include a seared tuna with sesame and local capers, a lamb tagine cooked in the kitchen's own clay pot, a fresh fish carpaccio that changes with the dayboat landing, and the seasonal rabbit-in-fig dish during autumn months. Portions are generous; the pace is unhurried.
Wine list focuses on Maltese and Italian producers with a small selection of Rhône and Languedoc bottles. The house aperitif — a negroni made with local Manoel Island gin — is the correct opening order.
The courtyard is the room for a birthday of eight or larger. The front stone room is the better choice for four or under.
For a birthday of six to twelve, The Medina's courtyard combines the best of Mdina architecture with a menu broad enough to please mixed groups. The kitchen is comfortable with set menus for parties — request one at booking.
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