• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Malta InsideOut

Insider Destination Info

  • Home
  • About
  • Categories
    • Arts & Culture
      • Film & Photography
      • Music
      • Theatre
    • Attractions
    • Beaches
    • Countryside & Environment
    • Climate & Geography
    • Education & Schools
    • Events & Festas
    • Expats
    • Family & Kids
    • Food & Drink
    • Gozo & Comino
    • Health
    • History & Heritage
      • Folklore & Crafts
    • Language & Literature
      • Learn English
    • Leisure
    • People & Opinion
    • Property
    • Nightlife
    • Shopping
    • Sports
    • Towns & Villages
      • Valletta
    • Work & Business
    • Your Stay
      • Getting Around
  • Favourites
  • What’s On
You are here: Home / Food Icons: Cockney’s

Food Icons: Cockney’s

by Editor
August 6, 2010November 27, 2011Filed under:Uncategorized

You don't go to Cockneys for silver service. You go for the view and a great plate of pasta

When we tried to locate a decent picture of Cockney’s on our database, we couldn’t find one. So we settled for the view you get when you’re about to get to your table on the terrace. That is, lots of water, Sliema with its matchbox skyline on the other side of Marsamxett Harbour, and the regular chugging ferry service between Sliema and Valletta.

Cockney’s, as the name dictates, has a strong legacy with the British colonial past. The original bar seems to be some illegal shack built against the bastions. The current wooden structure looks equally suspect. But let none of this bother you. You go to Cockney’s when the sun is shining and the water is sparkling, so you can have a table on the terrace – which is the only place to be.

You don’t go to Cockney’s for the art decor on the walls, or the silver service. And yet, Cockney’s is all about location and a real Maltese dining experience by the water. You’ll get some people who moan that their lobster was not well cooked, or that the service was slow or frenzied, or that their white wine wasn’t chilled enough. To enjoy the Cockney’s experience you do the following:

  • Book beforehand – the place is almost invariably full, especially when the weather’s good.
  • Find some loud friends – they will blend in well with the Maltese families jostling to shout their latest gossip, on the next table.  Don’t take your girlfriend there to impress her or on her first date.  Or your in-laws, unless they’ve been to the place before and have a sense of humour.
  • Order the antipasto – we particularly like the vegetarian version, with nicely-grilled aubergines and peppers.
  • Order pasta as a main course with whatever choice of seafood takes your fancy.  We particularly like the spaghetti with mussels and vongole.  Yes, the mussels are fresh-frozen and come from New Zealand – but, what the heck, they’re very nice, and blend wonderfully with the mint, and the vongole.  And you get to build a small mountain of shell fish as you chat.
  • Wash it down with some dry white wine.
  • Skip the sweets (or just grab an ice-cream).  Have a little grappa, or a double espresso.
  • Watch the Maltese laugh, yell, tell stories.  Watch the green boat with its little line of patient tourists waiting to cross the water. Nod, even though you may not be listening.

Cockney’s deserves to be on our Food Icons list for being so unfashionably Maltese..

Cockney’s Bar & Restaurant. Marsamxett Landing Place, Valletta. Tel. +356 21236065

Photo: G Travels

Post navigation

Previous Post Essential Gozo: don’t day trip, stay over
Next Post Losing sight of the coast

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Simon Spieteri says

    December 13, 2011 at 12:47

    been going to cockney for at least 6 years still my favorite place with the best
    views and fresh cooked food on the island. food can take a little long when very busy but i like to enjoy my wine while i wait .so cant complain

  2. louise vella says

    December 8, 2011 at 18:32

    Been there quite a couple of times since last week and yes sometimes you do have to wait a bit long but it was always worth waiting for, especially for freshly cooked food. Never had problems with staff they were always friendly and helpful. I would highly recommend this restaurant.

  3. Elizabeth Ayling says

    November 27, 2011 at 21:42

    @William,
    We wrote this a year or so back and I’ve heard quite a few people grumble lately that Cockney’s is pretty lousy these day, and most tally with your complaints. Has it changed ownership or is it just employing the wrong staff, I wonder? I haven’t eaten there for well over a year so can’t add an opinion, but I do hear from reliable sources that it is far from what it was; at least back then it was an honest enough ‘no frills’ place.

  4. william Newton says

    November 27, 2011 at 17:13

    First course served,waited one hour and no main couirse.Went to leave saying we would pay for what we had had.Owner very abusive and tried to overcharge us on food and drink recieved

  5. william Newton says

    November 27, 2011 at 17:11

    To be avoide at all costs.Lousy serice and abusive staff

  6. william newton says

    November 27, 2011 at 17:08

    Waited for one hour after our first course had been served. Went to leave saying we woud pay for what we had been served.Owner then tried to charge us for a dish we had not had. No apologies,just we cook to order,but obviously in a order to suit themselves. Abusive staff. To be avoided at all costs

  7. sandra says

    March 31, 2011 at 12:00

    well explained. Thanks a lot

Primary Sidebar

Menu

  • Home
  • About
  • Categories
    • Arts & Culture
      • Film & Photography
      • Music
      • Theatre
    • Attractions
    • Beaches
    • Countryside & Environment
    • Climate & Geography
    • Education & Schools
    • Events & Festas
    • Expats
    • Family & Kids
    • Food & Drink
    • Gozo & Comino
    • Health
    • History & Heritage
      • Folklore & Crafts
    • Language & Literature
      • Learn English
    • Leisure
    • People & Opinion
    • Property
    • Nightlife
    • Shopping
    • Sports
    • Towns & Villages
      • Valletta
    • Work & Business
    • Your Stay
      • Getting Around
  • Favourites
  • What’s On

Archives

Footer

Featured Events 2016-17

Malta International Air Show 2016
Big Sporting Events in Malta 2016
Valletta Baroque Music Festival, 2017
© Copyright 2009-22 Malta InsideOut · All Rights Reserved ·

Privacy, Data & Cookie Policy · Disclaimer· Terms & Conditions

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Twitter