Malta and Beyond: Culinary Gems of Europe's Yachting Hubs

Dining at top restaurants is a great way to enjoy beautiful scenic views. Europe’s top yachting hubs are also great places to get a taste of unique cuisine from all over the Mediterranean. If you’re looking for something classic, you can explore some of the region’s traditional dishes. If you want to try something new, though, there are plenty of exciting restaurants in the area that offer innovative cuisine.

Monaco

Monaco is known for its superyachts and Michelin-starred restaurants. A recent addition to the dining scene is Em Sherif Monte-Carlo: a restaurant offshoot of a longstanding Beirut favorite that focuses on Lebanese flavors. Overseen by executive chef Yasmina Hayek, the menu showcases classics like hummus, mutabbal, fattoush, tabbouleh, and Siyyadiyeh, but be sure to check out the fresh takes on traditional favorites like the Lobster Moghrabiyet. The restaurant is located in Hôtel de Paris and has been in business for only a year. montecarlosbm.com

Mallorca

Spain's most prolifically Michelin-anointed chef is Martin Berasategui. He earned his first of twelve stars at age 25 after taking over his parents' restaurant, Bodegón Alejandro. In 2021, the seasoned Basque chef opened El Txoko de Martín in Palma, a much-acclaimed casual restaurant with highlights including shareable plates like fried eggs and french fries with lobster, charcoal-grilled hake with truffled spinach, and slow-cooked milk-fed lamb shank. Despite its low-key approach, it's quickly become a buzzy favorite—so booking well in advance is highly recommended. eltxokodemartin.com

Malta

One of the best views of Valletta’s Grand Harbour is from the rooftop of the chic Iniala Harbour House, a stylish boutique hotel created from four historic townhouses in the Maltese capital. This prime spot is home to ION Harbour, an up-and-coming restaurant that earned a Michelin star not long after the hotel opened in 2020. This year, British chef Simon Rogan, one of the pioneers of the farm-to-table movement, took the helm. The menu focuses on hyperlocal ingredients harvested, fished, and gathered from the best and most sustainable local producers. Try dishes like turbot from the southern waters stuffed with mussels, qara hamra squash with smoked bone sauce, and truffle pudding caramelised in carob honey. ionharbour.com

Madeira

Since its debut at the swanky beachfront Savoy Palace Hotel last year, Pau de Lume has been an essential restaurant on the Portuguese island of Madeira. The airy, industrial-looking dining room has a cozy feel, thanks to patterned tiles and plenty of plants clustered around a Josper charcoal stove. Smoky, Portuguese-inspired dishes include braised lamb shanks and grilled Argentine shrimp with satay sauce. savoysignature.com

Sicily

Chef Giuseppe Costa created Il Bavaglino in Terrasini, a charming beach village close to Palermo, the capital of Sicily, in 2008. The Michelin-starred restaurant was formerly a modest enterprise housed in a rented space where Costa cooked while his pals waited tables. It now resides in a structure that was formerly used for salting fish. Here, the Sicilian chef offers inventive tasting menus that prominently feature seafood, like prawns with black olives and a truffle, mandarin, and ginger infusion, and spaghetti with sea urchins. giuseppecosta.com

Santorini

In Santorini, it's difficult to find a terrible view, but Varoulko in the charming fishing village of Vlychada might have the greatest. Chef Lefteris Lazarou originally received a Michelin star in 2002 for his work at Varoulko Seaside in Athens. Two decades later, in 2022, he launched an island outpost at the opulent Grace Hotel, overlooking the ancient castle of Skaros Rock. Squid with pesto Genovese and monkfish are served across a picture-perfect infinity pool as you enjoy the magnificent caldera sunset. varoulko.gr

In conclusion, Europe's top yachting hubs offer not only stunning scenic views but also a diverse range of unique and innovative cuisines from around the Mediterranean. In this culinary journey through Monaco, Mallorca, Malta, Madeira, Sicily, and Santorini, we have discovered an array of Michelin-starred restaurants that have left their mark on the gastronomic landscape. From the Lebanese flavors of Em Sherif Monte-Carlo in Monaco to the hyperlocal ingredients at ION Harbour in Malta, and the smoky Portuguese-inspired dishes at Pau de Lume in Madeira, each destination offers a distinctive culinary experience. With these top-notch dining options, these European gems continue to captivate both food enthusiasts and travelers seeking exceptional tastes in breathtaking surroundings.