Famed Lapsi restaurant could become 11-room guest house

The charming Ta’ Rita restaurant in Għar Lapsi, which has retained the same appearance since the 1930s is set for a major makeover.

The owners want the restaurant to make for a complex built over three levels, which will include a guest house and a restaurant with outside terraces offering views of Filfla.

The development will not involve the taking up of virgin land and will be built entirely on the footprint of the existing restaurant grounds.

The ground level of the new complex will host a diving shop, a multi-purpose hall, storage rooms and a dolceria.

The first floor will include a cafeteria and outside dining area constructed over a terrace with views of Filfla.

The proposed guest house will be reconstructed on the existing footprint of the restaurant

A second outdoor area will include a pool and a BBQ area.The guest house will have 11 rooms, most of which will have balconies. An underground parking for 20 cars will also be excavated.

The details emerge from a project development statement (PDS) commissioned by applicant David Bondin.

In a separate report issued last week, the  Environment and Resources Authority exempted the project from requiring an environment impact assessment (EIA) after the project was scaled down following discussions with the authority.

These changes included the removal of a proposed structure at roof level, a reduction in the terrace space at ground floor level and a reduction in the floor area of the guesthouse.

Subsequently, ERA concluded that the changes addressed its concern with regards the “physical massing of the proposed building”.

ERA is also insisting that the development remains “self-contained” and does not lead to pressures for future extension or ancillary facilities.

The building has remained the same since its inception way back in the 1930s, when a small bar was opened by Frenċ Azzopardi to cater for British servicemen.

The restaurant is still popularly known as Ta’ Rita, the name of Azzopardi’s daughter.

“Up until this day, the outer and interior décor of the building have been left untouched. Given the age of the building, renovation works are long overdue,” the PDS states.