Trabuxu | Chilled nights with lots of wine
Valletta is the perfect spot for a wine bar. The history along with the modern boutique shops and restaurants provide the perfect blend for a chilled night of wine and cheese with friends, whether as a quiet mid-week outing to catch up or a more lively get together at the weekend.
Rachel Zammit Cutajar
Trabuxu opened its doors nine years ago making it Malta's first official wine bar, offering a great selection of Maltese wines and a few nibbles to keep hunger at bay. Today it is still one of Valletta's most popular watering holes.
The wine list is extensive, offering over 200 wines, which include both local and foreign vintages in white, red and rose. The wine nerd will be stumped for choice while those with a less discerning palate will find owner, Kris Fenech Soler, happy to recommend a bottle of something appropriate.
To complement to wine flavours, patrons can choose from a variety of home-made dips and nibbles, cheese and meat platters, pates, stews and a fantastic Swiss fondue served as proper fondue should be, with Swiss cheese and plenty of bread. Dessert is something not to be missed with delicious treats prepared by Kris' wife. Though I've never tried it myself I hear the cheesecake is something not to be missed.
The bar is aptly located in a 350-year-old wine cellar in the upper part of Strait Street, going down the stairs. Once one of the city's most famous red light districts the area's popularity waned after World War II. Today it is becoming more popular with the artsy crowd, frequented by musicians, artists and performers.
Just across the road, Kris found love and married Krista who was running Maestro e Fresco on South Street. In her family since 1842, the lounge bar was again transformed into an offshoot of Trabuxu with more emphasis on food, taking into consideration their hungrier patrons. Everything on offer is homemade and the emphasis is on fresh, seasonal ingredients. The menu includes soups, salads, stews, pasta and meats, as well as a lovely deli counter and daily specialties.
Every August the upper part of Strait Street is transformed for the Strada Art and Wine Festival, with candles and fjakkoli. The open air gallery features work by a variety of local artists and live musicians and flowing wine keep the night lively and fun.
Trabuxu is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 19:00 till late.
Address:
Trabuxu Wine Bar
1, Triq id-Dejqa,
Strait Street,
Valletta
Trabuxu Bistro
South Street,
Valletta
Contact 21223036
