This guide wants be a comprehensive guide on where to find nightlife in Malta, how to get to Paceville, what to expect and above all what not to expect from the nightlife of the Maltese archipelago.
As always, letâs start with a map to better see the areas weâre talking about and understand where the nightlife in Malta is located and how to reach bars, disco bars, or actual nightclubs!
Blue pins indicate the most recommended areas to stay in Malta, which I show you in detail in this guide that I recommend reading before booking so you donât end up in the wrong areas! đ In yellow are some of the best beaches in Malta.
Nightlife in Malta – Paceville
Paceville, is a 200-meter-long avenue in the district of St. Julian, where the most intense nightlife in Malta takes place and is also famous among the top nightlife destinations in Europe.
What is Paceville
Paceville is an avenue essentially made up of a series of disco bars, small nightclubs and nightlife venues of various sizes. Almost all the venues have free entry, which is great because it allows you to move from one to another whenever you want, depending on the music, the crowd, the vibe or personal taste. đ
Itâs a very similar street to the club strip of Magaluf in Mallorca, for those whoâve been there.
In Paceville maybe only one of the disco bars charges an entry fee but it wonât be hard to spot it â just check at the entrance.
The various disco bars and venues are open every evening during the summer; even during the week or in low season at least some of them are open. Some have an upper floor with a terrace overlooking the avenue.
The music genres youâll hear in these disco bars and mini clubs vary depending on the night or even the time: it ranges from commercial, house, Latin and so on.
The gentleman’s clubs
Itâs good to know that between one disco bar and another there are often entrances to (many) so called gentlemanâs clubs. Donât be fooled by the fancy name, these are regular strip clubs where the âpromotersâ might try to invite you in, sometimes annoyingly.
For those wondering what theyâre like inside, hereâs the story: one night we got curious, and since we were 5 including two womenâso we felt pretty safeâwe tried entering one of these gentlemanâs clubs.
Well, while the street outside and the adjacent disco bars were packed of people, inside this club it was like a freezed movie. We were the only customers and the staff started pretending to look busy. Our visit ended in a few seconds with lots of laughs! đ
Drinking in Paceville
Another important thing to know is that nightlife in Malta, in the disco bars of Paceville, wonât cost you a fortune. Drinks are reasonably priced, even just âŹ3 each, though obviously not top qualityâmany are pretty watered down; itâs advisable to go for things like tequila, shots, bitters⊠or drinks that are not typically served with ice or mixed.
Anyway, since entry is free and thereâs no drink minimum, thereâs not much to complain about.
It may also happen to find some special offers written in wrong Italian due to the high number of summer visitors from the peninsula. đ
Some activities you may like, before going on with the article:
What to expect and not expect
Letâs just say you shouldnât expect a spectacular placeâlet me explain: in general I like this kind of avenues with free-entry disco bars (like in Mallorca, Portugal, and many more), where youâre not locked by the entrance fee and can change location whenever you feel like it.
However, this nightlife avenue in Malta is, I have to say, the darkest and dirtiest Iâve seen in Europe so far. The road felt poorly lit and a bit drab; not clean because⊠imagine whatâs on the ground after a certain hour, even on the side streets you may have to walk to get back to your hotel. Considering that cars also pass on nearby streets and the sidewalks are pretty narrow, it can turn into quite an obstacle run.
I emphasize that this is just my personal opinion after having visited similar strips in other countries, so donât let this influence you too muchâgo see for yourselves! Just donât expect Hollywood. đ
Other than that, the disco bars arenât bad, clearly opinions will vary depending on the music on a specific night and who’s there (and letâs never forget, the most important part is always the company youâre with! đ ).
The crowd you can expect varies greatly depending on the time of year. If you go in peak summer, the average age you should expect is around 20, mostly from southern Italy.
In autumn or the low season itâs less crowded and youâre more likely to find young people from northern European countries with a slightly higher average age, escaping the freezing winter.
Also worth noting: some disco bars keep the air conditioning set to Antarctica mode, to the point you can see the white air jet in the dark coming from the vents. So be carefulâoutside in summer itâs 30 degrees even at night and if that icy blast hits you for a few minutes, it could be your last party night of your holiday.
How to get to Paceville
Not just “how to get”, also choosing the right accommodation area is essential. Thatâs why I refer you to the guide on where to stay in Malta, have a look before booking to avoid choosing the wrong area and ending up isolated, whether you’re looking for nightlife or the sea (or spending a fortune on taxis).
On foot
That said, if you’re staying in Sliema or directly in St. Julian, you can easily get there and back on foot in 10â30 minutes depending on the distance from your accommodation.
To reach Paceville, just head to the seafront and follow it until you start hearing music; or alternatively, save the location of Paceville from the map above to reach it more easily.
By taxi
If youâre too far or too tired to walk, you can also consider a taxi. You’ll always find some in the area, they are fairly cheap but always choose legal taxis and agree on the price before getting in; about ten euros for a couple of kilometers should be enough.
Every now and then, youâll see some old and beat-up minivans with weird people inside driving slowly and shouting “taxi” or “Sliema” or something similar. Avoid them. đ
By bus
Alternatively, to enjoy Malta’s nightlife, you can also try night buses. Almost all lines operating after 11 p.m. stop or terminate at Paceville. Here I explain everything about Maltaâs buses, tickets, and night routes.
TwentyTwo – club with a view
Also in the St. Julian area, thereâs a venue that is also a tourist attraction, suitable for those looking for a slightly more “upscale” nightlife in Malta (in every sense!).
We’re talking about TwentyTwo, a very elegant nightclub (nothing like Paceville) located on the top floor of the only skyscraper in the area. From this bar, full of windows and with a tiny terrace, you can enjoy a view of the city from above, all the way to the sea.
You may like: The best beaches in Malta – guide and map
Open after dinner until late, unless there are special events, entry is free and drink prices are not the cheapest ones. To get there, you enter at the base of the skyscraper and take the elevator to the top floor. Donât worry about getting lostâthereâs always a staff member in the entrance hall to tell you how to get up! đ
More relaxed bars in the Sliema-St. Julian area
If Paceville isnât for you and youâve already seen TwentyTwo, thereâs still plenty of nightlife in Malta to enjoy around Sliema and St. Julian. Just walk along the seafront and youâll easily find several bars/lounge bars, some right over the sea, with a much more relaxed vibe, many of which also offer shisha, if thatâs your thing.
Just take a stroll along the bay toward Paceville (without actually reaching it) to find these bars and choose the one you like best!
Nightlife in Malta – the clubs
Ok, letâs say that what youâve seen so far isnât exactly what youâre looking for from Maltaâs nightlife: good news, Malta also has “real” clubs!
The three most famous and spacious clubs are Club Aria, Club Numero Uno, and Gianpula.
All three are fairly large clubs, partly indoors and partly outdoors, with themed events and parties where entry is paid but not always too expensive.
I canât give you precise price info because it really depends on the specific night. If you want more details, itâs best to contact them or message them on Facebookâthey sometimes reply.
For the same reason, I always recommend checking what events they have during your stayâyou might find special guests, foam parties, or other fun nights. đ
The “downside” of these clubs is that they are located in the middle of the island, kind of in the middle of nowhere, and the only way to get thereâunless you find buses/shuttles set up for specific eventsâis by rental car or taxi. If youâre in a group, taxi might be the best option to split costs, and generally theyâre not too expensive.
MTV Music Week
Even though the island is small, Maltaâs nightlife lacks nothing. Malta also hosts once a year the Isle of Malta MTV Music Week, an event sponsored by MTV.
Itâs not exactly a festival but rather a week of events, beach parties, club nights, and outdoor concerts with famous DJs from the electronic, dance, EDM scene and more, ending on the final day with a true festival-style concert.
Here is the official site and more info for the current year. Youâll find various types of tickets for access to the weekâs events on the website.
If your holiday in Malta falls during that time of year, MTV Music Week is an opportunity not to be missed!
Boat Parties
Even in Malta, surrounded by sea, you’ll find many boat parties. Here are some examples, also with the possibility of booking and free cancellation:
- Party on a pirate boat with DJ set, open bar and food;
- A boat party from Mellieha, including a visit to the Blue Lagoon of Comino, open bar, one water sport included and potentially other visits;
- Sailing boat party departing from Sliema, DJ set and open bar.
Other venues …
If all of this still hasnât satisfied you and want more, this is the most complete list Iâve found of clubs, bars, pubs and the like on the island.
What else can I say⊠have fun and tell me in the comments if you discover other interesting places! đ And donât forget that Malta isnât just nightlifeâthereâs also a lot to see.
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