ION Harbour lands Malta's first Michelin Two Star in landmark 2024 Guide
Simon Rogan's Valletta restaurant makes history. The 2024 MICHELIN Guide also adds new one-star and Bib Gourmand venues across the islands.
The MICHELIN Guide has awarded Two Stars to a Maltese restaurant for the first time. ION Harbour by Simon Rogan, overlooking the Grand Harbour in Valletta, received the accolade in the 2024 selection unveiled on Thursday.
This is a milestone for Malta's restaurant industry. The island now has one Two Star venue, six One Star restaurants, five Bib Gourmand eateries, and 28 recommended establishments, bringing the total curated selection to 40 restaurants.
Simon Rogan already holds Three MICHELIN Stars for his Lake District restaurant L'Enclume in the UK. At ION Harbour, resident chefs Oli Marlow and Eoin Smith prepare complex dishes with Asian influences, using local vegetables, Mediterranean fish, and refined international ingredients.
The view alone is a draw for business and leisure diners alike. The restaurant's wine list also features local labels.
Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of The MICHELIN Guides, said the local culinary scene is evolving in both quantity and quality. He highlighted that chefs are focusing on local gastronomy and bringing the island's agricultural economy to the fore.
“Small kitchen gardens are springing up adjacent to restaurants, enabling chefs to take advantage of local Mediterranean-fragranced products,” Poullennec said.
This shift matters for Malta's hospitality and tourism business. A higher-tier MICHELIN rating attracts high-spending international gourmets and raises the destination's profile against other Mediterranean hubs.
Rosamì in St Julian's joins the One Star list this year, earning praise for its four tasting menus and house Negroni. The restaurant operates out of a Maltese-style villa overlooking Balluta Bay.
The Bib Gourmand section also grew. AYU in Gzira, run by three brothers, now holds the award for good value cooking. Their menu draws on international influences, including Sea Bass Stew with Soy and Ginger and Sri Lankan Style Pork Curry.
Five new recommended restaurants made the Guide: Terroir in Attard, Level Nine by Oliver Glowig in Mgarr, Kaiseki and One80 St. Christopher Street in Valletta, and Al Sale in Xaghra, Gozo.
The full MICHELIN Guide Malta 2024 selection is available for free on the Guide's website and mobile app. It joins the Guide's hotel selection covering Malta and destinations worldwide.