🍷 Alfresco Feasts & Artisan Finds: A Day at Villa Bologna Restaurant and Pottery, Attard, Malta.

Two of my favourite pastimes are eating and shopping, and at Villa Bologna I get to enjoy both!

If you're planning your holidays in Malta and looking for a place that blends history, charm, seriously good food, and shopping, then Villa Bologna Restaurant and Pottery in Attard, should be at the top of your list!

Villa Bologna Restaurant is tucked away in the lush Villa Bologna gardens - a historic 18th-century estate. This family-run trattoria is more than just a place to eat—it's an experience.

🌿 The Restaurant: Rustic Romance Meets Garden Glam

Villa Bologna Restaurant, owned by the lovely Sophie and Rowley Edwards serves up seasonal Italian dishes with ingredients plucked straight from its own herb and vegetable kitchen gardens.

The menu changes with the seasons, but you can expect such delights as Panzanella Italiana a classic parmigiana and Nonna's lasagne. Whether you're sipping a Limoncello Margarita in the cosy bar, or or indulging in Insalata di Mare by candlelight under the stars, the vibe is effortlessly romantic.

• Cuisine: Italian & Mediterranean

• Menu Highlights: Tuna tartar, beef ribeye, seafood pasta, delicious pizza, and a tiramisu that’s basically a hug in dessert form.

• Drinks: A curated wine list, classic cocktails and mocktails with an Italian twist, wide selection of aperitifs and Grappa!

• Setting: Alfresco dining in the summer months under twinkling lights in a lush garden

• Hours: Daily 12pm to 3pm, then 6.30pm to 11pm

• Location: 30 Triq San Anton, Attard, Malta - only 15 minutes from Valletta

• Contact: +356 7941 8708 info@thevillabolognarestaurant.com

The restaurant has earned rave reviews, and rightly so, for its warm atmosphere, impeccable service and mouth-wateringly delicious dishes.

🏺 The Pottery Shop: Malta’s Oldest Ceramic Studio

Just steps away from your table is Villa Bologna Pottery, a treasure trove of hand-painted ceramics that’s been delighting visitors since the first clay was shaped at St Mary's Ceramics, as the pottery was known in 1924. This is Malta’s oldest working pottery studio, and it’s brimming with colour, craftsmanship, and character.

• What to Expect: Handmade tableware, decorative pieces, and iconic designs like the Glug Glug Jug and iconic pineapple lamps

• Shopping: Perfect for souvenirs or statement pieces for your home

• Location and hours: Same estate as the restaurant— open Monday to Saturday 10am to 11pm, and Sunday 7pm to 11pm - simply take a peek before or after your meal!

• Contact:+356 7941 8708 info@villabolognapottery.com

The pottery is used throughout the restaurant, so you’ll be dining off the very plates you can buy next door. It’s a lovely way to take home with you more than just a fond memory of such a beautiful experience.

🎨 Creativity, Connection & Colour at Villa Bologna

The Pottery Painting Workshops at Villa Bologna are more than just artistic sessions—they're joyful gatherings where guests of all ages get to unleash their creativity while sharing laughs and stories.

Set in the bright, welcoming studio tucked within the gardens, these workshops invite you to paint your own piece of Maltese pottery, guided by friendly local artists and surrounded by good company. Held on Saturdays at 10 AM and 3 PM, and Sundays at 10 AM these two-hour sessions are designed for anyone from the age of 8. Whether you're rolling solo, coming with family, or joining new friends, it’s a relaxed and feel-good way to soak up the spirit of the island of Malta — with a beautifully hand-painted souvenir made in the islands oldest pottery to show for it.

✨ Why You Should Go

Villa Bologna is more than just one of the best restaurants in Malta —it’s a rich tapestry of taste, atmosphere, and culture. Each sunlit lunch and starlit supper in the garden is a celebration of charm, warmth, and exquisite taste. Come for the food, stay for the pottery, and leave with a happy tummy and a beautifully unique piece of ceramic to cherish.

Ready to book your table or browse the pottery? You can check out Villa Bologna Restaurant’s website and Villa Bologna Pottery’s shop for more info.