Cafe Society

Cafe Society calls itself the wrong place for the right person, and the right people in this case include a solid slice of Valletta's queer and artistic life. The bar itself is tiny; the real venue is the flight of baroque steps outside, where tables and cushions climb St John Street with the Grand Harbour glinting at the bottom of the view. Early evening is for natural wine, craft beer and people-watching on the steps. Later, especially on weekends, the music moves up and the inside turns into something close to a miniature club night, with DJs and dancing pressed between the stone walls. LGBTQ+ guides to Malta consistently list it among the capital's queer-popular addresses, and the crowd reflects that without the venue ever needing a label. It is a five-minute walk from Upper Barrakka Gardens and an easy pairing with Kween on Merchant Street for a small Valletta queer bar crawl. Come early if you want a table on the steps; they go fast once the sun drops.