If you’re thinking of heading to Gozo this spring for a well-earned holiday after enduring the winter – we can’t blame you! Our island has many attractions to tempt you: lots of glorious sunshine, sparkling sea, our vibrant Carnivals and our famous Easter celebrations.
But there’s another great reason we’d like to add to that list: Gozo’s unique and amazing local food, wine, and beer. No visit to Gozo is complete without sampling the very best that Gozo can offer in fresh produce, seafood, and delicious local dishes. Once tasted, never forgotten.
What makes Gozo’s cuisine so special?
Gozo grows an abundance of fresh produce. Photo credit: gozofruitveg.com
There is no one simple answer to this question as it’s a result of many factors coming together to create something unique. These include our Mediterranean location, our climate, and traditional farming techniques. And on top of that, you can even taste our history in our food, which has African, Sicilian and other European influences percolating through.
Gozo grows a wide range of fruit and vegetables; some are seasonal and others are available all year round. The emphasis is on keeping it local. Lamb, fish and other seafood are all turned into delicious local dishes, as the seasons dictate.
The names of our foods might seem a bit different at first but once you give them a try we’re sure you’ll soon be eating like any local Gozitan. Try our wonderful Ġbejniet cheeselets made from sheep’s milk, and Fenek Imtektek – a tasty rabbit stew. Here’s Our Guide To A Gozo Taste Experience to help you identify menu items.
Gozitans are very proud of their food and are also very happy to recommend things for you to try, so let us help you discover the taste of Gozo.
Gozo wines & beers
Vines at Tal Massar winery growing in the Gozo sunshine.
Visitors holidaying on Gozo for the first time are often surprised to discover that Gozo also has two local wineries producing award-winning wines.
The Ta’ Mena Estate is located in Xaghra and is a thriving agritourism business. It not only cultivates grapes and makes wine, but also has an olive grove and produces a great range of baked goods, tomato paste, honey, and chutneys. The estate welcomes visitors for guided tours of the estate wine tasting, and for children, a chance to meet some farm animals.
Tal-Massar winery can be found just outside Gharb and produces a great range of wines. We can help you organise a 90-minute guided tour and wine tasting at Tal-Massar. On these tours, you’ll discover how the wines are made and get to sample some together with a plate of tasty Gozitan antipasti. There are great views to be had here too.
And beer lovers will be pleased to know that Gozo also has its very own local microbrewery – Lord Chambray. Opened in 2014 in Xewkija, the brewery produces a great range of craft ales and beers in various styles, including some gluten-free options. All are unpasteurised and bottle-conditioned. You can visit for a guided tour Monday to Saturday.
Eating out on Gozo
Pastizzi – a favourite with locals and visitors to Gozo alike
One of the great pleasures of being on holiday is not having to cook so much and in trying the local cuisine. Our Baron Holiday Homes villas and farmhouses are located on the outskirts of villages all over Gozo. So eating like a local is easy – you just need to stroll down to the local village piazza and you’ll be drawn to delicious smells of freshly baked bread and tasty pastries coming from the bakery.
Two of our favourite bakeries – Mekren and Maxokk – can be found in the village of Nadur, home of the famous Spontaneous Carnival every February. Local bakeries produce mouth watering local favourite snacks like pastizzi pastries and our version of the pizza – the ftira. Here’s a great video clip which shows you what makes these bakeries so special…
You’ll find a wide range of Gozitan dishes available in the many bars, cafes and restaurants all across Gozo – from platters of antipasti to ravjul (ravioli), lampuki (dorado), and macaroni dishes like Timpana.
And regular visitors to Gozo will know that food plays an essential role in our cultural celebrations. From our sweet date pastries (imqaret) and chewy nougat (qubbajt) munched at village festas in the summer to Easter figolli and qagħaq tal-għasel (honey rings) at Christmas.
If you want to dine outside with a view and even a sunset, then head to Xlendi on the south west coast of Gozo. This secluded bay is lined with restaurants and makes for a special experience. Here are some TripAdvisor recommendations for Xlendi restaurants.
Enjoying food at your Baron Holiday Home
Dining al fresco at Djar ta Menzja holiday Home, Gozo. Photo credit: Baron Holiday Homes
The beauty of staying in one of our Baron Holiday Homes is that you have the option of self-catering in the comfort of your apartment, villa or farmhouse. All our holiday homes feature well-equipped kitchens and many have BBQ facilities by the outdoor pool.
On your way back from a day out exploring Gozo, simply stop at a supermarket or a fresh produce van and stock up on supplies. Alternatively, if you feel like a; night-off from cooking, why not book our very own Private Chef who will come to your holiday home and whip up a delicious meal, and is happy to cater for various dietary needs too.
More Gozo foodie ideas
Learning to cook Gozitan style.
And that’s not the end of the food experiences available on Gozo. Here are some other great ways to enjoy and experience Gozitan food during your holiday:
Cooking Classes: Talk to us about joining a cooking class – you can experience the bustle of a commercial kitchen or we can organise for a group of you to take a cooking lesson in your own Baron Holiday Home.
Picnic: Why not let us organise a picnic full of mouth-watering local delicacies for you? A hamper, rugs, cutlery and glassware can be delivered either to your Gozo rental property or to a pre-agreed location.
Walk, wine & food: This gastronomic tour delivers exactly what it promises – a guided tour of the Victoria’s centre and the Citadel before enjoying wine and food in a local open kitchen guided by an expert.
Take a taste of Gozo to enjoy at home
Preserves and liqueurs make great souvenirs of Gozo. Photo credit: Pixabay
Finally, may we suggest that you consider taking a taste of Gozo home with you? Our tomato pastes, preserves, jams, chutneys, olive oil, honey, organic sea salt and liqueurs all produced here on Gozo make fabulous souvenirs.
You can dream of your next Gozo break while savouring your treats...
The Baron Experience
Baron Holiday Homes offers more than 90 fantastic rental properties on Gozo including apartments, villas and farmhouses, many with private pools. Booking your holiday with us is easy and we have a flexible booking policy with a low booking deposit – you only pay the balance 15 days before arrival.
What’s more, our guests can book with confidence as we offer a grace period. Our money-back guarantee means that if you have up to 24 hours to cancel a booking (at least two days prior to the arrival date) and will get a full refund with no extra fees.
We have more than 25 years’ experience of operating high quality holiday homes in Gozo and we also offer a great range of extra services and activities to make your holiday even more special.
Posted in Agritourism, Autumn, Eco-Friendly, Family, In-house services, Local cuisine, Spring, Summer, Things to do, Traditions, Village life, What to see in Gozo
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