Social Profile
Food &Drink: There is a very good choice of restaurants and cafés from deluxe to fast food (hamburgers and fish &chips) including Chinese, fish and beachside tavernas and bars. Table service is normal, but many bars and cafés have table and/or counter service. Local dishes include lampuki pie, bragoli and fenek (rabbit cooked in wine). Pork and fish dishes are recommended and vegetables are excellent. The best Maltese fruits are oranges and grapes; also delicious are strawberries, melons, mulberries, tangerines, pomegranates and figs. Drink: Maltese beer is excellent, and foreign beers are also available. There is a wide variety of good and inexpensive Maltese wine and foreign wines and spirits. Licensing hours of bars, restaurants and cafés are usually 0900-0100 and beyond, although alcohol can only be bought before 0100. Most hotel bars close between 1300 and 1600 and then reopen after 1800.
Nightlife: There are several discotheques, bars and nightclubs. Roulette, baccarat, black jack and boule can be played at the 'Dragonara'casino, St Julian's or at the Oracle Casino, Qawra. The Manoel Theatre is one of the oldest in Europe. Cinemas show mainly English and American films.
Shopping: Special purchases include Malta weave, pottery, blown glass, ceramics, dolls, lace, copper and brass items. Malta is renowned for its gold and silver filigree work and handmade lace. Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0900-1300 and 1600-1900.
Special Events: The Malta Tourism Authority can supply full details of events. The following list is a selection of events taking place in Malta in 2001:
Feb 22-27 2001 Carnival Week (featuring masks, floats and dancing), Valletta. Apr 16-22 Valletta Festival. May 17-20 National Folk Singing Festival 2001, Floriana. May 21 5th Malta International Half Marathon. Jun 29 Feast of St Peter and St Paul (traditional folklore event). Jul Malta Jazz Festival; International Food and Beer Festival. Aug 15 Feast of the Assumption. Sep 8 Our Lady of Victories (commemorative ceremony and regatta), Valletta. Sep Malta International Airshow.
Social Conventions: The usual European courtesies are expected, but the visitor should also bear in mind the tremendous importance of Roman Catholicism; if visiting a church, for instance, modest dress covering the shoulders and legs will be expected. Smoking is prohibited on public transport and in some public buildings, including cinemas. Tipping: 10-15 per cent is expected in hotels and restaurants when not included in the bill. Taxi drivers are usually tipped 10 per cent of the fare.
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