A family run restaurant in the heart of Mgarr
Il-Barri Restaurant has been run by the Sammut family since its opening in 1939. In the early days, it was a humble coffee shop run by the late Karmnu (Carmelo) Sammut and his wife Pawla, where it mainly served the then stationed British servicemen in Malta – and this is precisely when our ‘Fenkata’ was first served.
Over the years, the restaurant underwent several refurbishments, and additional food dishes were introduced to the menu. In spite of the changes which have taken place along the years, our food rationale remains unchanged – traditional, genuine and generous.
In recent years, we have also opened the underground war shelter to the general public – which represents yet another side of our history. Dating back to the 1940’s, the Shelter has served as an abode for many families during War War II. Click here to read more about the shelter.
Today, the Restaurant is run by the children and grandchildren of Karmnu and Pawla Sammut, who plan on taking this family affair forward to the next generation.
Authentic food made
from local produce
Experience the Shelter
Having been recently opened to the general public, the Shelter is one of the largest underground locations of its kind in Malta.
Dug entirely by hand it reaches a depth of twelve metres and extends to an overall length of two hundred and twenty five metres.
This Shelter today provides a better understanding of the life led by the Maltese during the Second World War, where locals and tourists alike may relive the experience of descending into the depths of this underground maze to bear witness to the harsh reality of the life in a shelter.
The Shelter served as both as a home and a temple, as well as a place of refuge for the people of Mgarr during the wrath of the enemy blitz during the Second World War.
Request a table reservation
To request a table reservation, please fill in the form below. We will get back in touch with a confirmation or alternative availability.
