Locals having a morning chat
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. Read more about our shelter here.
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.
Where did the name “il-Barri” come from?
Carmelo Sammut
The name ‘Il-Barri’ (which literally means ‘the bull’) is the nickname of the late Karmnu Sammut. This nickname was carried down from his father Ġużepp who over 100 years ago got this nickname as he used to raise bulls.
Karmnu Sammut was the person who started the family business. Around 1939, Karmnu turned a small room at the front of a house in Mgarr square to a small rural coffee shop. After the Second World War he started cooking rabbit for those who happened to be at the coffee shop. Word spread and as time went by people from all over Malta started to come to this place to savour Karmnu’s rabbit dish. At the time the restaurant was called ‘Charles Bar and Restaurant’.
Over the years the place developed from a small one-room restaurant to one split on different levels and with the necessary facilities to cater for more diners and with a varied a la carte menu. A state-of-the-art kitchen was installed to cater for a more demanding workload and several refurbishments took place along the years. The name of the restaurant was changed to ‘Il-Barri’ synonymous with the family nickname and with how the restaurant was known to the people who frequented it.
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.
