Malta has quite a sophisticated range of nightlife for such a small island. This centres on the resort areas of St.Julian’s, Sliema and Bugibba where the large hotels and self-catering apartment’s blocks have been built.
There are various bars and English-style pubs, along with an increasing number of wine bars. Many of these have live music or, at the very least, are equipped with superior sound systems.
Later in the evening you can hit the road to the small area of Paceville. Here you will find scores of discos, pubs, and late-night bars. In summer, the neon-lit streets are chock-full with action-seekers. Discos open early in the evening for the benefit of the young Maltese visiting from the countryside, who have to catch the last bus home between 9pm and 10pm. For the remaining, the music throbs on into the early hours of the morning. The most attractive of all discos on the islands is La Grotta Disco at Gozo which draws many Maltese as well as Gozitans. This is a unique disco in a cave under the streets, with open air dancing in festival summer months and three bars. La Grotta is always packed on Saturday nights.
The older generation of visitors to Malta are usually quite content with the hotel’s schedule of entertainment, ranging from dinner dances to folklore programs.
On the cultural side, Malta has several English-language theatres and cinemas. The delightful Manoel Theatre in Valletta and the Astra Theatre in Victoria Gozo, puts on ballet, opera and concert performances, in addition to plays. One of the most important cultural events in the Maltese calendar is Maltafest – a month of concerts, recitals, jazz performances, art exhibitions and open-air theatre, all of which takes place from mid-July to mid-August.