Christmas Eve Dinner in Malta: A Festive Buffet at Novotel Malta Sliema

Christmas Eve in Malta runs late. Families eat together, walk to church for midnight mass, then carry on into the small hours with hot chestnut drinks and, for some, a Christmas breakfast at 01:00. On Thursday 24 December 2026, Novotel Malta Sliema starts that night on the Gżira waterfront with a festive dinner buffet.

Here is how the evening usually unfolds, and where a Christmas Eve dinner in Malta fits into it.

How Malta Spends Christmas Eve

The centre of the night is midnight mass. Almost every parish holds one, and churches fill early. Its best-loved moment is Il-Priedka tat-Tifel, the Sermon of the Child: instead of the priest, a child of around 7 to 10 recites the Nativity story from the altar. The custom dates back to 1883, when an altar boy first delivered it at the parish church in Luqa. Many parishes also stage a short Nativity pageant beforehand, with children dressed as shepherds, Mary and Joseph.

In several towns, a procession carrying a statue of the infant Jesus moves through the streets, a tradition that began in Ħamrun in 1921. After mass comes imbuljuta tal-qastan, a warm mix of chestnuts, cocoa, cloves and citrus zest, often served by the parish outside the church. Qagħaq tal-għasel, the treacle rings stacked in every bakery through December, are never far away.

Before any of that, there is dinner. For many families, a Christmas Eve dinner in Malta is the gathering that opens the whole holiday.

The Christmas Eve Dinner Buffet at Novotel Malta Sliema

The Christmas Eve Dinner Buffet runs from 20:00 to 24:00 on 24 December. The kitchen builds it around seasonal flavours with a Mediterranean lean: bright starters, comforting mains and festive desserts made for the night. Pricing is €60 per adult and €30 per child.

A buffet suits the occasion. Mixed-age tables eat at their own pace, picky eaters find something, and nobody waits on a fixed course schedule when it is time to leave for church. Tables must be booked in advance. Guests with allergies or dietary requirements should let the hotel know before the night.

Christmas Eve Dinner in Malta, Then Midnight Mass

Four hours is enough for both. Sit down at 20:00, take your time, and leave by around 23:00 to catch a pre-mass pageant. Parish churches in Gżira and Sliema are within walking distance, so there is no need to drive or hunt for parking on one of the busiest nights of the year. Most masses are said in Maltese, so check parish notices ahead if you would prefer one in English.

Not planning on mass? Stay until the buffet closes at midnight. Sliema’s seafront bars stay busy well past 24:00 on Christmas Eve, and the promenade is right outside.

Staying Over for Christmas Day

Christmas Day in Malta is quiet. Shops close, families gather for long lunches, and the islands slow right down. Waking up in Sliema beats a drive home at 02:00, especially with children. The Family Room sleeps up to six, with a double bed, two single beds and a double sofa bed, so everyone ends the night under one roof.

December is mild by European standards, with daytime temperatures usually in the mid-teens °C. That makes a slow Christmas morning walk along the seafront an easy way to shake off the night before.

Book Your Stay at Novotel Malta Sliema

Pair your Christmas Eve dinner in Malta with a night or two over the holiday. Once the festive meals are done, a session at Carisma Spa & Wellness gives the break a quieter second half.

Use the Book now widget at the top of this page to check your dates, and see which room fits your group before you reserve.