Plum Bar
Plum Bar operates as one of Paceville's go-to pre-club stops, with an outdoor terrace on Triq il-Wilga that becomes a social hub on warm evenings. The venue combines affordable drinks with a relaxed atmosphere that bridges the gap between the cheap-and-cheerful bars and the more upscale options. The interior is compact, with a bar and limited seating, but the real draw is the outside area where tables, high-tops, and standing space fill with mixed groups of locals and tourists from early evening onward. Music plays at a volume that allows conversation, which distinguishes Plum from the louder venues on the main strip. The drink menu covers the basics well, with draft beers, house cocktails, and a shot menu that keeps prices accessible. The bar has operated in various forms for years, adapting to Paceville's changing demographics while maintaining its position as a reliable starting point for a night out.
What to Expect
A sociable outdoor terrace with groups of people drinking, talking, and deciding where to go next. The atmosphere is warm and relaxed, like a house party that moved outside.
Friendly, social, and low-pressure. The kind of bar where groups end up talking to the table next to them.
Background pop and house at conversational volume
Casual. Summer clothes are fine. This is a bar, not a club.
Pre-club drinks, groups wanting an affordable start to the night, meeting people in a relaxed setting
Cash and cards accepted
Price Range
Beer EUR 3-5, cocktails EUR 6-10, shots EUR 3-4
Beer ~$3-5 USD, cocktails ~$6-11 USD, shots ~$3-4 USD
Hours
Daily from 6 PM to 2 AM
Insider Tip
Happy hour runs until 9 or 10 PM with two-for-one deals on selected drinks. Grab an outdoor table early on weekends. The bar makes a decent mojito.
Full Review
Plum Bar thrives on its role as a social hub rather than a destination. Nobody makes Plum their only stop of the night, but almost everyone passes through. The outdoor terrace is the key asset: it offers fresh air, conversation-friendly volume, and a front-row seat to the Paceville parade of people heading to and from the clubs.
The drinks are priced to encourage lingering. Happy hour deals make the early evening genuinely cheap, and even at full price, Plum undercuts the clubs and upscale lounges. The cocktails are simple but well-made; the mojitos and gin and tonics are reliable. Draft beer options include local Cisk and a few European imports.
The crowd is mixed in the best way. Language school students sit next to Maltese couples, tourist groups share tables with local regulars, and the atmosphere is friendly enough that mixing between groups happens naturally. Plum's success comes from being unpretentious at a volume where people can actually talk.
The main limitation is space. On a busy Saturday, the terrace fills by 9 PM and the inside bar gets uncomfortable. Standing outside with a drink in hand becomes the default, which works in Malta's warm climate but means there's nowhere to sit.
As a starting point for a Paceville night, Plum is hard to beat. A couple of drinks here with friends, a plan formed on the terrace about which club to hit, and you're set.
The Neighborhood
On Triq il-Wilga, a side street connecting to the main Paceville strip. Hole in the Wall is close by for an even cheaper option. The main clubs are a short walk east.
Getting There
Central Paceville location. Walk from anywhere in St. Julian's.
Address
Triq il-Wilga, Paceville
Other Venues in Paceville
Havana Club
Malta's largest nightclub occupying multiple floors with mainstream pop, hip-hop, and commercial dance music. The main room holds over 1,000 people on peak nights.
Hugo's Lounge
A multi-level rooftop terrace and lounge overlooking Spinola Bay with cocktails, DJs, and a dressed-up crowd. The views make it Paceville's most upscale venue.
Hole in the Wall
A long-running Paceville pub with cheap drinks and a young, rowdy atmosphere. It's been a staple of the strip for decades and fills early on weekend nights.
Club Numero Uno
An underground club playing electronic and house music with a darker, more intimate atmosphere than the mainstream venues on the strip.
Level 22
A rooftop bar on the 22nd floor of the Portomaso Tower with panoramic views of St. Julian's Bay and the Mediterranean. Cocktail-focused with a smart dress code.