|
Retire Early
Lifestyle
Retirement; like your parents, but way cooler
|
In 1991 Billy and Akaisha Kaderli retired at the age
of 38. Now, into their 4th decade of this
financially independent lifestyle, they invite you
to take advantage of their wisdom and experience. |
|
The Crystal
Palace Bar
Rabat, Malta
(Pronounced Ir-rah-BAHT, MAHL-tuh) Billy and Akaisha Kaderli
Currency Converter
This traditional little bar
on the outskirts of
Rabat, just around the corner from the Roman Villa and a
five-minute walk from the entrance to Mdina, is one of the oldest pastizzerias
in Malta.
Also known as Is-Serkin (a
nod to the horse-drawn carts that were once common in the area), The Crystal
Palace is known for its Maltese pastries which are stuffed with ricotta, chicken or
the classic filling of mushy peas.
Recommended by
every taxi driver we used, we had to
go and find out for ourselves.
Outdoor seating
In 2017, this business built an outdoor patio
which allows you to enjoy the sun and people-watch.
The unique name
"Crystal Palace" comes from its popularity among British soldiers from
London who were stationed in
Malta
during the mid-20th century. The Crystal Palace area of London is a vibrant and
historic neighborhood located in the south area of the city. This bar is named
after that iconic Crystal Palace, a magnificent glass and iron structure that
was built to house the Great Exhibition of 1851.
It's also famous for
being open (almost) 24/7.
Initially, the bar opened all night to
accommodate British soldiers looking for a drink and something to eat round the
clock. However, once the forces left the islands, the bar still stayed open all night.
These days, its nocturnal shift serves local farmers bringing
their produce to the pitkali market in Rabat in the early hours of the morning for
weighing and re-sale to local outlets. And catering to various shifts of workers
and night owls.
Menu for the Pastizzi
The pastizzi are freshly
baked on-site, so they're always warm and crispy.
If you're visiting
Malta and want to try this authentic Maltese dish, the Crystal Palace Bar is a
must-visit.
The ovens, continuously full
Martin, the owner, is proud of his
establishment and he’s not tempted to sell
other or more expensive items on his menu, such as pizza, baked rice and timpana.
The Crystal Palace is island famous and lines
go out the door at meal periods!
People standing in line to get their
Pastizzis
If you watch
this video, you'll see in action how
popular these pastizzis are! We enjoyed them so much,
we returned the next day.
It's a tiny place, but makes a large
statement for Malta.
Two Pastizzi
The pastizzi are made elsewhere and brought
to the ovens here at The Crystal to be baked. They are often served with a milk
tea.
When the COVID-19 pandemic forced Serkin to close temporarily, Malta's
newspaper wrote
that it was "like closing down church."
That's how integral this business is to the
community.
Ricotta Pastizzi
Flavor can't be captured in a photo, but
believe us, these were great.
When we arrived at the Palace our first time,
there was no one there and we were able to walk right up to the counter to
order. However, moments later there was a line out the door for the next 10
minutes.
The Chicken Pastizzis were $0.60Euros and the Ricotta ones were $0.50Euros
each.
Would we recommend going to The Crystal
Palace Bar?
Absolutely!!
Don't miss it
__________
Crystal Palace Bar
Triq San-Pawl, Rabat.
84, Triq
San-Pawl, Rabat
Island of Malta RBT 1240 Malta
Hours: 24 hours a day,
with the exception of a brief two-hour closure on weekday nights.
Email:
kenciangura@gmail.com
Tele: +356 7946 6836.
Retire
Early Lifestyle appeals to a different
kind of person – the person who prizes their
independence, values their time, and who doesn’t
want to mindlessly follow the crowd.
HOME
Book Store
Retire Early Lifestyle Blog
About Billy & Akaisha
Kaderli
Press
Contact
20 Questions
Preferred
Links
Retirement
Country Info
Retiree
Interviews
Commentary
REL
Videos
|
