If you are spending a morning wandering around Rabat or Mdina, leave a little room for pastizzi afterwards. Across the road from the Domvs Romana is Is-Serkin, also known as Crystal Palace: a small, long-established Rabat bar where hot pastry and tea still make a wonderfully unfussy stop.

We checked the place again in mid-September 2026. This is an independent recommendation—we have no personal or commercial relationship with Is-Serkin, and no complimentary food was involved.

Ricotta or peas? Try both

The easiest order for a first visit is one pastizz tal-irkotta and one pastizz tal-piżelli. The first has a soft ricotta filling; the second is filled with savoury, lightly spiced peas. They are different enough that choosing only one feels like missing half the conversation.

Eat them while they are hot, but give the filling a moment before the first enthusiastic bite. The pastry is crisp, flaky and almost guaranteed to leave evidence down the front of your shirt. That is part of the experience.

If you want the full story behind the pastry and fillings, our pastizzi guide goes deeper. You can also make ricotta pastizzi or pea pastizzi at home.

You will probably see qassatat at the counter too. They are open at the top and have a less flaky shell, so they are not simply round pastizzi. Our qassatat guide explains the difference.

Why stop at Is-Serkin?

Is-Serkin / Crystal Palace is at 84 Triq San Pawl, Rabat, RBT 1067, opposite the Domvs Romana. Its position between Rabat and Mdina makes it convenient after visiting either place without requiring a separate food itinerary.

There is seating inside and outside, but this is not a polished café experience—and it would lose much of its character if it were. It feels like a Maltese village bar: compact, busy, direct and comfortable in its own skin. Sit down with a glass of tea or coffee, watch another tray arrive, and take a proper break before carrying on with the day.

Both ricotta and pea pastizzi were coming out hot and fresh when we visited. Tea and coffee were still served in glasses, which is a small detail but a big part of the place’s charm.

Is-Serkin is not included because we are trying to declare a winner in an imaginary island-wide pastizzi competition. It is here because the food, setting and location fit together. Local reporting has documented that relationship for years: a 2016 Times of Malta report described the Rabat pastizzeria as having traded for more than 70 years at that time.

Tea in a glass

Pastizzi do not need an elaborate drink pairing. At Is-Serkin, a glass of tea or coffee is the natural companion. The combination is simple, quick and far more memorable than turning the stop into a formal meal.

You can sit inside if you want to be close to the movement of the bar, or outside if the weather is on your side. Either way, it is worth eating the pastizzi there rather than carrying them around until the pastry loses its crispness.

After Rabat or Mdina

The nicest way to fit Is-Serkin into the day is not to build an itinerary around a pastry shop. Explore Mdina or Rabat first, then wander over when you are ready for something hot and savoury.

The Domvs Romana is directly opposite. Heritage Malta describes it as an archaeological museum between Mdina and Rabat, with mosaics and remains from a wealthy Roman townhouse. If you plan to go inside, check the official Domvs Romana page for current visitor information.

A quick note about ingredients

Ricotta pastizzi contain milk and may contain egg. The pea filling may be plant-based, but that does not automatically make the whole pastizz vegan—the pastry fat matters too. Ordinary wheat pastry also contains gluten.

If you have an allergy or follow a strict diet, ask about the complete pastry rather than judging by the filling. Ingredients and cross-contact vary between producers. The current Sphinx menu, for example, lists standard and vegan pastizzi separately, which shows why the distinction is worth checking.

The useful details

When we visited in mid-September 2026, Is-Serkin was operating around the clock, including breakfast, lunch and late at night. Digital payments, Mastercard and Visa were accepted. Bus stops were close by, and there was parking in the area, although finding an empty space is naturally another matter.

Opening hours, payment systems and menu availability can change, so check anything essential before making a special journey. If you are already in Rabat or Mdina, though, it is an easy and very Maltese detour.

For another taste of Malta, browse our Maltese street-food collection. Or, if the visit leaves you determined to cover your own kitchen in pastry flakes, head back to the pastizzi guide.