This is one of three 20 Twenty in-house designed concepts (the other two being Very Valletta and JustcruiSing).
Pure Gozo embraces the slow life. Just ask the locals. The tiny island’s rubble wall lined fields have been farmed for centuries, the wildly beautiful views, interrupted only by a fortified Citadel, perched on the plateau of Rabat, and other hilltop villages like Zebbug, built purposely on high ground centuries ago for protection from invaders.
Dispersed throughout the island are numerous vineyards, whose robust reds underline the inhabitants’ resilience and creativity in blending hard work under the Mediterranean sun and relaxation with a copious glass of full-bodied cabernet sauvignon or a flirty merlot.
Here you get to taste authentic cuisine. It’s not just about Michelin stars; for the true measure of a country’s gastronomy, one must eat like a local. Gozo’s homely restaurants serve daily specials with fresh, local and in season ingredients, most of which would have been procured within zero kilometres. Informal settings are ideal for striking an interesting conversation. One of my favourite spots is “ir-Rew-Rew” which serves sea-to-plate uncomplicated dishes in a very rustic atmosphere. Divine! It is family owned, with Noel in charge of the open-air kitchen, his wife Sandra handling the front of the house with the support of their children. Another favourite is Da Manuel in Xlendi. It is a modest restaurant serving farm-to-fork local specialities with the most awesome sunset views if you happen to reserve one of his outdoor tables. Father and sons run this restaurant with passion and love for sharing local recipes with their patrons.
At the other end of the scale, there are chic restaurants that offer an elegant setting, and uncompromising service. Names that come to mind are Ta’ Frenc and Qarzella, both in the Marsalforn area. Behind the refined atmosphere, you can still feel the modest yet heartfelt approach to slow cuisine that sums up the island’s gastronomic appeal.
Crowning Gozo’s gastronomic journey, it was awarded the title of European Region of Gastronomy 2026 by the International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts, Tourism (IGCAT). This underscores the island’s unique gastronomic identity and its vision for sustainable development.
Our Pure Gozo concept is an invitation to enjoy a rural experience in a home away from home, in tastefully restored farmhouses or heritage buildings with private pools, each with a story to tell, or a privatised bijoux boutique hotel with no more that a small number of rooms. Whatever you choose, home comforts, and your pet likes, will be prepared, down to the smallest detail. Activities that can be planned? Think full-moon pool party, open fire BBQ, a picnic in an awesome location, private chef, onsite massage or yoga, wine tasting, olive picking, foraging and cooking experience, sound baths, ……..let our discreet concierge team design your bespoke escape.
Recently we had the pleasure of hosting guests from the French luxury expedition cruise line Ponant, which gave us the opportunity to showcase the many sides of this small and ruggedly charming island. We prepared a short video that captures snippets of the bespoke experiences that we offered. The feedback we received was very positive giving us confidence that we are understanding the current tourism trends and delivering accordingly. We have more novel experiences that we are developing over the course of the next months which we will soft launch next season.
