Valletta, Malta
2018
Restaurant
Chris Briffa Architects
Once known as the darkest and most notorious stretch of Strait Street—historically labelled “The Gut”—this area of Valletta was synonymous with the city’s former red-light district, home to infamous venues such as the Silver Horse, Blue Peter, and James Bond. After more than five decades of neglect, the street has been carefully revived into a vibrant, high-end restaurant and bar hub, where fine dining, live music, theatre, cabaret, dance, and architecture intersect within a richly layered urban setting.
The regeneration of The Gut was led by VBL Group through a lavish gastro-retail project that fuses the spirit of the 1920s with contemporary dining, entertainment, and nightlife. SAW contributed to the value of this development through the production and installation of the facades and stage elements, playing a key role in preserving the architectural integrity of the original buildings while supporting their transformation into a dynamic cultural destination.
