The soundtrack of the President’s Kitchen Garden is a mix of children and animals. Donkeys shift in their enclosure, goats look up when a feed bag rattles, and somewhere between the terraces a small voice announces that it wants to see the ponies again. This is not a formal garden to admire from a distance. It is a place to walk through with a pushchair and a snack.
A garden with a long working past
The kitchen garden stands across the road from San Anton Palace in Attard. It dates back more than four hundred years, to the time of Grand Master Antoine de Paule, who built the palace as a country residence. The purpose of the garden was practical: supply fruit, vegetables and herbs to the household.
Later, San Anton Palace became the official residence of Malta’s President, and the kitchen garden was modernised, extended and given its present name. A tunnel is said to link garden and palace, which made it the shortest route for fresh produce to reach the kitchen. The idea gives the visit a little extra interest, even though the tunnel itself is not something visitors walk through.
Three levels
The site covers about two and a half acres and is arranged on three terraced levels. The lowest and most practical level is the kitchen garden proper, where fruit and vegetables are grown in beds. The middle level is given over to herbs and flowers, which in spring and early summer give colour and scent. The top level holds the Swan Terrace, a more ornamental area that gives the garden a formal finish.
Moving up through the levels is easy enough, but the changes in height mean a pushchair needs occasional detours. The planting is tidy and labelled in places, so older children can learn which vegetables grow in which season.
Animals and play
For most families the petting zoo is the reason to come. Donkeys, ponies, goats and a variety of birds are kept in enclosures that children can approach, and there are usually small signs about feeding rules. Follow them; the animals depend on a controlled diet.
Two fully equipped play areas give children somewhere to burn energy while adults sit nearby. They are shaded in parts, which is welcome in summer. Because the garden is enclosed, young children can move around with less worry than in an open park.
Food and drink
A cafe inside the garden serves pasta, salads, sandwiches and hot and cold drinks. All profit from the cafe goes to a charity fund, which gives the stop a small extra purpose. At weekends and during school holidays the cafe can fill quickly, so an early lunch or a mid-afternoon coffee is easier than the busiest hour.
Bringing a bottle of water is sensible in summer. The garden is mostly open air, and the walk between terraces warms up quickly.
Practical points
The garden operates on different hours in summer and winter, and the later closing time in summer makes an evening visit possible. Check the current schedule before you plan. Spring is a good season for the flower beds, while autumn and winter are cooler and less crowded.
Parking is available on nearby streets, though it fills at weekends. Attard is well connected by public bus to the rest of the island, which suits visitors without a car. Footwear with a decent grip helps on the terraces after rain.
Nearby
San Anton Palace is the formal neighbour, and its gardens across the road are free and open to wander. The palace itself is the President’s residence, so access is limited, but the surroundings are pleasant for a stroll. Villa Bologna, a historic house with elegant gardens, is also within easy reach in Attard.
A longer day could include Ta’ Qali National Park, where families have plenty of space to run, or the old capital Mdina, which is a short drive away. Combining the animals and play areas here with a quieter garden nearby balances the day for adults and children alike.
Children tend to tire after the animals, so keep the playgrounds for the end of the visit. Go in the morning, when the animals are most active and the terraces are cool, and keep the afternoon for San Anton Gardens across the street.
