Menu Languages for Restaurants in Cyprus and Malta
Last updated: · 3 min read
The short answer
In both Cyprus and Malta, English comes first: it is an official language in Malta, widely used in Cyprus, and the language of the largest group of visitors to both islands. After that, the right second and third languages depend on who walks through your door. National figures give you a starting point; your own guests decide.
Who visits Cyprus
Cyprus welcomed 4,040,200 tourists in 2024, a record, according to the Cyprus Statistical Service. The Cyprus Employers and Industrialists Federation reports the main source countries for the year:
| Country | Share of 2024 arrivals | Language |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 34.0% | English |
| Israel | 10.5% | Hebrew |
| Poland | 8.3% | Polish |
| Germany | 5.7% | German |
| Greece | 4.5% | Greek |
| Sweden | 3.7% | Swedish |
Remember your local guests too: Greek is the language of most Cypriots, and in many places it belongs on the menu before any visitor language.
Who visits Malta
Malta received 3,563,618 inbound tourists in 2024, up 19.5% on 2023, according to the National Statistics Office. The United Kingdom sent 704,302 and Italy 616,326, together more than a third of all visitors. Arrivals from Poland grew by 58.3%, and France and Germany grew too.
English is already an official language in Malta, so most menus are in English. For many restaurants, Italian is the clear second language.
How to choose for your restaurant
National numbers hide big local differences. A seafront place in Paphos or St Julian's sees different guests from a village taverna. Choose from your own data:
- Ask your staff which languages guests ask for help in.
- Look at your bookings: names, phone prefixes, the platform they booked through.
- Check your reviews: the languages people write them in.
- Watch the season: the mix in August is not the mix in March.
Start with English plus your top one or two languages, and add more when you see the need. Three menus that are kept up to date beat six that drift out of date.
Getting the translation right
- Keep local dish names. Halloumi, kleftiko, pastizzi and ftira are what guests came for. Keep the name and explain it: "Kleftiko: lamb slow-cooked with potatoes".
- Translate allergens with the dish. A guest who reads the dish in their language needs the allergens in it too.
- Check with a native speaker where you can. A menu translated word for word reads like one.
Our guide to menus for tourists covers translation in more depth.
Which of these languages QRestAI covers
A QRestAI multilingual menu is published in up to 12 languages: English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Turkish. It opens in the guest's phone language, and you translate with AI and correct anything you want worded differently. The 14 EU allergens appear on each dish in every language.
To be clear about the gaps: Greek, Hebrew, Polish, Swedish and Maltese are not among the 12 today. For Malta, English and Italian cover the two largest groups of visitors. For Cyprus, English and German are covered, while Greek, Hebrew and Polish are not; if those guests are a large part of your trade, weigh that before you choose.
Frequently asked questions
Which languages should a restaurant menu in Cyprus have?
English first, since the UK sent 34% of visitors in 2024 and English is widely read. Greek for local guests. After that, look at your own guests: Israel, Poland and Germany were the next largest source countries.
Which languages should a restaurant menu in Malta have?
English, which is an official language, and for many restaurants Italian: the UK and Italy were the two largest sources of visitors in 2024.
How many languages should a menu have?
As many as you can keep up to date. Start with English plus your top one or two guest languages, and add more when your own guests show the need.
Should I translate local dish names?
Keep the local name and add a short explanation. Guests often look for the dish by its own name.