On Thursday 4th April, The Michelin Guide announced that ION Harbour by Simon Rogan – Iniala Group’s restaurant in Malta – became the first and only restaurant in Malta to receive two Michelin stars.
This achievement comes just one year after chef and restaurateur, Simon Rogan, took the helm, adding to the six other Michelin Stars his restaurants hold worldwide (L’Enclume ***, Rogan & Co *, Aulis London *, Roganic Hong Kong *), and two Michelin Green Stars at L’Enclume and Roganic Hong Kong.
Since taking over stewardship of ION Harbour in March 2023, Simon, alongside Executive Chef Oli Marlow, has made it his mission to share and adapt his renowned farm-to-table ethos, perfected at three Michelin-starred L’Enclume. The menu at ION Harbour is strongly guided by hyperlocal, seasonal ingredients that are harvested, fished and foraged by the best, ethical and sustainable local producers. From the moment ingredients are sourced to the final presentation on the plate, every aspect of the restaurant’s operations reflects their deep-rooted ethos of environmental responsibility and ethical sourcing.
The team works to identify the very best and most aligned suppliers, working with experts and insiders to discover small-scale, sustainable producers and growers. They also work with ION Harbour’s Head of Sustainability, Keith Abela, a specialist forager and university lecturer who assists with the identification of wild plants and the restaurant’s preservation programme. As in Simon’s other restaurants, the commitment to sustainability extends well beyond the ION Harbour kitchen, with the bar team working with the chefs to utilise surplus ingredients that would otherwise go to waste, such as peels, stalks and stems.
“Receiving news that ION Harbour has received two Michelin Stars today is, without a doubt, one of the highlights of my career so far. My team and I arrived here just over a year ago, knowing that we wanted to bring something different to the island’s restaurant scene, continuing to share the farm-to-table ethos we are known for globally. Most importantly, we wanted to ensure we worked as closely as possible with the suppliers and the produce on this beautiful island, whilst keeping sustainable practices front of mind. I am so proud of what we have achieved here so far, alongside my Executive Chef Oli Marlow and the Iniala and ION Harbour team. It’s been a real joy to be part of the community and to have been so warmly welcomed by the locals and our guests who come to dine with us from all over the world. Knowing that we are the first ever two Michelin Star restaurant in Malta makes this all the more special – there will be celebrations in Valletta tonight that’s for sure” – Simon Rogan.
ION Harbour by Simon Rogan forms part of the Iniala Group’s hotel in Malta, Iniala Harbour House, which sits atop St Barbara Bastion – the most coveted street in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Valletta. As the only Forbes 5 Star hotel in Malta and the only Two Michelin-Starred restaurant in Malta, Iniala Harbour House and ION Harbour by Simon Rogan are raising the bar for exceptional hospitality and dining on the island.