Short answer: To join a group dinner with new people in Malta, look for a dinner plan that suits you, check the place, time, seats and who pays, and ask to join with a short note. On MeetNow, the host posts the dinner at a real public restaurant, says whether it is host pays, split or pay your own, and picks who comes. Accepted guests get a group chat to sort out the details before everyone sits down.
Dinner is one of the best ways to get to know people, and also the plan where money matters most. This page explains how dinner plans work, how each who-pays option plays out at the table, and how to host a dinner yourself. If you have not used MeetNow before, read how the MeetNow app works first.
Why a shared dinner works
A meal gives a group a natural rhythm: ordering, sharing, talking between courses. It is long enough to get past small talk, and the table keeps everyone together. For people who are new to Malta, or whose usual group is busy, a dinner with four or five others is one of the quickest ways to meet several new people at once.
The one thing that can spoil it is uncertainty about the bill. That is why every MeetNow plan shows who pays before anyone asks to join.
How to join a dinner plan, step by step
- Find a dinner plan that suits you. Look at the area, the date and time, the number of seats left and the type of food.
- Check who pays. Each plan is labelled host pays, split, pay your own, or free. Make sure you are comfortable with it before you ask.
- Ask to join with a short note. Say a little about yourself and why the dinner appeals to you, for example “New to Sliema, love trying Maltese food, happy to split”.
- Wait for the host to decide. The host sees your note and profile and accepts or declines.
- Say hello in the group chat. If you are accepted, you join a group chat with the host and the other guests. Confirm the restaurant and the time there.
- Meet at the restaurant. Arrive on time and settle the bill the way the plan says.
- Confirm “we met”. Afterwards, you and the host confirm “we met”, which builds your track record.
Who pays for dinner: the options in practice
The host picks one option when posting the plan. The amounts below are illustrative examples only, to show how each option works; they are not real menu prices.
| Who pays | How it works at the table | Illustrative example |
|---|---|---|
| Host pays | The host covers the guests’ meals. | A host invites 2 guests to a simple pizza dinner and pays the whole bill. |
| Split | The bill is divided equally between everyone. | A bill of €150 for 5 people is €30 each, whatever each person ordered. |
| Pay your own | Everyone pays for what they ordered. | One guest has a main and water, another has three courses and wine; each pays their own share. |
| Free | Rare for dinners, but possible. | A picnic at a public spot where everyone brings something to share. |
MeetNow does not handle payments, so the bill is always settled in person at the restaurant. If the plan says split, it helps to agree in the group chat whether drinks are included, so nobody is surprised.
Which option should a host choose?
- Split keeps things simple when everyone orders similar dishes or shares plates.
- Pay your own is fairer when people’s orders vary a lot, or some guests do not drink.
- Host pays is generous and works best for small plans where the host knows the cost.
For a full walkthrough of the who-pays labels and other settings, see how to host a plan on MeetNow.
Dinner plan ideas in Malta
These are examples of dinner plans, not real listings. Choose a real public restaurant or café you know and name it in the plan.
- Pastizzi and coffee brunch. Pastizzi, the flaky pastries filled with ricotta or peas, make an easy, low-cost weekend brunch. “Pastizzi and coffee, Saturday at 10:00, 3 seats, pay your own.”
- A Maltese dinner. Rabbit stew, stuffat tal-fenek, is one of Malta’s best-known dishes and a good excuse for a group dinner. “Maltese dinner, Friday at 20:00, 4 seats, split.”
- Pizza night. Simple, sociable and easy on the budget. “Pizza in St Julian’s, Wednesday at 19:30, 5 seats, pay your own.”
- Seafood by the harbour. “Fish dinner by the water, Sunday at 19:00, 3 seats, split.”
Hosting a dinner with new people
If you would rather set the table yourself, hosting a dinner plan takes a few minutes:
- Pick a real public restaurant that can seat your group.
- Set the date, time and seats; four to six people is a comfortable size for one table.
- Choose who pays and, if it helps, mention a rough budget in the description.
- Optionally limit who can join, for example by gender or age range.
- Read each request’s note, accept the guests you would like to meet, and confirm the booking details in the group chat.
If the restaurant takes bookings, book a table for the full group before the plan, so everyone has a seat when they arrive.
Staying safe at a dinner with new people
Safety box. Dinner plans happen at public restaurants, the host chooses who joins, and anyone can block a user. Whenever you meet someone new:
- Meet at the restaurant, not at someone’s home or car.
- Tell a friend where you are going and when you expect to be back.
- Arrange your own way home before the dinner starts.
- Leave if you feel uncomfortable: pay your share and go, no explanation needed.
More on this in our guide to MeetNow safety.
Not ready for a full dinner?
A shorter plan can be an easier start. Coffee or a single drink takes less time and money; see how to meet new people for drinks in Malta, or browse more plan ideas for meeting people in Malta.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a fee to join a dinner plan?
No. MeetNow is free. You only pay for the meal itself, according to the plan’s who pays label: host pays, split, pay your own, or free.
Can I bring a friend to a dinner plan?
Each person asks to join a plan for themselves, and the host decides who comes. The simplest way is for your friend to send their own request to join.
What does “split” mean for a dinner?
Split means the group shares the bill. It is worth agreeing in the group chat whether drinks are included, so everyone knows what to expect.
How many people should a dinner plan have?
Four to six people usually works well at one table: enough for lively conversation, small enough that everyone can talk.
Can I host a dinner if I am new to Malta?
Yes. Anyone can host. Choose a restaurant you know or one that is easy to find, and say “new to Malta” in the plan so like-minded people ask to join.
Want to turn this into an actual plan? MeetNow is a free app for meeting people in person: a host posts a plan at a public place, says who pays (host pays, split, pay your own or free) and picks who joins. It is live on the web now, starting in Malta, with the phone apps on the way: open MeetNow and see the plans near you.
