Looking for a Timeleft alternative in Malta?

Short verdict: if you want a Timeleft alternative in Malta, the closest options are a small dinner Meetup group that already runs on the island, dinner invitations posted in local Facebook groups, and MeetNow plans, where a host posts a dinner at a public restaurant, says who pays and picks who joins. We could not find Timeleft operating in Malta when we checked in October 2026, so if you live here, one of these is the realistic way to get a seat at a table of new people.

Timeleft made “dinner with strangers” mainstream: you answer a questionnaire, the app puts you at a table with a small group and picks the restaurant. It is a clever format, and for many people it is the easiest way to meet someone new. But it does not run everywhere, and some people prefer to choose the place, the day or the company themselves. This guide explains what Timeleft does, which alternatives exist for people in Malta, and how they differ. We are the MeetNow team, so we have tried to be especially fair to everyone else.

What Timeleft is and how it works

According to Timeleft’s website, you choose your city, language and availability, and Timeleft takes care of the venue, the group and the logistics. For dinners, it promises “five new faces over good food”, and it mixes people based on age range, personality and language preferences, using a personality quiz. Alongside dinners, it now lists drinks, walks and other formats in some cities. You book through the app, and you pay for your own food and drinks at the venue.

Its website says it operates in more than 200 cities in 52 countries. Malta was not on the list when we checked in October 2026, and we found no Timeleft events on the island. If that changes, it will be a good option for people who want everything organised for them.

Timeleft alternatives compared

Details checked on each option’s own pages in October 2026. Prices, schedules and availability change, so check before you book.

Each Timeleft alternative in detail

A dinner Meetup group in Malta

The closest like-for-like option we found is Around the Table Malta, a Meetup group that brings small groups of people together over meals at restaurants across Malta, and sometimes Gozo. Guests come on their own, the group says it is not a dating or networking event, and restaurant details are often shared shortly before the dinner. When we checked in October 2026, it was a small, recently active group with several dinners and lunches listed, a small monthly membership fee for the group’s running costs, and each guest paying for their own meal.

Suits: people who like the Timeleft idea of a surprise restaurant and a small table, and are happy with a newer, smaller group.

Dinner invitations in Facebook groups

Expat, student and community groups regularly carry posts like “anyone up for dinner in Sliema on Friday?”. They are free and fast. The downside is structure: whoever replies first comes, there is no seat limit unless the poster sets one, and the money question is left to the end of the meal unless someone raises it. If you post, name the restaurant area, the time, the number of places and “pay your own”.

Suits: confident organisers who are comfortable sorting out the details in comments and messages.

MeetNow plans

MeetNow is built around plans, not profiles. A host posts a plan at a public place, for example a dinner at a named restaurant, with the date, time, number of seats and who pays: host pays, split, pay your own or free. People ask to join with a short note, and the host accepts or declines each request; the host can also limit who can join, for example by gender or age range. Accepted guests get a group chat, and afterwards both sides confirm “we met”, which builds each person’s track record. You can read more in our guide on joining a group dinner in Malta.

Suits: people who want to choose the restaurant, the day and the company, or who want to know exactly what they will pay before they say yes.

Your own table

The oldest alternative of all: book a table for four or six and invite people you have met once or twice, through work, a class or a sport. It is the slowest route at first, but it is how many friendships become regular dinners.

Key differences from Timeleft

Matched table or chosen table

Timeleft’s strength is its matching: you hand over the choice and trust the algorithm and the questionnaire. With a Meetup dinner or a Facebook post, the table is whoever signs up. With MeetNow, the host reads each short note and chooses the guests, so the table is chosen by a person rather than by a quiz.

Surprise restaurant or named restaurant

Timeleft and some dinner groups keep the restaurant a surprise until shortly before. Some people love that; others want to check the menu, the price range or how to get there. A MeetNow plan names the place up front, because it is part of the plan.

Who pays

On Timeleft, you pay for the booking and then for your own food. In dinner groups, you usually pay for your own meal. On MeetNow, the host chooses one of four options and states it before anyone joins, which removes one of the most awkward moments of a dinner with strangers.

Recurring or one-off

Timeleft and dinner groups are built for regular events: you can go every week. A MeetNow plan is a single dated plan, though nothing stops a host from posting the same dinner every month.

Which Timeleft alternative suits you?

• You loved Timeleft elsewhere and want the closest thing in Malta: try a dinner Meetup group.
• You want to choose the restaurant and the day: post or join a plan.
• You are on a budget: look for “pay your own” or “split” plans, or post one yourself with a price range in the description.
• You want to compare every format, not just dinners: read our guide to the best app to meet people in person, or our side-by-side of friend apps in Malta.

Whichever you pick, go more than once. The first dinner breaks the ice; the second and third are where you start recognising faces.

Safety, whichever option you choose

FAQ: Timeleft alternatives in Malta

Is Timeleft available in Malta?

We did not find Malta among Timeleft’s cities or any Timeleft events on the island when we checked in October 2026. Check its app or website for the current list.

What is the best Timeleft alternative in Malta?

It depends on what you liked about Timeleft. For a surprise restaurant and a small table, a dinner Meetup group is the closest match. To choose the place, the day and the guests yourself, a MeetNow plan fits better.

Is there a free alternative to Timeleft?

Facebook dinner invitations and MeetNow are free to use; you only pay for what you eat and drink, according to the plan’s who-pays option. Some Meetup groups charge a small membership fee.

How is MeetNow different from Timeleft?

On Timeleft, the app matches the table and picks the restaurant. On MeetNow, a host posts a plan at a named public place, says who pays, and picks who joins from short notes.

Can I use MeetNow yet?

Yes. MeetNow is live on the web at app.trymeetnow.com now, starting in Malta; the iPhone and Android apps are coming soon to the App Store and Google Play. Our guide on how to ask to join a plan shows how joining works.