Sliema has a reputation as one of the more expensive corners of Malta, and parts of it earn that reputation. But if you know where to go, you can put together a real date for the price of a single main course at the wrong place.
The Ferry-and-Pastizz Loop (Around 8 Euro for Two)
The Sliema-Valletta ferry is 2.80 euro return per person off-peak. Take it across mid-afternoon, walk up Republic Street, and stop at Crystal Palace's smaller branch or any decent pastizzeria for two pastizzi each. That is lunch, transport, and a view of one of the best harbors in the Mediterranean for under 8 euro between you. Walk the Valletta bastions, take the ferry back at sunset.
This is the cheapest legitimately good date in the city.
Swim and Coffee at Exiles (Around 10 Euro for Two)
In season, swim off the rocks at Exiles. It is free. After, climb up to Cafe Cuba or one of the smaller cafes along the Tower Road stretch and get two coffees and a pastry to share. Twelve euro maximum for two hours of date that feels like vacation.
A Bottle of Wine and the Promenade (Around 15 Euro for Two)
Get a bottle of Marsovin or Delicata at any of the small grocers on Manwel Dimech, around 8 to 10 euro. Two plastic cups. Walk to the benches near Fond Ghadir around sunset. This is technically against the rules and nobody enforces it. The view across to Valletta with the lights coming on is worth more than most restaurant tables in town.
Piadina Caffe Lunch (Around 20 Euro for Two)
A piadina is around 7 to 9 euro, a glass of wine 4 to 5. Two each, plus a coffee, runs about 25 euro between you. The room is small, the staff are Italian, and you can sit for ninety minutes without anyone hurrying you.
Tony's Bar Beers and a Walk (Around 12 Euro for Two)
Tony's in Gzira pours Cisk for under 3 euro a bottle. Two beers each, two hours at the bar, then walk back along the Strand to Sliema. Twelve euro for the drinks, free for the walk. The crowd is older locals and the bar feels like 1985.
Manoel Island and the Lazaretto Walk (Free)
The walk around Manoel Island, accessed from the Gzira side, is free, takes about an hour, and most people don't bother. You get the old fort, the Lazaretto ruins, and views back at Sliema you don't get from the promenade. Pack a thermos of coffee. Two euro of coffee beans is the entire budget.
A Film at Eden, Cheap Hour (Around 16 Euro for Two)
Eden Cinemas in St Julian's runs cheaper tickets for the early shows, around 7 euro a seat. Skip the popcorn. After, walk back along the Spinola promenade to Balluta and get a coffee at Tiffany. Twenty euro total, two and a half hours of date, and a real conversation built in afterward.
What These Have In Common
The cheap dates that work in Sliema all have the same structure. One small purchase, one piece of geography, and time. The Ferry, the swim, the walk, the bench. The mistake is to try to do a budget version of an expensive date, which always feels like a budget version. Do a different kind of date instead, one where the place is doing the work and you are just showing up.
A Note on Splitting
Maltese culture around splitting is relaxed. Locals will offer to split early dates, and accepting is normal. Nobody is keeping score. The point of a budget date here is not to seem cheap, it is to spend the saved money on the next date instead.