Talk about a shipshape dining opportunity. This exclusive experience breaks the boundaries of traditional fine dining by bringing a chef’s table directly onto the open waters of the Mediterranean
If you love experience dining, it’s time to book a flight. This summer, ION Harbour by Simon Rogan, Malta’s only two Michelin star restaurant, is taking modern luxury to uncharted waters with the launch of ION at Sea. Operating as an exclusive floating chef’s table, this concept brings the restaurant’s acclaimed culinary precision off the land and onto the waters of the Mediterranean.
Setting sail on Friday 19th June 2026 and running five days every week until Sunday 4th October 2026, ION at Sea offers an intimate experience aboard an iconic Riva 44 yacht, combining world-class gastronomy, exceptional hospitality and sweeping views of Malta’s coastline.
Designed as an extension of Simon Rogan’s ION Harbour, located within the two Michelin key and Forbes five-star hotel Iniala Valletta, the experience invites guests to discover Malta from an entirely new perspective, where the sea becomes the dining room and the island’s landscapes inspire every course.
Simon Rogan, Chef Patron of ION Harbour, comments: ‘We aren’t just offering dinner on a boat; we are breaking the boundaries of traditional fine dining by translating a two-Michelin-starred kitchen environment directly onto a beautiful yacht. It has been an incredible technical and creative challenge to pioneer an interactive chef’s table on a moving boat, and to create an experience that reimagines how guests connect with Malta’s stunning landscapes.’
ION at Sea brings together the talented team from Simon Rogan’s Michelin-starred Aulis Phuket, led by Chef Charlie Wilson and Restaurant Manager Arsen Brahaj, recipient of Thailand’s Michelin Service Award 2025. Working alongside Simon Rogan and ION Harbour Executive Chef Oli Marlow, the team has created a seasonal tasting menu rooted in the produce, landscapes and waters of the Maltese Islands.
Limited to just one booking per evening, each sailing is reserved exclusively for a single party of between two and five guests, ensuring complete privacy and a truly personalised experience.
Guests can choose between two carefully curated cruises:
The Dinner Cruise
Available from 7:30pm to 10:30pm, offers a sunset voyage through Valletta’s Grand Harbour and surrounding coastline before anchoring for dinner beneath the stars.
The Ultimate Cruise
Runs from 2:30pm until 10:30pm, combining an afternoon exploring Malta’s southern coastline, swimming in crystal-clear waters and dining at sea.
Celebrating ingredients sourced from both land and sea, the menu reflects ION Harbour’s commitment to seasonality, provenance, craftsmanship and its farm-to-table philosophy. Highlights from the sample menu include Amberjack Cured in Juniper with beetroots from Joseph’s Farm, wild fennel and quince vinegar, alongside ION Harbour’s signature Truffle Pudding glazed in carob molasses with aged Maltese pecorino.
Guests can also enjoy Raw South Coast Rossi Prawn with sea jelly, fig leaf, buttermilk and smoked pike perch roe, before dishes such as Guinea Hen stuffed with Truffle, served with snowball cauliflower and a lemon thyme-infused sauce.
The evening concludes with the restaurant’s distinctive ION Fig Leaf Set Mousse with caramelised apples and marigold-infused juices, alongside a selection of local cheeses and chutneys. Each course is finished and plated in front of guests, whilst the team shares the stories and techniques behind every element.
Carefully selected wine pairings are available to complement the menu, ranging from the Classic pairing to the Prestige pairing, which features some of the world’s most celebrated wines, including rare Champagnes, Grand Cru Burgundies and iconic Bordeaux vintages. A dedicated non-alcoholic pairing is also available for guests seeking an alcohol-free dinner.
Make it happen
When: ION at Sea operates from Friday 19th June to Sunday 4th October 2026, sailing every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Dinner Cruise (7:30pm–10:30pm) is priced from £1725 for two guests, with additional guests charged at £428 per person. The Ultimate Cruise (2:30pm–10:30pm) is priced from £3022 for two guests, with additional guests charged at £428 per person. Wine pairings are available at an additional cost. For more information please visit atsea.ionharbour.com
How: Room rates at Iniala Valletta start from £390, per night for a double room on a B&B basis. For more information, please visit iniala.com/iniala-valletta
