Legligin

Nestled within the historic walls of Valletta, Legligin has been a cherished dining establishment for over 18 years, making it one of the longest-running eateries in the city. This beloved restaurant started as a one-man operation by Chris Mifsud Bonnici, who initially did everything himself, from cooking to service. Over the years, Legligin has blossomed into a family-run business, with two generations working together to deliver an unparalleled Maltese dining experience.

The restaurant’s name, Legligin, which means “the gluggers” in Maltese, is a nod to the old tradition of men gathering to enjoy wine together, capturing the essence of communal enjoyment, and the sound of bottles of wine being glugged down. The restaurant uses an eclectic collection of mismatched plates, which add a touch of whimsy and nostalgia, reminiscent of visiting a Maltese grandmother’s home.

Legligin has undergone significant evolution, growing from a small operation with just seven tables in a single room to a spacious restaurant with three separate dining rooms. The Mifsud Bonnici family continues to uphold the tradition of serving homey, Mediterranean, and typically Maltese food, maintaining the principles of simple, quality ingredients and slow cooking that Chris originally drew from his mother’s cooking.

Legligin engaged Systemato to develop a brand-new website that’s user-friendly, and mobile compatible while respecting the whimsical, eclectic essence of its existing branding. Systemato’s task was to ensure that the website mirrored the unique charm of Legligin, particularly the gilded signage bearing the restaurant’s name, a rare and traditional element from pre-war Malta and Valletta.

The new Legligin website needed to be a seamless extension of Legligin’s physical atmosphere, providing an online experience that would capture the same warmth and hospitality found within the restaurant’s historic walls.

In addition to designing the website, Systemato took on the responsibility of writing all the website content, documenting Legligin’s rich history for the first time and detailing its unique tasting menu experience. Photography services were also provided, capturing the restaurant’s unique charm, its secret nooks and crannies, and the dedicated staff. This visual content was crucial in conveying the authentic atmosphere of Legligin to online visitors.

Systemato further enhanced the brand’s digital presence by designing various pieces of digital stationery, providing reusable templates for social media posts, and digitising the Legligin logo from the oldest of the three gilded shop signs, ensuring that the website was both a functional and a nostalgic homage to the restaurant’s storied past.