Piccolo Padre has expanded beyond its longtime Balluta Bay home, opening a second restaurant in the heart of Sliema.

The new Piccolo Padre trattoria is located within the Centric Hotel, just off the Sliema Ferries.

It marks Piccolo Padre’s first expansion since it was set up in Balluta in the 1970s, becoming a household name.

The expansion comes five years after developer Carlo Stivala purchased Piccolo Padre and nearby Barracuda from the Cassar family, who had run the establishment for over 40 years.

Mr Stivala tells WhosWho.mt that diners at the new Piccolo Padre should expect the same concept that has long characterised the restaurant, albeit in a more modern environment.