This Mediterranean island is perfect for escaping from the British weather
Malta is the perfect island for a getaway whatever the season, and to help you on your way to holiday bliss, we've rounded up the best Malta hotels to check in to this year.
Like Madeira, Sardinia, Tenerife and other beautiful islands in Europe, Malta is best explored from its top hotels that range from luxury to couples' boltholes and boutique retreats to family-friendly places to stay.
Situated in a sun-soaked spot in the shimmering Mediterranean, Malta enjoys the warmest weather on average in the whole of Europe, making it the perfect place for a holiday any time of year, whether you fancy a still-balmy autumn break, seeking out some much-needed vitamin D in the depths of winter or enjoying some lovely and mild spring temperatures.
Malta's dramatic history includes being ruled by Romans, Moors, the French and the British, meaning that English is widely spoken and its cities are full of amazing cultural treasures. These include everything from ancient temples to the stunning Renaissance buildings in the charming capital, Valletta, a Unesco World Heritage Site.
And it would be remiss not to mention Malta's incredibly beautiful beaches, like the stunning Blue Lagoon, which is home to dolphins and sea lions, among many other blissful bays and hidden coves to discover throughout a stay here. A trip to Malta combines the best of ancient Europe with the kind of paradise island scenery that you’d normally have to take a long-haul flight to experience.
To get you in the mood for a Maltese holiday, we’ve picked out some of the best hotels, from luxurious five-star resorts to atmospheric boutique B&Bs.
The Xara Palace, Mdina
Expect nothing but luxury at this five-star Malta hotel, which is built right into the medieval city walls of Mdina. As well as spectacular panoramic views out to the Med – which you can enjoy from your own private hot tub in an Executive Duplex Suite – The Xara Palace is in the heart of one of Malta’s most fascinating cities, famed for its beautiful golden-hued baroque architecture.
In the evening, head out to Trattoria AD 1530 next door to tuck into authentic pizzas in one of Mdina’s atmospheric old squares, or enjoy exceptional European cooking at the hotel’s Michelin-starred De Mondion Restaurant, which takes beloved island dishes and typical ingredients and spins them into fine-dining. When we visited, we were served a refined take on a recipe beloved by Maltese grandmothers: snail stew. We also enjoyed tuna and red shrimp tartlets, and lamb with mustard and pesto, all with a spectacular view out across the island. Wines produced in the vineyard below can be served alongside your meal.
The historic Mdina palazzo has recently unveiled a sister site, Villa Barumbara tal-Larinġ, a six-bedroom property in the countryside near Rabat that's ideal for groups.
Iniala Harbour House & Residences, Valletta
Spread across four exquisite Maltese townhouses and their ancient vaults, Iniala Harbour House & Residences is a hotel with a history dating back to the 1600s. It has 23 uniquely designed rooms and suites, and is brought to you by the philanthropist Mark Weingard, who has also created Iniala Beach House in Phuket.
The Malta hotel overlooks the famous Grand Harbour, offering guests world-class service and eye-catching urban design, along with a subterranean spa. ION Harbour by Simon Rogan is the hotel’s chic and romantic two-Michelin-starred rooftop restaurant, providing a fine-dining experience and unrivalled views of the fortified walls to the Grand Harbour and the Three Cities beyond.
Be sure to arrive hungry and primed for the 13-course tasting menu, which is definitely worth skipping lunch for. It starts with tiny morsels such as carrot tartlet and spiny lobster on roasted chicken skin, with other highlights surprisingly coming courtesy of the vegetarian dishes: the grilled salad with summer succulents and smoked cep custard, and the dill-brined gem lettuce with horseradish and mushrooms were equally memorable. The evening was only enhanced by the impossibly romantic setting and the near-constant fireworks bursting over the Three Cities.
Hyatt Regency Malta, St Julian's
Set in the heart of St Julian’s, the Hyatt Regency Malta is a mere stone’s throw away from the pristine beach on St George’s Bay. The luxury hotel is perfectly placed for exploring Malta's 8,000 years of history.
Many of the rooms and suites enjoy spectacular views across the city and the Mediterranean Sea, and you'll love spending well-earned down time by the impressive rooftop pool overlooking the azure waters surrounding the island. The hotel also features the spa, a fitness centre and the chance to indulge in delicious modern Mediterranean food at alfresco dining spot Seed or the seasonal GIN-ger, located on the hotel’s rooftop.
Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz, Gozo
The palatial Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz is in the Gozo town of the same name. The smaller, sleepier island, which is Malta’s northern neighbour, is also home to the Dwejra nature reserve.
At the Kempinski, guests have lots of swimming pools to enjoy, as well as a spa and both tennis and squash courts. You’ll also be able to enjoy the Morocco-influenced design, which features a courtyard, a dusty façade and plenty of palm trees. Dining options include L’Ortolan, which has beamed ceilings with wrought-iron chandeliers inside, as well as a sunset-ready terrace; and L-Istorja, specialising in Maltese cuisine.
The Gomerino Hotel, Valletta
If you're visiting Malta, the chances are that its Unesco-protected capital city Valletta is high on your list – and you can stay in the heart of it by checking in at this boutique hotel near St John's Cathedral. The highlight of this sleek urban retreat is the spa, with its indoor pool and sauna, carved into the vaulted cellar. A 17th-century baroque palace, The Gomerino Hotel also has a rooftop pool with glorious Grand Harbour views and a gleaming bar for sociable evenings.
The interiors are decked out in neutral hues and some rooms feature carved wooden headboards. Breakfasts are worth staying in for: copious affairs featuring the likes of French toast and eggs Benedict.
The Phoenicia Malta, Valletta
One of Malta’s grandest and most famous hotels, The Phoenicia was a favourite of the late Queen Elizabeth II when the British ruled over Malta in the early 20th Century. Thankfully, it has managed to hold on to its effortless art deco style.
Set just outside Valletta’s city walls, the luxury Malta hotel boasts an infinity pool overlooking the harbour, a lovely sun terrace and an indoor pool and spa. Elegant marble interiors and wooden ceiling fans keep the hotel cool during the summer months, and the main restaurant serves inventive seasonal dishes, with much of the produce grown on-site in the kitchen garden.
Palazzo Bifora, Mdina
It's much smaller than Valletta (which itself is easily navigable on foot), but Mdina is a must-visit destination in Malta, mostly due to its honey-coloured architecture and scenic, snap-worthy streets. With just six delightful boutique suites that feature statement wallpapers, wooden floors and bespoke headboards in colours echoing the island’s plant life – sage and clover greens, and gold – Palazzo Bifora is renowned for its personal welcome and hearty breakfasts.
Tucked away amidst the medieval alleyways of Malta’s bewitching ‘Silent City’, this restored heritage home has a roof terrace with a small pool, and some of the suites also have indulgent deep soaking tubs.
Palazzo Consiglia, Valletta
A 13-room boutique hotel in the heart of the capital, the Palazzo Consiglia occupies a traditional Maltese townhouse. It now has the added bonus of a spa, featuring an indoor pool and a steam room, plus a roof terrace with a small pool, a winter sundeck and a reading nook.
Mixing classic and contemporary styles, its rooms are all unique: one has a vintage vibe, one showcases Maltese craftsmanship, one is focused on natural materials and ecological motifs, and one was inspired by the local coastline. It's the perfect Malta hotel for you if you're in search of somewhere with an unbeatably central Valletta locale.
The Embassy Valletta Hotel, Valletta
Located in the very centre of impossibly photogenic Valletta, on the doorstep of the legendary Strait Street, The Embassy Valletta Hotel stands on the site where one of the first hotels in Malta welcomed guests in the 1800s.
Its rooms are particularly spacious and have been elegantly designed, tastefully blending classic, contemporary and modern elements, offering city or sea views. Whichever direction you wander when stepping out of the hotel, you're never more than a few steps away from the restaurants, historic bars and cultural attractions of the city, making this hotel an ideal choice if location is top of your list.
Holm Boutique & Spa, St Julian's
Situated in St Julian's, Holm Boutique & Spa is a design-driven boutique hotel that transports you to a world of avant-garde interiors. The Maltese hotel is best known for its iconic pink-tiled rooftop pool.
Meanwhile, its rooms aim to be playful, comfortable and memorable all at once. The hotel's cutting-edge spa facilities, which include a Himalayan salt room, feature top-notch services and treatments, for a multi-sensory experience during your holiday to Malta – perfect for a break from the sunshine or if you've overdone it on the daily step counts.
Ursulino Valletta, Valletta
Another Malta hotel in the thick of the action in Valletta, this modern boutique B&B is right by some of the city’s most popular attractions, including the Upper Barrakka Gardens and Manoel Theatre, and features a beautiful roof terrace where you can eat breakfast while gazing out across the dreamy blue sea.
Original artworks from Ursulino Valletta's private collection hang on the walls, and the gorgeous contemporary duplex suites come with a plush living area and mezzanine sleeping quarters.
Casa Rocca Piccola, Valletta
Fancy staying in a real Renaissance palazzo in the historic centre of Valletta? Then look no further than this romantic B&B inside the ancestral home of the 9th Marquis de Piro and his family.
The bedrooms at Casa Rocca Piccola are packed with period features, antique curios and beautiful ornate furnishings, plus there’s a gorgeous terraced garden for enjoying breakfast out in the fresh air.
Part of the building is also a popular museum, where you can learn about Malta’s history through the lives of the palace’s aristocratic owners.
AX The Palace, Sliema
Located in stylish Sliema, a buzzing, affluent town on Malta’s north-east coast, AX The Palace is kitted out with contemporary rooms, a rooftop spa and an infinity pool, as well as a choice of various places to eat and drink.
Dine on east Asian-inspired dishes with views out across Sliema’s harbour in the ninth-floor TemptAsian, or head up to the roof for cocktails and pizza at one of Malta’s coolest night-time venues. Accommodation options here range from light and modern Comfort Rooms overlooking the hotel atrium, through to the Designer Collection suites, each themed around the senses, whether light, texture or flavour.
My Travel House, Rabat
Perfectly situated for soaking up the rhythms of village life in sleepy Rabat, now a suburb of Mdina, this beautiful stone townhouse is a great base for exploring Malta’s historic north. Discover Roman villas and ancient catacombs nearby, or head to a local café to enjoy the buzz of island life.
My Travel House has simple, comfortable rooms – one with a balcony overlooking Rabat’s ancient pedestrianised streets – as well as a roof terrace where guests can relax over breakfast in the sun.
Cugo Gran Macina Grand Harbour Hotel, Senglea
Perched opposite Valletta in Senglea – one of the island’s historic Three Cities – the Cugó Gran Macina is one of Malta’s most prestigious hotels.
Its exterior fortress walls give way to an ultra-modern look inside, and the facilities are second to none, with a stylish pool and deck overlooking Valletta’s iconic harbour, and an elegant bar and restaurant where the award-winning kitchen team conjure up sophisticated takes on traditional Maltese cuisine.
The Duke Boutique Hotel, Gozo
The Duke Boutique Hotel is situated right in the heart of Gozo’s capital Victoria, boasting excellent views all around. The hotel was visited by the late Queen Elizabeth II during a royal trip to the island in 1951.
Guests can choose between the hotel's various room types and suites, some of which offer magnificent views of the Citadel or Villa Rundle Gardens, or feature a private Jacuzzi and terrace. The hotel is perfectly placed for discovering the stunning (and quieter) island of Gozo, including the neolithic Ġgantija Temple, rural hiking paths, beaches and scuba-diving sites.
Domus Zamittello, Valletta
Domus Zamittello is in the centre of Valletta, close to the Renzo Piano-designed parliament and what was once the Royal Malta Opera House. It’s one of the most elegant hotels in the city, with a long history as a palazzo and, since 1805, as the residence of a nobleman who was granted ownership of it for his services to the Crown.
Guests enter through an arched doorway, and the building has period details on every corner, from the Tuscan columns to the ceilings and the terrace, which overlooks Valletta.
AX The Saint John, Valletta
Named after Malta’s famous knights, as well as the island’s 16th-century cathedral, The Saint John is in the capital city of Valletta. The boutique retreat was once a merchant’s residence. Today, it’s been brought up to date with wingback chairs, padded leather headboards, black and white photography gracing the walls, and industrial lighting. The comfortable rooms also feature coffee machines.
There are lots of places in the area to try Maltese cuisine, but if you don’t fancy going far, the hotel has a handy gastropub just next door.
BOCO Boutique Hotel, Cospicua
This six-room hotel is located amid the historic streets of Cospicua, the unspoilt and picturesque fortified harbour city that's several centuries older than Valletta. You can stroll along the quiet lanes, enjoying restaurants, cafés and the waterfront, and also hop on the ferry for the eight-minute journey over to Valletta.
It's heavenly to return to this quirky, art-filled, 400-year-old Maltese townhouse day after a busy day of exploring. The place has been lovingly renovated, and all guest rooms are bright and airy. There's also a sun deck with a hot tub for anyone looking to catch some rays.
Rosselli, Valletta
Rosselli is housed in a historic palazzo in the centre of Valletta, with 25 rooms and suites. The heritage building has been modernised with coloured marble, brass accents and vibrant wallpaper.
It’s also the proud owner of a Michelin-starred restaurant, Under Grain. Other restaurants on-site include Grain Street, which serves sharing plates and the perfect wines by the glass to accompany them; and the equally acclaimed Over Grain up on the rooftop – be sure to book in advance as waiting lists are not unheard of.
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