We review the best luxury hotels in Valletta and St Julian’s in Malta. These include InterContinental, Grand Hotel Excelsior, Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz, Marriott, Palazzo Consiglia Boutique Hotel, Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, Saint John, Xara Palace Relais & Chateaux, Westin Dragonara Resort.
The luxury traveler can sometimes overlook malta but make no mistake. It’s a stunningly beautiful island with a rich and fascinating historical past, some lovely beaches, and a laid-back vibe. It’s just about knowing where to stay, which of course, we can help with.
Often described as the best-kept secret of the Mediterranean, Malta is jammed with history, partly because its fascinating past features the Phoenicians, Romans, Normans, Knights of St. John, French and British. The capital, Valletta, is steeped in history, culture, style, art, and technology and is both a UNESCO world heritage site and has also been nominated for a European Capital of Culture for 2018. Malta is one of those fabulously accessible sunny islands, with flights from London coming in at fractionally over 3 hours; perfect for a short break when you don’t want the inconvenience of a long transfer.
I have compiled a list below containing the best luxury hotels in Valletta and St Julian’s in Malta. I list the ones I consider to be the best at the top.
1. InterContinental Malta
Situated in the exclusive beachside resort of St Julian’s, InterContinental Malta is just seven kilometers from Valletta, Malta’s capital city, and within walking distance of some of the islands finest shopping and entertainment locations. This is one of the cheapest InterContinental hotels in the world.
Unwind at the wonderful lagoon-styled outdoor pool, or enjoy a day at their private sandy beach. There is also an indoor pool, gym, and spa. With a variety of restaurants and bars (some seasonal), InterContinental Malta is one of your best luxury hotel choices in Malta.
The interior of this hotel is lovely, with lots of intricate, stylish lighting. If you request a room facing the hotel courtyard and outdoor pool rather than the main street, you will enjoy a very peaceful night’s sleep.
The club lounge here is great, with coffee, tea, juices, soft drinks, and snacks available throughout the day. Breakfast is served. The buffet is great with cold cuts, smoked salmon, olive and sundried tomato pastes, salad, pastries, bread, cereal, fresh fruit, plus Prosecco, juice, tea, and coffee. Hot dishes include scrambled eggs, bacon, and sausages, etc.
Evening drinks and canapes are served from 5:30 – 7:30 pm. The drinks selection includes Prosecco, wines, spirits, beers, and soft drinks. Canapes are things like chicken skewers and fish cakes, enough for a drink accompaniment but not enough to fill you up.
Club Lounge access is free here if you book via our luxury travel concierge along with benefits including room upgrade on arrival, welcome amenity, early check-in / late check-out (all subject to availability) and complimentary Wi-Fi.
You can see what we have experienced in terms of food and drink at the club lounge at InterContinental O2 in London and the club lounge at InterContinental Park Lane which will give you an idea of what to expect.
2. Palazzo Consiglia Boutique Hotel, Valletta, Malta
Anyone who wants to lay on a beautiful beach but also to feast upon historic gems on their days off sun-worshipping should have their sights set firmly on Malta. Come to the capital of Valletta and be at the center of the action in this stunning antique city; a very fitting place to stay is Palazzo Consiglia (pictured above); a stunningly restored building where Baroque influence sits with Roman and Arabic features.
Our exclusive benefits at Palazzo Consiglia are a free alcoholic welcome drink upon arrival for each guest on any level or room booking. All Superior room bookings include a complimentary airport transfer on arrival only. All Deluxe room bookings will include a complimentary airport transfer on arrival only, a complimentary bottle of wine upon arrival, and free use of the minibar replenished once daily as well as a 15% discount on the beverage bill or final bar bill. The benefits outlined above are applicable to non-refundable rates.
Palazzo Consiglia is located in a beautiful traditional Maltese townhouse. As soon as guests enter, they find themselves in a lavish entrance hall with marble floors, wall paneling, and pretty teal hues throughout. The chic guest rooms are light and airy with rich oak hardwood floors, glass separations in bathrooms, and dramatic, almost personal flairs, which create a very stylish room. Typical in Maltese townhouses, there is an internal courtyard; Palazzo Consiglia’s is a heavenly space, perfect for relaxing with a book or enjoying a hearty breakfast.
Despite the history, this is very much a modern hotel and technology features heavily; expect soundproofed walls and floors, energy-efficient LED lighting, full HD 40-inch television with radio and 72 channels, Bluetooth speakers (which connect to the room’s sound system that’s also available in the bathroom) and USB charging ports next to the bed; all fabulous for a gadget-lover!
A total delight of a spa awaits you in the cellar beneath the townhouse; the Cantina is a top-quality wellness area where you feel like you’re in a secret, very-glamourous grotto; very exciting but also very relaxing. Don’t miss the spa treatments but also ensure you leave time to waste away several hours in the heated indoor pool, jacuzzi, and steam room.
The cozy roof terrace is another beautiful space to relax (Palazzo Consiglia does them well, as you can tell!). There’s a mini pool, a reading nook, and a winter sundeck, plus simply spectacular views across Valletta and the Grand Harbour.
This is a boutique hotel with 13 rooms that are individually named and individually designed with custom wallpaper, upholstery, headboards, and stunning furniture sourced from Italy, France, and Malta. Depending on your taste, stay in a room with an Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Classical or Baroque vibe. Some of the rooms have balconies, so be sure to request one of these if you like your people-watching. My personal favorite is probably Sirena, an enchanting and glamorous room with a separate living area and a balcony overlooking the street below.
Ursula’s Lounge serves up a scrumptious continental breakfast, which you can eat in the courtyard or on the roof terrace if you prefer. There’s also a tempting selection of cheese and meat platters, as well as pizzas and other hot snacks, available until late; perfect to accompany a refreshing beverage at the terrace bar. For fine dining, there are several restaurants within walking distance, ask for recommendations, and they’ll be more than happy to oblige.
3. The Saint John Boutique Hotel
The Saint John Boutique Hotel, Valletta is situated in the very heart of Valletta. You are close to all the main attractions in Valletta and are a short walk away from the unique Grand Harbour.
The décor gives you lots of wow-moment that will have your Instagram twitching as soon as you arrive! There’s a cool, industrial vibe. A lot of the spaces are open-plan with incredible attention to detail in the finishings and retro touches, which are very nicely done. Don’t miss the traditional vintage-style courtyard and the wonderful architecture of the 17th-century building within which the hotel is housed.
Despite the historic exterior, inside the hotel has all the mod-cons and latest technology that you would expect with a modern, luxury hotel, as well as a couple of gadgets and gizmos that you might not expect; smart lighting and USB ports next to your bed to name just a couple. The hotel is a member of AX Hotels, and so members of their loyalty program AX Plus, can take advantage of a range of benefits, including complimentary arrival drinks, free airport transfers, and late check-out.
There are 21 rooms at this boutique hotel; choose from Comfort Rooms, Deluxe Rooms, or Superior Rooms. To be honest, all the rooms are divine, but you get a little more space and a little more luxury as you head through the levels. Predictably perhaps, the Superior Rooms are my favorite, with an extra living space and a traditional Maltese balcony overlooking a pedestrianized street below; prepare for some awesome people watching! If you’re traveling with friends, the Superior Quad Room is an excellent bet; spacious, sociable, and of course, luxurious.
The hotel has its own dining brand, the ultra-trendy Cheeky Monkey range. Cheeky Monkey Gastropub is the place to go in Valletta; come for the tasty food and stay for the top-quality beer and heavenly cocktails. You’re spoilt for choice at breakfast time as Cheeky Monkey Creperie serves a scrumptious breakfast, as well as being the spot to satisfy a sweet tooth, with authentic crepes piled with mountains of delicious fruits, whipped cream, sauces, and 12 flavors of ice cream.
4. Malta Marriott Hotel & Spa, St. Julian’s
The Malta Marriott Hotel & Spa is a Rewards Category 5 Marriott Bonvoy hotel located meters from Balluta beach, alongside a tranquil seafront promenade within the bustling, cosmopolitan St. Julian’s town. It is a 20-minute drive from Valletta, a European capital of culture city, and has been newly refurbished.
The rooms are luxurious, and there are five restaurants and three bars. A rooftop pool gives leisure travelers time to soak up the sun, whilst the spa provides an array of treatments, including a Jacuzzi, sauna, steam room, fitness center, and squash court.
The M Club lounge is absolutely gorgeous with double-height ceilings and black and white partitioning with a pale wood floor. It is an incredible space and offers a terrace with spectacular views and outdoor sofa seating. This is the best-looking and most exciting design of any club lounge in Malta.
The food in this club lounge is good too, with a full breakfast and a decent selection of hot and cold light bites and pastries and every kind of alcoholic beverage imaginable except for champagne.
5. Westin Dragonara Resort St. Julians
The Westin Dragonara Resort, Malta is a Rewards Category 6 Marriott Bonvoy hotel perched on a 74,000-square-meter private peninsula in the island nation of Malta and offers a rocky beach with parasols and sunbeds.
This resort is absolutely lovely with a big freeform pool which sits in front of the beach. Rooms look out over opulent grounds, historic buildings, and the sparkling turquoise waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Two private beach lidos offer refreshing outdoor pools, spacious, full-service sundeck with loungers shaded by straw umbrellas. Here you can enjoy spectacular views and direct access to the sea.
Entertainment includes diving and water sports, on-site shopping, and Malta’s most historic casino. Stretch out in Malta’s largest standard rooms or luxuriate in an opulent suite. All of their 340 rooms feature Westin’s signature Heavenly® Bed and private balconies or terraces overlooking the sea.
The rooms in this hotel are very nice. Request a Tower room to avoid the thumping beats from the Royal Beach Club in the South wing in the evenings, and be aware that this hotel gets very crowded in the summer. It is much more peaceful outside the holidays.
The executive club lounge here is very good with 3 services a day; buffet breakfast inc. hot food options. Savory and sweet snacks and drinks are served from lunchtime. Drinks, including wines, soft drinks, hot beverages, juices, and canapés, are served in the evening.
Children under 12 years are sadly not permitted in this lounge between 6:00 pm and- 8:00 pm.
6. The Xara Palace Relais & Chateaux
The Xara Palace Relais & Chateaux is a 17th-century palazzo linked to the medieval city of Mdina. Its walls form part of the bastion walls that surround the former capital of Malta, with remarkable baroque architecture.
All rooms have been individually designed with romantic décor, original paintings, antique tapestries, and furnishings. They are reminiscent of the noble origins of the Xara Palace and boast spectacular 180-degree panoramic views of Malta. Enjoy attentive service and gastronomic delights at the award-winning de Mondion restaurant, or dine at Trattoria A.D. 1530, situated on the charming Piazza.
7. The Phoenicia Malta
The Phoenicia Malta is one of the finest 5-star luxury hotels in Valletta. Steeped in history and boasting magnificent décor matched only by the stunning views, this hotel has been recognized as one of the city’s most revered architectural treasures since 1947.
The Phoenicia Malta is a proud member of The Leading Hotels of the World. A stay at The Phoenicia Malta is nothing short of perfection, bringing together tradition, warm Maltese hospitality, modern amenities, and all of life’s comforts for its discerning guests.
8. Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz Malta
Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz Malta is on the island of Gozo. Each of the rooms and suites at Kempinski has a beautiful balcony overlooking the surrounding countryside or the resort’s gardens and swimming pools.
Guests can sample Mediterranean cuisine at the award-winning L’Ortolan restaurant and genuine Italian recipes at the Trattoria San Lawrenz. Il-Baldakkin Lounge has a terrace and serves light meals and cocktails, while the poolside grill and fish restaurant open in summer offers alfresco dining space.
Days here can be spent wandering through the magnificent gardens or under a parasol with a cocktail by one of the three outdoor pools. At Kempinski, The Spa & Ayurveda Centre offers traditional treatments like the hammam and facilities, including a heated Jacuzzi.
9. Grand Hotel Excelsior Malta
Grand Hotel Excelsior Malta is ideally located on the doorstep of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Capital City of Valletta, with all its major attractions, culture, art treasures, and historical architectural gems.
This acclaimed Valletta Malta hotel prides itself in magnificent accommodation, breathtaking views of Marsamxett harbor and Manoel Island, state-of-the-art meeting rooms, and unforgettable dining experiences. Its central position allows for easy travel to all parts of the Maltese islands.
10. Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, Malta Golden Sands
Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, Malta Golden Sands is a 5-star hotel in Malta, situated on the northwest coast of this island paradise and on the magnificent shores of Golden Bay Beach, near Mellieha.
This beach resort offers everything you could wish for from an upscale spa hotel. Along with sunbathing, swimming, and other beach activities, you can enjoy lavish accommodation that capitalizes on the surrounding scenery with balconies and plenty of windows. Dining is also a pleasure at our Golden Sands resort, with four on-site restaurants and three on-site bars.
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