Where to stay? Check out these hot new hotels in Malta.
There are an incredible 2,150+ establishments offering tourist accommodation in Malta, not including Airbnb and private rentals. Where do you begin? Hotels range from 2-star guest houses to 5-star resorts, yet the most popular theme for new upcoming establishments (particularly in our beautiful capital, Valletta) is boutique accommodation.
Boutique hotels are characterised by converted buildings retaining original features, individualised guest rooms and top quality service. All of these new hotels fit within this category, with the majority located in Valletta, the hot European Capital of Culture 2018. This is where local history and culture meet luxury, resulting in a unique accommodation experience. Here are the newest hotels to look out for:
101, Old Bakery Street, Valletta.
A 28-room converted palazzo in Valletta offering a range of accommodation including street view rooms, duplex suites and rooms with terraces and hot tubs. The Palais Le Brun boutique hotel also includes a fitness centre and roof-top pool deck. Set in one of the very first private homes of Valletta dating to 1606, the house belonged to the Le Brun family descending from the Knights of St John, and it is also the childhood home of Malta’s first Prime Minister after Independence, Dr George Borg Olivier.
7, Republic Street, Valletta.
Also in Valletta, Domus Zamittello, previously Casa Pensa from 1633, is offering 21 spacious and elegantly designed classical rooms and suites. A magnificent entrance leads to an open courtyard and baroque staircase, and there are also two magnificent reception rooms. Situated by the new Parliament and converted ruins of the Royal Opera House, this palazzo was home to the Knights of the Langue D'Italie until 1805.
Republic Street, Victoria, Gozo.
Every room is unique at the Duke Boutique Hotel, set on the 4th and 5th floor of The Duke shopping mall in Victoria, Gozo. It is set in the building which, in 1892, housed The Duke of Edinburgh Hotel, which in 1951 received a Royal visit by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Discreet luxury that may include a Jacuzzi hot tub or views of the Citadel or Villa Rundle Gardens is what you could expect of the single, double, triple and quadruple rooms with mobility access.
Macina, 31 March Street, Isla.
This boutique hotel in Isla (Senglea) offers 21 suites, each between 40 and 130m², with unobstructed views of the Grand Harbour and the marina. The 1554 building includes high-vaulted ceilings, a rooftop pool and lounge area, and a restaurant. Cugo Gran Macina merges historic beauty and architecture with luxury ambience and top quality service, set against a backdrop of historic fortress walls and blue waters.
22, Victory Street, Isla.
The Snop House offers six luxury rooms, with just two per floor, set in a renovated and modernised classic Maltese building that retains its original character and soul. Larger bedrooms overlook the Three Cities while the others overlook a charming internal patio. Practicalities such as an internal staircase, a lift and facilities for reduced mobility marry the owners' love of Malta and passion for art, so that every part of the house captivates the imagination and curiosity about Malta.
84, Hospital Street, Valletta.
This nine-room boutique hotel targets those who want to experience Valletta as its people know it. Experience a stay in a 400-year-old old palazzo that's beautifully quirky to complement the surrounding area, where people hang washing from their windows, stop to gossip in the streets and children play. Situated by St Elmo and the Sacra Infermeria, this hotel's cosy rooms are uniquely finished by Carlo Schembri, one of the island’s leading designers.
66, St Paul's Street, Valletta.
This 17th-century Valletta Palazzo has been restored to a classic contemporary style while retaining many original features. The architectural gem of a building containing all cosy comforts promises a unique size and character in every guest room, some featuring Maltese balconies or private sun terraces. An authentic central courtyard with a retractable glass ceiling tops it off nicely.
176, Merchants Street, Valletta.
Again in Valletta, we find a boutique hotel inspired by the imposing St John’s Co-Cathedral, with the exclusive feel of a club and masculine tones. The result is "an industrial design that blends well with a 147-year-old baroque building." Part of the AX Hotels group and together with the new Palazzo Merkanti boutique hotel on the same block, the two five-star boutique hotels offer a total of 50 hotel rooms and suites.
Bonus! These three are opening soon, and we can't wait!
167, Merchants Street, Valletta.
You'll soon be able to indulge in the services of a butler at a five-star boutique hotel set in the previous home of a wealthy Maltese goldsmith and an elite member of the Knights. Suites with midnight blue walls, re-electing mirrors and imposing chandeliers will declare luxury and serenity of a designer standard. Together with the new Saint John boutique hotel by AX Hotels group on the same block, 50 hotel rooms and suites are at your disposal.
St Barbara Bastion, Valletta.
St Barbara Bastion, one of the world's most exclusive addresses due to its spectacular views of the historic Grand Harbour, is set to be the location of Iniala Harbour House. Top international designers have been recruited to design the 24 rooms across four grand palazzos, as well as a rooftop restaurant and a spa in the vaults. Behind the project is British millionaire philanthropist Mark Weingard, who runs Iniala Beach House in Phuket, Thailand, to fund his charitable foundation.
Merchants Street, Valletta.
The international IBB Hotels group is this time responsible for the opening of a small, stylish boutique hotel in Valletta. One of the city's urban palaces is being converted to include 18 elegant rooms and a restaurant. The hotel is situated near the Grand Master's Palace.