By Islam El-Sakka
Travel expert Juliet Rix has selected the 10 best hotels in Valletta, Malta's UNESCO-listed Baroque capital, for a city break. The historic city, built by the Knights of St John, has transformed from an accommodation desert into a destination with options ranging from grand colonial hotels to boutique B&Bs, though rising popularity has increased prices.
Top picks for luxury and history
The Phoenicia Malta, a landmark Art Deco hotel just outside the bastion walls, leads for overall service and heritage, featuring gardens, indoor and outdoor pools, and a spa. Casa Rocca Piccola, a 16th-century palazzo still occupied by the Marquis de Piro, offers a unique B&B experience with historic artifacts, a courtyard garden, and a WWII shelter.
Boutique hotels with character
Palazzo Consiglia packs full hotel facilities into 13 rooms within a converted chapel and courtyard. SU29 provides eight individually styled rooms, including a fitness suite with boxing equipment, near Upper Barrakka Gardens. Domus Zamittello, a 17th-century Knights' palazzo, offers butler service, a retractable roof courtyard, and views of the parliament and ruined Opera House.
Culinary-focused stays
Rosselli – AX Privilege Hotel centers on its Michelin-starred restaurant Under Grain, with a culinary director overseeing all dining. Its sister property AX The Saint John shares the high-quality breakfast and concierge at lower rates, featuring playful industrial-design rooms. Iniala, perched atop Barbara Bastion, combines ultra-luxury design with Grand Harbour views and Malta's only two-Michelin-starred restaurant, ION by Simon Rogan.
Intimate and atmospheric options
66 Saint Paul Hotel blends a 17th-century limestone courtyard with contemporary design, a rooftop plunge pool, and 24-hour personal service. The Coleridge, with just six suite-like rooms in a converted townhouse, offers an Anglo-Maltese residential feel on a street lined with traditional gallarija balconies.
