Corinthia Palace Malta

Warm limestone and deep coastal blue run through every room at Corinthia Palace, a palette pulled straight from Malta's own coastline and quarries. The hotel began life as Villa Refalo, a modest restaurant on this site, before opening as the first Corinthia hotel in 1968. It remains the group's founding property, still overseen by the Pisani family who started it. Rooms range from the 35 m² Grand Deluxe Room to the 80 m² Signature Suite, each with a private balcony and a marble bathroom fitted with a rainfall shower. Gardens surround the building, and a daily chauffeured transfer runs guests to Riviera Bay or Valletta, eight kilometres away. Dinner might mean Southern Italian cooking from chef Francesco Mazzei at Villa Corinthia, in the historic building where the story began, or Maltese ingredients handled with more ambition at Bahia, which holds a Michelin selection. Evenings settle into Caprice Lounge, where live music runs alongside a long list of classic drinks. The Athenaeum Spa and Reflex Gym are open to all guests at no extra charge. Malta International Airport lies 10 km away, about 15 minutes by car. Checkout is at noon, with late checkout available on request. It is a compact, family-run hotel with a long memory of its own beginnings.