Palazzo Paolina Boutique Hotel

Arriving on St Paul's Street, guests find Palazzo Paolina Boutique Hotel set among Valletta's dense grid of townhouses, a five-minute walk from St John's Cathedral. Casa Rocca Piccola and the National Museum of Archaeology lie close by, and the Fortifications Interpretation Centre is within easy reach on foot. It is a compact stay. Rooms run from double to quadruple, plus a suite with its own terrace, each fitted with air conditioning, a flat-screen television, a work desk and a private bathroom stocked with bathrobes and free toiletries. Floors are tile or marble throughout, and a lift serves the upper storeys. Downstairs, an on-site bar gives guests somewhere to sit before heading back out into the streets of Valletta. Housekeeping runs daily, and staff can arrange an airport shuttle for an additional charge, useful given Malta International Airport sits 5 km away. Reception speaks English, Italian, Spanish, Maltese, Serbian and Bosnian, and holds a safety deposit box for valuables. Check-in runs from 3pm to 9.30pm, with photo ID and a card required at the desk. Checkout is by 11am. Upper Barrakka Gardens lies 400 metres off, close enough for an evening walk before dinner.