The Phoenicia Malta
Malta's first five-star hotel, 132 rooms, one Valletta gateway since the 1930s
The Phoenicia Malta is Malta's first five-star hotel, opened from a 1930s idea and now nearly a century into its story. It stands at the entrance to Valletta, Europe's smallest capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with an Art Deco lobby that opens straight onto the old city. The building sits on 7.5 acres of gardens, unusual for a hotel this close to a capital's walls, and the grounds still carry a 16th-century fortification wall that now forms part of the spa. There are 132 rooms and suites, each finished with a mix of classic detailing and plainer, contemporary comfort. Suites run larger, with finer finishes and views that stretch across the island.
Contessa restaurant serves southern Mediterranean cooking with tableside preparation, while Bastion Pool, Bar & Restaurant sits open-air beside an infinity pool looking onto the same centuries-old walls. Beefbar in the City handles the steak-house end of things, and Palm Court Lounge keeps up a long-standing afternoon tea. You can hear the bustle of Valletta's main bus terminal next door, though the gardens keep the hotel itself quiet. The Grand Harbour lies about 1.5 km away, and Malta International Airport is roughly 8 km out. It is a short walk into Valletta from the front door.
Contessa restaurant serves southern Mediterranean cooking with tableside preparation, while Bastion Pool, Bar & Restaurant sits open-air beside an infinity pool looking onto the same centuries-old walls. Beefbar in the City handles the steak-house end of things, and Palm Court Lounge keeps up a long-standing afternoon tea. You can hear the bustle of Valletta's main bus terminal next door, though the gardens keep the hotel itself quiet. The Grand Harbour lies about 1.5 km away, and Malta International Airport is roughly 8 km out. It is a short walk into Valletta from the front door.