This is Part 1 of our guide to the luxury hotels in Malta and their top suites, from Valletta’s Grand Harbour to the medieval walled city of Mdina and the island of Gozo. Malta draws high-net-worth travelers with its Mediterranean lifestyle, luxury marinas, historic walled cities, Michelin-starred dining and yachting, as well as favorable residency programs.
Its strategic location between Europe, North Africa and the Middle East has also helped make Malta a hub for international business and wealth management. Alongside tourism, key industries include financial services, online gaming, maritime services, aviation registration and management, technology, pharmaceuticals and professional services.
Part 2 covers the top suites of St. Julian’s and Sliema.
Malta’s top hotel suites at a glance
| Hotel | Location | Top suite | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iniala Harbour House | Valletta, facing the Grand Harbour | The Presidential Residence, with a plunge pool | 1,800 sq.ft. |
| Rosselli – AX Privilege | Valletta, in a 17th-century palazzo | Sixteen 34 Suite | 600 sq.ft. |
| The Phoenicia Malta | Floriana, at the edge of Valletta | Panorama Two-Bedroom Suite | 900 sq.ft. |
| The Xara Palace | Mdina, the medieval walled city | Presidential Suite, dining for eight | 720 sq.ft. |
| Verdala Wellness Hotel | Rabat, on a ridge with sea views | Designer Suite with a hot tub terrace | 1,500 sq.ft. inside, nearly 2,000 sq.ft. of terrace |
| Corinthia Palace | Attard, in the center of Malta | Signature Suite | 960 sq.ft. |
| Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz | San Lawrenz, Gozo | San Lawrenz Residence, three bedrooms | 2,669 sq.ft. |
1. Iniala Harbour House, Valletta
Iniala Harbour House joins four antique townhouses facing straight out over Valletta’s harbor, renovated by three design studios: Autoban from Turkey, A-cero from Spain and DAAA Haus from Malta. The Michelin Guide describes an ultra-luxe hotel that is “ultra-private and ultra-discreet,” with wall-sized murals as a recurring theme and a modern style around the antique details. With just 23 rooms, it still has more or less all the luxury-hotel services, including a lavish spa in the hotel’s old stone vaults and a well-equipped gym across the street.
The Presidential Residence
The 1,800 sq.ft. Presidential Residence has a large front terrace over the Grand Harbour and a secluded rear balcony with its own plunge pool. Built from local stone, it is a contemporary take on Valletta, with an open-plan kitchen, generous living and dining areas inside and out on the terrace, and a walk-in wardrobe.
See more suites at Iniala Harbour House.
2. Rosselli – AX Privilege, Valletta
Rosselli – AX Privilege fills the former 17th-century home of a noble goldsmith, known locally as Casa Rosselli-Massa. Forbes Travel Guide says “classic Baroque architecture meets contemporary aesthetics” in Malta’s capital, with bold wallpaper, colored marble and warm wood, and each of the 25 rooms and suites is one of a kind.
Sixteen 34 Suite
At 600 sq.ft., the Sixteen 34 Suite is compact, yet it has a dedicated working lounge and connected sleeping quarters, with classic decor and contemporary touches that show off the palazzo’s architecture.
See more suites at Rosselli – AX Privilege.
3. The Phoenicia Malta, Floriana
The Michelin Guide says that for decades, The Phoenicia Malta has been known as one of the top hotels on the island, but even if you knew the old Phoenicia, you’re “in for a pleasant surprise.” It sits at the edge of Valletta’s fortified old city, a short walk from almost everything, and inside it recalls the early 20th century, arguably the golden age of British luxury hospitality. Rooms keep many original architectural features alongside a more contemporary look and every modern comfort.
Panorama Two-Bedroom Suite
The 900 sq.ft. Panorama Two-Bedroom Suite has spectacular views, a separate living room and a dining area.
See more suites at The Phoenicia Malta.
4. The Xara Palace, Mdina
The Xara Palace is a 17th-century palazzo with ornate baroque detailing in Mdina, the medieval walled city at the center of the island. Game of Thrones fans may recognize Mdina, and Condé Nast Traveler suggests strolling to the filming locations early, before the crowds arrive. Inside, chandeliers hang from high ceilings over antiques mixed with modern furniture, and some rooms use Mdina’s height for panoramic views across Malta. Its main restaurant, deMondion, was among the first to win a Michelin star when the guide launched in Malta in 2020.
Presidential Suite
The 720 sq.ft. Presidential Suite is the hotel’s largest, with a dining table that seats up to eight.
See more suites at The Xara Palace.
5. Verdala Wellness Hotel, Rabat
Perched on a ridge in Rabat, Verdala “seems to hover above the surrounding landscape,” says The Telegraph, with views over terraces and countryside to the sea and up to a hill topped by a castle and a domed church. The 46 rooms and suites use natural materials and an earthy palette of taupe, caramel, cream and chocolate, with rough-plastered walls, textured fabrics and woven tatami floor cushions.
Designer Suite
The Designer Suite has 1,500 sq.ft. inside and nearly 2,000 sq.ft. of private terrace, including a hot tub.
See more suites at Verdala Wellness Hotel.
6. Corinthia Palace, Attard
Corinthia Palace began as a regal villa built for Malta’s chief justice in Attard, an upscale area in the center of the island, and it was the Corinthia brand’s first hotel. Forbes Travel Guide says guests are welcomed with freshly squeezed orange juice, a nod to the Maltese orange trees in the gardens. The 147 rooms include nine suites, six Executive Suites and two Palace Suites, for travelers who like classic architecture, traditional decor, formal service and culinary excellence. There are expansive pools and Athenaeum, a Mediterranean-inspired spa with a garden plunge pool, sauna and heated beds.
Signature Suite
The 960 sq.ft. Signature Suite has a separate living area and a balcony with loungers and spectacular views.
See more suites at Corinthia Palace.
7. Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz, Gozo
On Gozo, Malta’s sunny second-largest island, Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz sits in seven acres of semi-tropical gardens on the edge of San Lawrenz village, and Forbes Travel Guide says it has been the island’s crown jewel for more than 20 years. The yellow limestone hotel is framed by palms and oasis-like pools. Each of its 137 rooms and suites has a brown marble bathroom and a balcony, and the spa offers an indoor hydrotherapy circuit, a Turkish hammam and one of Europe’s largest ayurvedic centers. There are also two outdoor tennis courts.
San Lawrenz Residence
The 2,669 sq.ft. San Lawrenz Residence has three bedrooms and views over the pool and gardens.
See more suites at Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz.
Malta luxury hotels FAQ
Part 1 of this guide features Iniala Harbour House and Rosselli AX Privilege in Valletta, The Phoenicia Malta, The Xara Palace, Verdala Wellness Hotel, Corinthia Palace and Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz on Gozo. Part 2 covers St. Julian’s and Sliema.
The 1,800 sq.ft. Presidential Residence at Iniala Harbour House has a secluded rear balcony with its own plunge pool, plus a large front terrace over the Grand Harbour.
The Xara Palace is a 17th-century palazzo inside Mdina’s walls. Its restaurant, deMondion, was among the first in Malta to earn a Michelin star when the guide launched there in 2020.
Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz sits in seven acres of gardens on Gozo, with 137 rooms and suites, a spa with one of Europe’s largest ayurvedic centers and the three-bedroom, 2,669 sq.ft. San Lawrenz Residence.
Malta offers a Mediterranean lifestyle, luxury marinas, historic walled cities, Michelin-starred dining, yachting and favorable residency programs, and its location between Europe, North Africa and the Middle East has helped make it a hub for international business and wealth management.
More from DG Amazing Experiences: Top Suites of Malta, Part 2, Malta’s Luxury Boutique Hotels and Palazzos and Seven Days as a VIP in Malta.
