Having been to Malta a few dozen times and staying in various parts of the country, I’m happy to share my experience with you. Here is the list of 7 five-star hotels in Malta!
1. Westin Dragonara
Our hotel choice number one is Westin Dragonara, a great five-star venue in St Julian’s overlooking the sea, with a few large outside pools and a nice territory.
They have a few restaurants (ORVM Lounge, The Terrace, Quadro and Palio) and several shops with ceramics, souvenirs and jewellery. The breakfast buffet is served on the ground floor – you can choose from staying inside or having a table not far from the pool. You can also swim in the sea in an area with sunbeds right on the seaside level.
You can have a really great time just relaxing there by the pools or alternatively explore Malta! All the facilities you might need, such as the shopping centres, restaurants, and pharmacies, are all located very close to Paceville.
The only thing I’m not fond of there is their inner pool and beauty club, which feel a bit outdated, but fingers crossed that a renovation is coming in the future and the staff working there is very nice anyway.
2. Kempinski San Lawrenz
When in Gozo, we always stay at Kempinski San Lawrenz, a large and welcoming five-star hotel with a large outside pool area with the territory reminding of a southern garden.
Our room had a lovely calm colour palette with a balcony overlooking the inner territory and the pool.
They have a very nice spa and inside pool area: an Ayurveda Centre, a luxury marble hammam (which feels very authentic), and a spa. As for food, you can choose from L-Istorja, which serves high-end cuisine, Il-Baldakkin Bistro & Lounge, L’Ortolan, Gazebo, and the Pool Bar.
In a short ride from Kempinski San Lawrenz, you can find the majority of Gozo’s main landmarks, such as Vittoria, the main city of Gozo, famous for its Citadel, Ta’Pinu Cathedral and natural sites. Craft Village is literally 1 minute’s walk from the hotel entrance, and Dwejra Bay is just five minutes away by car (we went there by foot a few times; however, I must note that taking a car is definitely a much safer option, so I’d not suggest you walk there)
3. Rosselli AX Privilege
If you choose to stay in Valletta, the capital of Malta, Rosselli AX Privilege would probably be one of the top choices – and it’s actually a hotel within Valletta walls (for instance, another 5-star hotel, The Phoenicia is technically outside the Valletta).
The hotel is located in the old palazzo with traditional Maltese balconies. It overlooks one of the main streets of the city. There are only a few dozen rooms that are modern and stylish, and actually, this is a rare venue that hosts a Michelin-starred restaurant, Under Grain. You can also visit Grain (where breakfast is served in the mornings as well) and Over Grain restaurants.
4. Radisson Blu Resort & Spa Golden sands
Golden Sands is a gorgeous sandy beach a bit far away from most other Maltese landmarks, and to admire the natural landscape of Golden Sands Bay, we stayed there in the Radisson Blu Resort & Spa Golden Sands.
This large hotel sits high on the hill, and if you’re lucky, your room will look right at the sea. Although the hotel itself needs a modern twist and feels a bit outdated, it has 4 restaurants and 3 bars, a Myoka spa facility and an absolutely fantastic pool area overlooking the peaceful landscape – it had the most luxurious Mediterranean vibes with blooming oleanders framing the sea below.
I’d return there only for this view again without a second thought. To get to the sandy beach and to swim in the sea, you’ll have to go all the way down from the pool area. From Radisson Blu Resort & Spa Golden Sands, you can easily explore the Popeye Village, the Red Tower and Mellieħa.
5. Hilton Malta
The Hilton Malta is another large – with over 400 rooms – a five-star hotel in St Julians, and there are quite a few things I adore about it. First of all, it’s very stylish and modern.
Myoka spa is my number one place for beauty treatments, and their weekend brunch buffet is the best; the Blue Elephant restaurant is one of my favourite Thai restaurants, and the territory around the hotel is very nice. The area around is very pretty as well: Portomaso Marina looks very pretty with all the yachts and shimmering reflections.
However, there are some downsides as well (which usually make us prefer Westin Dragonara over it): the hotel doesn’t have direct access to the sea, we liked rooms there less (and above that, it opened to the wall of the spa) and the room service was pretty slow.
Overall, it’s a nice site, especially if you’re lucky and have a room view!
6. Malta Marriott Hotel & Spa
The Malta Marriott Hotel & Spa is between St Julian’s and Sliema, right above Balluta Bay. This location is way better if you love walking (and, for instance, have a pram) to Sliema compared to Westin Dragonara and Hilton Malta as you can easily walk along the Sliema promenade there to The Point shopping Mall and then take a ferry ride to Valletta however overall Malta Marriott Hotel & Spa is more business oriented and less family-friendly (for instance, there is no territory with sea access or numerous outdoor pools).
The hotel was recently renovated, and the rooms and public areas look sharp and modern. One of the best things about it is the panoramic views over Sliema (from your room or the M Club lounge), and the outdoor pool looks fantastic. I also like their weekend buffets held in one of the restaurants: there are four restaurants and two bars. Myoka Lotus Spa is also a part of this hotel.
7. Corinthia Palace
Corinthia Palace is the last hotel on my list and probably my least favourite. It’s located in Attard, and if you’d like to explore San Anton Gardens, the Presidential Palace and this part of the island, it’s perfect.
The hotel itself looks grand as it is located inside the 19th-century villa. Their Athenaeum Spa has recently been refurbished, and the Rickshaw restaurant serves delicious food. We returned to Josephine’s Coffee Shop a few times to have some coffee there. However, I must say that I haven’t been impressed with their rooms overall.
If you plan to visit Valletta, St Julian’s or St Paul’s Bay, you might opt to another hotel however Corinthia Palace is a nice option if you’re exploring other parts of the island.
You might also like my other Maltese guides:
Hope, you liked my blog,
Yours,
Anna xxx
