After months of longing to escape from our four walls and explore the world again, we’re looking forward to seeking out our next Instagram-worthy destination, and the beautiful, sun-soaked island of Malta is certainly high on our list.

The Maltese hotel scene hasn’t been resting on its laurels during lockdown, from the creation of a brand-new luxe spa at The Phoenicia to a freshly appointed Michelin star at Ion – The Harbour, Iniala’s restaurant. Here, we reveal our must-visit places to stay in Malta for a truly unforgettable holiday.

THE PHOENICIA
Sitting right on the edge of Valletta’s 16th-century city walls, the grand Art Deco Phoenicia has majestic, honey-hued limestone exteriors and is a favourite of the Queen. Interiors are a mix of modern (bedrooms have a fresh feel with gorgeous fabrics) and vintage, with high, ornate ceilings and chandeliers, in keeping with the Phoenicia’s 1930s origins.

Stroll the lush seven and a half acres of manicured gardens and order a poolside cocktail – the views over Marsamxett Harbour are unrivalled. The new 1,200 square-metre walnut timber and marble spa is a welcome addition, with five treatment rooms, salt room, sauna, steam room and long indoor pool.

PALAIS LE BRUN
At the tip of Valletta’s peninsula, on Old Bakery Street, is the opulent 17th-century Baroque Palais Le Brun. Rich with history, the 2,000 square-metre palace was once home to Claude Le Brun, one of the noble Knights of Malta. Even now, stepping away from the hustle and bustle of the street and onto the cool marble floors will make you feel like royalty.

The 28 bedrooms run the gamut from doubles with balconies or terraces right up to the suite with a hot tub. And just a three-minute walk away you’ll find the unassuming dinner spot that is the Michelin-starred restaurant Noni, a hidden gem.

INIALA HARBOUR HOUSE AND RESIDENCES
Home to Malta’s latest Michelin-starred eatery (the island has an impressive five in total) is Iniala Harbour House and Residences in Valletta, with its rooftop restaurant ION – The Harbour. Menus change regularly but always feature seasonal produce, and the sunset views of boats bobbing on the waters of the Grand Harbour are spectacular.

The hotel’s ultra-glamorous rooms and suites (of which there are 23 in total) are spread over four houses decked out in a heady mix of the modern and Baroque-style sweeping staircases and hand-painted cupolas. To up the luxury, opt for one of the suites that include in-room dining and private use of the hotel’s boat Spirit of Iniala.

DOMUS ZAMITTELLO
Overlooking Freedom Square right in the heart of Valletta, Domus Zamittello couldn’t be better placed for sightseeing – it’s just a few minutes’ walk from the Upper Barrakka Gardens, a former private garden of Italian knights, with its impressive harbour panoramas.

As you ring the bell and step inside the lavish 1630s-built palazzo, which has been meticulously restored to its former glory, you’ll marvel at everything from the intricately painted coffered ceiling in the breakfast room to the hand-painted details on the bedroom wardrobes and doors. If you book a room on the South Street side, you may even catch a performance from neighbouring open-air Pjazza theatre (although, outdoor events are currently restricted until September, so it’s worth double-checking the latest guidelines before you go).

CORINTHIA PALACE
The Corinthia brand may be growing across the globe, but its roots go back to Malta’s Corinthia Palace hotel and spa, the very first in the portfolio and one that the company still refers to as its ‘spiritual home’.

Located in the quiet, well-heeled area of San Anton, the former 19th-century villa retains many of its original features – think richly polished marble floors, balustrade balconies and neoclassical columns. You can take a dip in the Corinthia’s inviting split-level outdoor pool, or spend the day in the Athenaeum Spa – the ESPA treatment list is extensive.

THE COLERIDGE
Named after the area’s most famous former resident, the poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge, The Coleridge is set in an elegant Valletta limestone townhouse and has a calming feel. There’s also a focus on sustainability, including using locally sourced ingredients, eco-friendly cleaning materials and certified-ethical down pillows.

Erring on the bijou side, there are only six suites, ranging from the cosy Erksine to the Fayette penthouse – worth it for the Valletta skyline views and the huge hand-painted mural alone. Breakfast is served in the barrel-vaulted cellar.

Read the full article here: https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/travel/hotel-reviews/a36430941/malta-tourism-6-stylish-places-to-stay-in-malta/?fbclid=IwAR03Zz5Pv6pLLOtXxLhv-H3arApUOFymElUsRzKS-4GZ-p3trULrv9W9oYc

This week we met Marika and Nicolo at the InterContinental Hotel Malta. This St Julian’s hotel has established itself as the Mediterranean’s leading hotel of distinction and the only virtuoso hotel on the island.

All 481 rooms and suites are elegantly furnished with the Highline Suites located on the hotel’s higher floors.

The InterContinental Malta is constantly being upgraded and over the last few years they are proud to have launched a number of luxury service facilities ranging from a Rooftop Infinity Pool Club to a super relaxing ambience at the SPA, to an award winning Brass Bar at lobby level.

This hotel’s versatility and large number of meeting rooms is the perfect business hotel for large events however it is also a great choice for a leisure trip due to its high amount of facilities ranging from beach club to pools to gymnasium and spa.

Here at Colours of Malta we have had the pleasure to host countless events at this hotel, both large scale and small, all memorable and with very satisfied clients. The service and hospitality that the great management and staff provide is near to none, and we can’t wait to resume operations within this property in the very near future!

This week we visited the Hilton, an all time favourite for us at Colours of Malta. A hotel that set stage for so many memories of great COM events over the last decade.

The Hotel spaces ooze Mediterranean tones, with its décor capturing blues and naturals and exquisite open sea and marina views.

Boasting 413 rooms, extensive meeting spaces, 4 pools and 3 restaurants, this hotel is always an ideal choice for any event.

The Hilton suites are set on the higher levels, with access to the gorgeous executive lounge. A spacious and trendy area as well as a great spot for relaxing and enjoying some down time.

However, for the ultimate Hilton Malta experience we recommend one selects the fabulous Presidential Suite, located on the 10th floor, were one can take in breath-taking views of the Mediterranean sea and Portomaso yacht marina from one of the 11 balconies. This opulent 290 sq. m./3121 sq. ft. suite has been specifically designed to a supreme level, featuring a welcome hall which leads onto various rooms including a private bedroom with a king-sized Hilton Serenity bed and a separate walk-in wardrobe with a luxurious bathroom, as well as a guest bathroom, gym, living/sitting room, dining and meeting room with dedicated work space. There is also  a fully equipped kitchen and a second bedroom with 2 Queen beds and private en-suite bathroom. Truly WOW and luxurious.

We can’t wait to host our next groups at the Hilton Malta.

This week we revisited The Phoenicia, a hotel located in a superb spot, just outside the vibrant capital of Valletta on the edge of the city’s 16th century bastions and surrounded by gorgeous landscaped gardens. Both a landmark and a luxury retreat, this hotel is proud to be celebrated as Malta’s most iconic hotel. After an extensive refurbishment over the last few years, the latest addition to the hotel is now ready!

Introducing the Deep Nature Spa, an environment of sophistication and light.

We love the use of materials like walnut timber, marble and Maltese stone that give this spa a modern yet natural environment making it a genuine Maltese retreat. The historical wall that runs through the spa forms the spine of the area through which the old and new sit beautifully together.

This spa boasts an indoor pool, a fitness area with state-of-the-art equipment, a relaxation area featuring a salt room, sauna, steam room and multi-jet showers along with 5 treatment rooms were you can treat yourself to a tailor-made massage or expert facial treatment.

This latest addition is a top luxury service that should not be missed when visiting this fantastic hotel.

Whilst we are truly  impressed by the beautiful Winter days we are having, we are also delighted to experience the luxury finish of the largest cluster of suites on the Maltese Islands.

Edward and Michael accompany us as we view a handful of the 66 newly refurbished and newly constructed Luxury Bay Suites.

All 66 suites boasting gorgeous sea views, fabulous shades of blue furnishings, 90 sq mtrs of room space and a few also have their very own infinity pool!

These suites are all concentrated in one wing and are therefore also ideal for exclusive buy outs for groups.

We look forward to hosting groups in these top luxury rooms and to working with the top management and staff at the Westin Dragonara Resort.

Today we walked through the city gates to visit Fabien Vella at the Domus Zamitello Hotel..
Valletta, our Capital City built by the Knights of Malta is an open air museum full of majestic heritage buildings that have been turned into boutique hotels, governmental and private offices and restaurants over the years.
Fabien recounts the historical journey of this palazzo and how prestigious it is to be General Manager of such a timeless property.

This time our journey takes us to the Old Capital City, Mdina aka The Silent City. A place so magical and quiet, that one might think they’re in a fairytale!

Here we met up with Justin Zammit Tabona the Managing Director of Xara Collection. Justin explains to us the timeless story of the Xara Palace hotel, part of the Relais Chateaux brand and its formidable De Mondion 1* Michelin star restaurant on the hotel’s rooftop terrace.

This quaint hotel has been run by the family for a number of years now and is part of a larger collection of businesses operating within the hospitality industry.

The Westin Dragonara Resort has been named the Mediterranean’s leading resort at a prestigious award ceremony for the tourism sector.

The St Julian’s hotel resort, which recently underwent a €40 million renovation, won the prize at the 27th annual World Travel Awards. It is the second time the Dragonara has won the award, following a victory in 2013.

The World Travel Awards have been described as the “Oscars” of the global travel and tourism industry and are recognised globally as a hallmark of excellence in the hospitality sector.

Find the full article here: https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/westin-dragonara-wins-prize-at-world-travel-awards.829015 

Today we visited the Embassy Hotel in our Capital City Valletta. This project should reach completion in December 2020 and will host the largest amount of bedrooms within the city walls.

The hotel will comprise of 81 spacious deluxe and superior rooms with various meeting facilities, wellness and fitness areas complimented by an amazing 7th floor heated infinity pool overlooking Manoel Island and Marsamxett Harbour.

Bursting with design and great potential, The Embassy will definitely be buzzing with guests in the very near future!

Oh and they have a fabulous Go Green scheme going on for every bedroom booked, a little chip goes towards making the City greener! Well done on this initiative!

Among the rocky shores of Malta and surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea is the Corinthia St George’s Bay Hotel.  QP’s Interior Design team have been entrusted with the complete renovation of a number of suites.

The new design intends to envelop and immerse the guest in an atmosphere of comfort and relaxation yet. QP’s Interior designer’s goal was to blend the calmness of the island’s lifestyle and the elevated elegance that is expected from five-star hospitality product such as the Corinthia Hotels.

Inspired by the warm Maltese sun and the limestone-lined streets, as well as the blue hues of the Mediterranean Sea, the design of the refurbished rooms oozes the peacefulness, and Mediterranean warmth one expects to find on an island.  The simple wall panelling, in both lounge and sleeping quarters, lends itself to creating the coastal feel, together with the seafoam blues used in the soft furnishings while the warm hues of the wood plank flooring, together with the accents of sunny golds bring warmth to the rooms.

Renovating the suites @ Corinthia St George’s Bay in such a short time frame, during the European shutdown was extremely challenging, yet it brought the best out of the QP team: efficiency, speedy problem solving, and strong teamwork; all while maintaining the highest quality of the design standard established by the Corinthia Brand.

The project was not only delivered on time but has also exceeded the client’s expectations!