Best hotels in Malta 2023

One of Europe’s sunniest destinations, the Maltese islands are absolutely packed with fascinating historical and natural sights. The archipelago has served as a cultural crossroads between Europe and North Africa for millennia – due to its location in the Med (between Sicily and Tunisia), many conquering nations have come and gone. The result is a brilliant melting pot of language (Maltese is a mix of Arabic and Italian), cuisine, architecture and attitude that is completely unique to the surprisingly small country.

In the past decade, Malta has noticeably transformed from being a family focused, all-inclusive resort type of holiday to a wildly trendy destination full of boutique stays and renovated baroque townhouses. Capital city Valletta is now a booming arts and culture hub, while small quaint fishing villages such as Marsaxlokk are finally getting their dues. The large, cheap and cheerful hotels of Qawra (don’t pronounce the “Q”) and Bugibba are still in fine form but the portfolio of accommodation has certainly widened and there’s now, quite literally, something for everyone. So, read on for our picks of the best hotels in Malta and Gozo.

Best hotels in Valletta

Neighbourhood: Valletta

The capital city is brimming with boutique hotels but The Embassy takes the top spot; an oasis of zen right on Straight Street, the dining quarter of the bustling capital. Full of elegant design that’s a modern homage to Art Deco, the 80+ large rooms are spacious, reasonably priced and very easy on the eye. It’s the rooftop that has the added wow factor, though; the swimming pool and breakfast terrace overlook St John’s Co-Cathedral, an icon of the Valletta skyline, with views of Manoel Island and Sliema beyond the famous dome. Up here, grab a brilliant breakfast and don’t skip the pastries.