AX The Palace

Rooms and decor

Picture a contemporary 5-star building right on High Street in central Sliema — northern Malta's busiest shopping strip — flanked by The Plaza Shopping Centre next door. That is AX The Palace, part of Malta's AX Hotels group, with 152 rooms done in warm cream-and-brown modern tones built around marble and dark wood: comfortable and upscale without going over the top. Superior and Deluxe rooms run about 22-25 sqm, while Junior Suites step up to roughly 35-42 sqm, and many rooms add a private balcony for the sea breeze and a city view. The rooms facing Marsamxett Harbour are the trump card — open the curtains in the morning and the Valletta skyline stands across the water, with the dome of St Paul's Cathedral and a line of fort ramparts. At sunset the golden light pours through the glass, and plenty of guests photograph it non-stop. Inward-facing rooms are quieter and better for light sleepers.

Food and amenities

The part guests rave about most is TemptAsian Spa, an Asian-style spa of roughly 1,400 sqm — the largest in Sliema. Inside, a warm Bali-meets-Thailand mood comes with a heated indoor pool, jacuzzi, dry and wet saunas, a salt room and a Turkish hammam, all in one place. Treatments lean Asian — Thai massage, Balinese massage, hot stone and aromatherapy — the kind that is hard to find in Malta, and reviews call it the best-value spa in the area for anyone who actually wants to switch off. Up on the roof, the infinity pool sits on the building's edge facing the harbour with the full Valletta skyline in view, open in summer only, roughly May to October, with a pool bar pouring cocktails and late-afternoon snacks — a sea-breeze Aperol Spritz at sunset here holds its own against pricier hotels. The in-house TemptAsian restaurant serves contemporary Asian food — sushi, dim sum, Thai, Indonesian — at gentler prices than eating out in Valletta, and there is a 24-hour gym plus the TPS Lounge for a buffet breakfast and an easy dinner.

Location and getting there

AX The Palace sits on High Street in central Sliema — step out the lobby door and you are among restaurants, cafes, souvenir shops and The Plaza right alongside. From there it is about a 5-minute walk to the Sliema–Valletta ferry, which runs every 30 minutes during the day. The crossing over Marsamxett Harbour takes just 10 minutes to the Marsamxett terminal in Valletta, and a short flight of steps puts you into the World Heritage capital — about 20 minutes from the hotel door to central Valletta, with barely any need for a taxi. The waterside walk is its own draw: follow the Sliema Front toward St Julian's for roughly 20 minutes and you reach Spinola Bay and the Paceville nightlife. Malta Airport (MLA) is about 15 km away, a 20-25 minute drive, and the hotel can arrange a transfer if you book ahead.

Things to know before booking

Straight talk to help you decide. First, the hotel is not in Valletta — if your trip is built around the capital and you want to step straight into its stone alleys, Sliema can feel a touch removed, since you ferry across each time. The evening boats thin out after about 21:00 and some days stop early, so if you plan a late dinner in Valletta, budget for a taxi or Bolt back. Second, room size — standard Superior and Deluxe rooms at about 22-25 sqm are fine but not especially large next to international 5-stars that often start at 30 sqm. If you want more space or are travelling with several people, upgrade to a Junior Suite. Third, breakfast — some reviews say the buffet is fairly standard, typical European and English fare rather than a highlight, and in high season the queues at some stations run a little long. Anyone expecting a lavish Four Seasons spread may be underwhelmed, though it is far from bad. There can also be some High Street noise in lower-floor rooms — ask for floor 5 or higher for quiet.

Our take

After reading hundreds of real reviews across Booking, Agoda and Tripadvisor, AX The Palace is the answer for anyone who wants a 5-star experience in Malta without paying Valletta prices. If you dream of lounging by a rooftop infinity pool with a cocktail over the Valletta skyline at sunset, then soaking in a Turkish hammam inside a 1,400 sqm spa, and being a few minutes' walk from a ferry across to the old town, it lands close to perfectly on a reachable budget. But if you want to wake up among Valletta's ramparts and stone alleys without taking a boat, an old-town hotel will suit you better. Overall we give it 8.6/10 — best for mid-budget couples and moderately luxe travellers who value complete facilities, a great pool, a big spa and an easy commute over being inside the capital the whole time.