The Phoenicia Malta - The Leading Hotels of the World

Rooms and decor

Picture a pale, stately Art Deco building on a fortified rise from the era of the Knights of Malta, a few steps from Valletta's City Gate — that is The Phoenicia Malta, open since 1933 and a witness to nearly a century of change on the island. It is the only hotel in Malta in the Leading Hotels of the World collection, a renowned group that takes only properties with a genuine sense of place. Step through the door and you reach a high-ceilinged lobby decorated in 1930s style and carefully restored — brass lamps, leather sofas, classic marble floors, and concierges in sharp suits. The 136 rooms and suites have been renovated to a modern 5-star standard but keep the original feel: high ceilings, Art Deco furniture, balconies facing the garden or the harbour, and warm tones that make it feel more like a grand old house than a chain hotel.

Food and amenities

Ask what makes the Phoenicia stand out from other 5-star hotels in Malta and the answer is almost unanimous: the 7-acre private garden that wraps the hotel on three sides — one of the largest private green spaces in the city centre. The garden follows the lie of the old fort walls, with winding paths stepping down the ramparts past mature trees, a fountain court, and quiet corners for an afternoon read. At the lowest point sits the new highlight reviews rate the best — the Bastion Pool, an outdoor pool built on the historic ramparts with a full panoramic view across Marsamxett Harbour to Sliema opposite. Mornings bring sailing boats leaving the harbour; sunset is the finest hour, when orange light falls across the old fort walls and the water at once. Beyond the pool there are several restaurants — Contessa, the signature Mediterranean spot reviewers praise, The Phoenix for fine dining, a classic lobby bar, and Phoenicia Spa, which uses Mediterranean products for its treatments.

Location and getting there

The hotel sits in Floriana, a small district that runs straight into Valletta — walk out and you reach City Gate, the redesigned gateway by the Italian architect Renzo Piano, in about 3 minutes. Through it lies the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage city, full of honey-coloured sandstone lanes, Baroque churches at every corner, and striking harbour views; St John's Co-Cathedral, the Grandmaster's Palace and Upper Barrakka Gardens are all within walking distance. In front of the hotel is the central bus station, the departure point for every town on Malta — Mdina, the fishing village of Marsaxlokk, or the northern ferry to Gozo, all without renting a car. From Malta International Airport (MLA) it is only about 15-20 minutes by taxi or shuttle. If you plan to see the whole island from one base by bus and on foot, this location scores a perfect ten.

Things to know before booking

To help you decide, here is the straight talk. The first thing reviews raise is price: rooms at the Phoenicia run a fair bit above the average for 5-star hotels in Malta, especially in summer high season, over long holidays and during festivals, and a tight budget may feel the pinch — though many reviews say the garden, Bastion Pool and location are worth it. The second is the classic rooms: as a historic building, some rooms, especially the standard category, can feel older and smaller than newer brands at the same level, so fans of clean modern minimalism may want to pick a renovated room or a harbour-facing suite for the best experience. The third is getting around: Malta has no metro, so it is a taxi or bus from the airport, which can take longer than expected in high-season traffic, and rooms facing the main road on the Floriana side may catch some traffic noise on busy evenings — light sleepers should ask for the garden or harbour side.

Our take

From reading real reviews and the hotel's history across several sources, The Phoenicia Malta sells "history plus location plus garden plus Bastion Pool" in a way that is hard to match in Malta. If your idea of the trip is waking to a walk through 7 acres of garden between old fort walls, sipping coffee by an elevated pool over Marsamxett Harbour, a three-minute stroll into World Heritage Valletta, then back to a near-century-old Art Deco lobby, this is about as well-judged a choice as it gets. If you expect clean modern minimalist rooms, or want an easier price, other options in Malta will suit you better. Overall we give it 8.8/10 — best for couples, history lovers, and travelers who value story and Leading Hotels of the World service over a brand-new building.