If you are looking for a luxury hotel in Malta you are likely already aware that this Mediterranean archipelago is undergoing a remarkable transformation. No longer just a destination for sun-seekers, Malta has pivoted toward high-end experiential travel, blending its 7,000-year history with world-class hospitality.
Whether you are looking for a fortress-turned-boutique-hotel or a sprawling resort with private beach access, the island’s top properties offer distinct personalities. Here is your curated guide to the 15 best luxury hotels in Malta, designed to help you find the perfect match for your stay.
Inspired by LuxuryHotels.best own handpicked list of 15 luxury hotels in Malta, this guide brings together the very best the island has to offer.
A. The icons of Valletta: Historic grandeur
For those who want culture on their doorstep, the capital city of Valletta offers hotels that are destinations in themselves.
Iniala Harbour House and Residences: The epitome of exclusivity
If privacy and prestige are your priorities, Iniala is unparalleled. Located on the St. Barbara Bastion, this property comprises just 23 uniquely designed rooms and suites spread across four restored townhouses. It offers a residential feel with ultra-luxury touches, such as suites with private plunge pools. It is also home to ION Harbour, a Two Michelin Star restaurant helmed by Chef Simon Rogan, ensuring your dining is as spectacular as the Grand Harbour views.
The Phoenicia Malta: The Grand Dame
Sitting just outside the City Gate, The Phoenicia is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World and a favorite of royalty. It balances colonial elegance with modern luxury. You will love the 7.5-acre gardens leading to an infinity pool that overlooks the harbor—a rare green sanctuary on the doorstep of the capital.
Rosselli AX Privilege: Baroque Sophistication
Housed in a 17th-century palazzo on Merchants Street, Rosselli offers a moody, design-led experience. It focuses on personalized service (including butlers) and gastronomy. The hotel houses Under Grain, which has retained its One Michelin Star for six consecutive years, offering a refined dining experience in a vaulted cellar.
B. The Silent City: Aristocratic seclusion
Mdina, the medieval capital, restricts car traffic, offering a silence and atmosphere you won't find anywhere else.
The Xara Palace Relais & Chateaux: Living History
This is the only hotel located within the ancient bastion walls of Mdina. With just 17 individually designed rooms, it feels more like staying in a private noble home than a hotel. Its rooftop restaurant, de Mondion, holds One Michelin Star and offers one of the most dramatic views on the island. For a truly unique stay, ask about the suites with private jacuzzis on their terraces.
Palazzo Bifora: The Boutique Challenger
A newer addition to Mdina, Palazzo Bifora mixes history with colonial-inspired design. It has only six suites, ensuring intimacy. A standout feature is the rooftop pool—a rarity in the medieval city—where you can enjoy sunset cocktails overlooking the island’s skyline.
C. The Three Cities: Architectural marvels
Cugo Gran Macina Malta: Fortress Luxury
Located across the harbor in Senglea, this hotel is built into the sheer bastion walls originally used to lift masts onto ships in the 16th century. The suites here are massive, featuring high vaulted ceilings and slate floors that contrast beautifully with the ancient limestone. It is the perfect choice if you love architecture and want a quieter, more authentic neighborhood vibe.
D. St Julian’s and Sliema: The lifestyle hubs
If you prefer being close to the action, nightlife, and shopping, this coastal stretch hosts the island's most extensive resorts.
Hilton Malta: The All-Rounder
Located in the Portomaso Marina, the Hilton is often considered the most reliable 5-star operation on the island. It is massive, with four outdoor pools, an indoor pool, and extensive spa facilities. The "resort" feel here is strong, making it ideal for families or those who want every amenity at their fingertips.
Malta Marriott Resort & Spa: Wellness & Views
Situated in Balluta Bay, the Marriott combines a great location with a focus on wellness. The Myoka Lotus Spa is excellent, and the rooftop pool provides stunning views of the Balluta parish church. The recent renovations have given the rooms a fresh, modern feel that competes well with newer properties.
Corinthia Hotel St George’s Bay: Waterfront Leisure
This property commands the entrance to St. George's Bay and is famous for its multiple pools and water sports facilities. It is a resort in the truest sense, with extensive dining options including Caviar & Bull. Note that the surrounding area is lively and undergoing development, but the hotel grounds remain a sanctuary.
Hyatt Regency Malta: Modern Elegance
Set inland on the grounds of an old priory, the Hyatt Regency offers a polished, contemporary luxury experience. The rooftop pool and Gin-ger bar are social hotspots, and the rooms are among the newest and most technically appointed in St. Julian's.
Hyatt Centric Malta: The New Kid on the Block
Opened recently, this hotel targets a lifestyle-conscious traveler who wants to be in the thick of things. It features a design-forward aesthetic and eclectic decor, distinguishing it from the more traditional luxury of its neighbors.
AX The Palace: Urban Chic
Located in the heart of Sliema’s shopping district, this hotel is known for its "Designer Suites" which are themed around senses like texture and music. Its rooftop infinity pool is the highest in the city, offering 360-degree views that are hard to beat.
E. Central and Gozo: Retreats and sanctuaries
Corinthia Palace Malta: The Garden Oasis
Located in Attard, opposite the President's Palace, this hotel is the "spiritual home" of the Corinthia brand. It is quieter and greener than the coastal hotels, featuring the refurbished Athenaeum Spa and Bahia, a Michelin-starred restaurant that celebrates Maltese culinary history.
Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz (Gozo): Ayurvedic Healing
If you are heading to Gozo, the Kempinski offers a true hideaway. Built like a traditional hunting lodge, it is surrounded by semi-tropical gardens and features one of the largest Ayurveda centers in the Mediterranean. It is the top choice for wellness retreats.
Hotel Ta’ Cenc & Spa (Gozo) Eco-Luxury Built on Gozo’s highest point, this hotel is for nature lovers. It features bungalow-style rooms and "trullo" suites. Its biggest asset is the private rocky lido in the fjord-like inlet of Mgarr ix-Xini, offering absolute seclusion by the sea.
Coming soon: A new era of entertainment
Hard Rock Hotel Malta (Opening 2026) St George’s Bay
Malta’s luxury landscape is set to shift again with the highly anticipated arrival of the Hard Rock Hotel. Situated on the seafront at the former Institute of Tourism Studies site, this development by the db Group will pay homage to the site's history by incorporating the original 19th-century British military quarters into its design.
The Scale: The hotel will feature 394 rooms and suites, catering to a new level of demand.
The VVIP Edge: For the ultimate indulgence, the property will offer 25 luxury suites equipped with their own private pools.
Amenities: Expect a destination resort with 15 different restaurants and bars, a rooftop "Skybar," and an extensive 3,000sqm Rock Spa.
This project promises to blend Hard Rock’s legendary entertainment vibe with high-end Mediterranean luxury, making it one of the most exciting openings in Europe for 2026.
Tourism economics and visitor dynamics
The statistical landscape for 2024 and 2025 provides an empirical foundation for this shift. In 2024, Malta recorded a historic influx of approximately 3.56 million inbound tourists, marking a significant 19.5% increase over the previous year. This volume was not merely a recovery to pre-pandemic baselines but represented a new operational ceiling for the island’s infrastructure. Crucially, the economic yield from this influx outpaced the volume growth, with total tourist expenditure reaching €3.3 billion in 2024, equating to an average spend of €924 per visitor.
The momentum continued into 2025, a year that has further cemented the island's trajectory. By October 2025, the cumulative inbound tourism figures had reached nearly 3.5 million, a 12.4% year-on-year increase for the same period. More telling for the luxury sector is the expenditure analysis: spending climbed by 19.2% to €3.47 billion in the first ten months of 2025, pushing the per-capita expenditure to €993. This metric is a critical indicator of the changing demographic profile of the visitor—one that is increasingly willing to pay a premium for enhanced services, accommodation, and gastronomic experiences.
The seasonality of this demand is also evolving. While the summer months remain the peak, with August 2024 recording a tourism intensity of 14.2 tourists per 100 residents , there is a marked strengthening of the shoulder and winter seasons. February 2025, typically a nadir for Mediterranean tourism, saw over 210,000 arrivals, a 24% increase from the prior year. This "flattening" of the seasonal curve is vital for the luxury hotel sector, which relies on year-round occupancy to sustain high staffing ratios and service standards.
