{"id":95082,"date":"2023-05-19T21:08:13","date_gmt":"2023-05-20T01:08:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/magazine.tablethotels.com\/en\/?p=95082"},"modified":"2023-08-04T22:07:19","modified_gmt":"2023-08-05T02:07:19","slug":"real-deal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magazine.tablethotels.com\/en\/2023\/05\/real-deal\/","title":{"rendered":"Real Deal"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Xara
St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Xara Palace Hotel \u2014 Mdina, Malta<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Not since Humphrey Bogart and his falcon have the Maltese received this much interest from international audiences. A flurry of first-class hotels await.<\/h4>\n

\u201cThe case for Malta and its adjoining islands as a resort area is quite impressive. The climate is ideal, and there are 14 sandy beaches on the three islands of Malta, Gozo and Comino. The sun is here in superabundance, and there are innumerable coves and harbors to be explored.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

That was the New York Times in 1964: \u201cThe Island of Malta Makes a Case for Tourism.\u201d The tiny nation \u2014 fearful that a withdrawing British empire would mean an economic hole \u2014 looked to lure the world to its shores. And for decades, British tourists obliged. Package holidays brought the English to an English-speaking island in the Mediterranean for sun and culture. But for the Western Hemisphere, Malta was probably still best known for its loose connection to the iconic 1941 Humphrey Bogart film, The Maltese Falcon<\/em>. <\/p>\n

Lately, this tiny archipelago in the Mediterranean has been carving out a different identity, one that rivals the world’s most appealing tourist destinations.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve recently added seven more Maltese hotels to our selection. And that’s just on the main island alone. One for almost every fifteen square miles. The appeal was there in 1964 \u2014 sun and waves. Today, it’s a combination of politics (Malta joined the EU in 2004), culture (a high profile redesign of Valletta by Renzo Piano finished in 2015), cuisine (Malta’s excellent dining scene began appearing in the MICHELIN Guide in 2020), and just how much easier it is now to book and explore on your own. It also helps that modern travelers are obsessed with “discovering” so-called “under-the-radar” destinations. Sometimes it’s just your time.<\/p>\n

\"Palazzo
Palazzo Consiglia \u2014 Valetta, Malta<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Whatever the reasons, Malta\u2019s appeal is fresh and on the rise. Nobody\u2019s surprised. A Mediterranean island nation, a Baroque architectural hotspot, a place where you can hardly put a foot on the cobblestone without bumping a historic monument. Come to this island and you\u2019ll find the mark of Phoenician and Arabic peoples, as well as the French, Spanish, and Italian \u2014 just a few of the many cultures and conquerors who\u2019ve made their way to this geographically-blessed outpost on the sea.<\/p>\n

The fantastic hotels emerging throughout the country only magnify the setting. With so much texture to work with, they make their homes in distinctive Baroque buildings and historic naval sites. Their restaurants build menus with flavors from every cultures. Some hotels embrace the modern, bouncing contemporary interiors off historic details; others celebrate the ancient, turning a 400-year-old fountain into a show-stopping amenity.<\/p>\n

We can\u2019t say with certainty why Malta\u2019s having its moment. But we can say with confidence that their hotels are both a symptom and a source of the excitement. To quote Bogey, they’re \u201cthe stuff that dreams are made of.\u201d
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AX The Saint John<\/a><\/h2>\n
Valletta, Malta<\/h5>\n

\"AX<\/a><\/p>\n

In Valletta, with its fortifications and its Baroque ornamentation, you might expect a hotel to lean heavily on historical atmosphere. AX The Saint John, however, has taken a liberal approach to its own history. This 19th-century townhouse, right in the heart of the city, has been updated in a style that\u2019s entirely of-the-moment, even as it pays its respects to the past.<\/p>\n

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Lure Hotel<\/a><\/h2>\n
Mellie\u0127a, Malta<\/h5>\n

\"Lure<\/a><\/p>\n

In Lure Hotel & Spa, a compelling hospitality reason to venture into the island\u2019s north, to the picturesque village of Mellie\u0127a. And if the word \u201cvillage\u201d leads you to expect something rustic, prepare to be surprised. The rooms and suites are nothing if not glamorous, combining Art Deco elegance with modernist furnishings and fixtures. <\/p>\n

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Palazzo Consiglia<\/a><\/h2>\n
Valletta, Malta<\/h5>\n

\"Palazzo<\/a><\/p>\n

A 13-room boutique hotel right on the edge of the old town, Palazzo Consiglia is both better equipped and rather more opulent than its small size might prepare you to expect. Every room is different, but they\u2019re uniformly luxurious, and all combine historic architectural elements with contemporary interventions in a fantastic, borderline whimsical style. <\/p>\n

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Iniala Harbour House<\/a><\/h2>\n
Valletta, Malta<\/h5>\n

\"Iniala<\/a><\/p>\n

A row of four antique townhouses renovated by the Istanbul-based architectural studio Autoban into an ultra-luxe lodging that\u2019s eclectic in its design and totally contemporary in its comforts. The name is an accurate description of the location, facing right out over the harbor; the vibe, thanks to its small size, is ultra-private and ultra-discreet.<\/p>\n

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66 St. Paul\u2019s<\/a><\/h2>\n
Valletta, Malta<\/h5>\n

\"66<\/a><\/p>\n

Named for its address, 66 St. Paul\u2019s is a restored 17th-century palazzo in Valletta\u2019s historic old town, one whose public spaces retain their historical limestone architecture and centuries-old atmosphere even as its rooms, the occasional weathered stone wall aside, are pure 21st-century contemporary classic.<\/p>\n

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Rosselli \u2013 AX Privilege<\/a><\/h2>\n
Valletta, Malta<\/h5>\n

\"Rosselli<\/a><\/p>\n

The architects transformed this heritage structure, a splendid 17th-century Baroque palazzo, into Rosselli \u2013 AX Privilege, developing no fewer than six distinct looks for the hotel\u2019s 25 rooms and suites. It\u2019s a much-needed dose of high design for Malta\u2019s capital city, and a hotel that makes good on its promise to deliver an experience you won\u2019t soon forget. <\/p>\n

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The Phoenicia<\/a><\/h2>\n
Valletta, Malta<\/h5>\n

\"The<\/a><\/p>\n

For decades, the Phoenicia has been the top hotel in Valletta. But even if you knew the old Phoenicia, you\u2019re in for a pleasant surprise. In its current incarnation it\u2019s fresh off a massive renovation; the new edition combines top-flight luxury with no small amount of stylistic distinction, and a standard of service that\u2019s substantially above and beyond the norm. Once inside, you\u2019re transported from the medieval city walls to the early 20th century, arguably the golden age of British luxury hospitality. <\/p>\n

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Domus Zamittello<\/a><\/h2>\n
Valletta, Malta<\/h5>\n

\"Domus<\/a><\/p>\n

A beautifully restored 17th-century palazzo in a prime location at the head of Valletta\u2019s main drag of Republic Street, Domus Zamittello is the opulent luxury hotel this famous Baroque city demands. The public spaces are imposingly elegant, all lovingly rebuilt to the original specifications, while the rooms balance the old-world grandeur with smart 21st-century comforts.<\/p>\n

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HOLM Boutique & Spa<\/a><\/h2>\n
St Julian’s, Malta<\/h5>\n

\"HOLM<\/a><\/p>\n

The seaside town of Saint Julian\u2019s, just up the coast from Valletta, is a mere ten minutes from the island\u2019s airport, but offers a degree of tranquility and privacy that the dense old city can\u2019t always match. And in the HOLM Boutique & Spa, it\u2019s got a hotel unlike any other \u2014 a luxury boutique hotel that\u2019s bold, brash, and unafraid of a little self-expression.<\/p>\n

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Cug\u00f3 Gran Macina<\/a><\/h2>\n
Senglea, Malta<\/h5>\n

\"Cug\u00f3<\/a><\/p>\n

The Cug\u00f3 Gran Macina Malta is housed in a massive centuries-old stone building, once part of the harborside fortifications in the Maltese city of Senglea, designed to lift entire ships out of the water with a large crane. Its sturdy structure and grand scale translate particularly well, after extensive renovations, into a one-of-a-kind luxury hotel. <\/p>\n

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Xara Palace<\/a><\/h2>\n
Mdina, Malta<\/h5>\n

\"Xara<\/a><\/p>\n

The Xara Palace is a stunning, 17th-century palazzo in the mostly medieval city of Mdina, a historically rich destination in the island\u2019s interior. In its current incarnation, mere steps from Mdina’s St. Paul’s Cathedral, the hotel is a tribute to the city\u2019s aristocratic heritage, and while it\u2019s been subtly updated to meet contemporary luxury-hotel expectations, its atmosphere remains period-correct. <\/p>\n

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