Osborne Hotel

Located on a small street in the historic center, the Osborne Hotel is one of Valletta’s most charming boutiques. It is housed in a lovely palace originally built by the Knights of the Order of St. John, and has all the features of traditional Maltese buildings, including a limestone facade with stone balustrades, charming "gallarijas" (colorful covered balconies), and red window shutters. Common spaces are similarly charming, with lots of period-style furniture, parquet floors, and warm lights. The lobby bar is cozy and inviting, with a fireplace and lots of comfy armchairs around small wooden coffee tables. Decor in the restaurant, however, has a more modern take on classic style, with antique-style furniture painted off-white, and brown rugs over white floors. Aside from the hotel’s charm and coziness, the other top selling point here is the rooftop deck, complete with a tiny pool, several loungers, and stunning city views. 

The hotel is located on a small one-way street right in the heart of Valletta’s historic center. Most major attractions, including the gorgeous Co-Cathedral of St. John (home to a stunning Caravaggio painting), the Palace of the Grand Master, the Archaeological Museum, and Manoel Theatre are all within a 10-minute walk of the Osborne. The beautiful Upper Barrakka Gardens are a five-minute walk away, and Fort St. Elmo can be reached in about 15 minutes. This location is also convenient for those looking to explore Sliema and St. Julian’s, as the ferry terminal and the main bus station are each less than 10 minutes on foot from the hotel. The airport is a 15-minute drive away, and the historic cities or Rabat and Mdina are about 20 minutes away.

Rooms at the Osborne Hotel range from smallish units overlooking the street to spacious rooms with balconies and panoramic sea and city views. Blond wood closets, headboards and desks are a little generic, and some comforters are a touch dated, but all rooms have laminate floors, contemporary artwork on walls, and comfortable beds. Standard amenities include flat-screen TVs, electric kettles, and air-conditioning, and mini-fridges are available on request. Free Wi-Fi is offered throughout the hotel. Deluxe Street View and Sea View rooms were renovated in early 2016, and feature great extras such as iPod docks, stocked minibars, coffeemakers, and laptop-size electronic safes. Most bathrooms are clean but average for a mid-range hotel, with either small glass-enclosed showers or shower/tub combos, wall-mounted hairdryers, and basic toiletries. Many renovated rooms, however, have stylish oval sinks, large mirrors with white frames, and extras such as shaving and sewing kits, robes, and slippers.

The rooftop pool is a little small for laps, but offers several loungers and stunning views of the historic center. There is a vending machine and a few tables, but bar service is not available here. The restaurant, located on the ground floor and open to guests as well as to non-guests, serves an international buffet for breakfast and dinner, but food gets mixed reviews. Drinks, books, and board games are available at the cozy lobby bar. The hotel also features one meeting room with audiovisual equipment and access to the rooftop deck. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel.