Best Boutique Hotels in Malta

The four-pearl Hotel Juliani is a family-owned, 44-room boutique located on St. Julian’s seafront promenade. The former townhouse has a contemporary vibe, with a striking color palette of Tiffany aquas, gleaming whites, and soft earth tones. The (seasonal) rooftop terrace and pool offer a lovely escape from the bustling streets below and there's an excellent restaurant with high-end European and Asian cuisine. Rooms are beachy and upscale, with modern bathrooms. 

The 112-room George Hotel is an upscale urban boutique hotel in St. Julian’s Paceville district, the epicenter of area nightlife. Rooms are clean and comfortable, with modern furniture, memory foam mattresses, and granite and tile bathrooms, but Wi-Fi costs extra. Sleek and modern decor gives the hotel a luxury vibe, as does the two pools: the zen-like indoor pool and the sunny rooftop pool with a landscaped deck and city views. 

The 74-room Argento Hotel is a simple, stylish property that offers a quiet retreat right near the action in lively St. Julian's. Bars, restaurants, and clubs are all within easy walking distance. One highlight here is the rooftop pool and sundeck, with views of Spinola Bay. Chic, high-design rooms have furnished balconies, flat-screen TVs, electric kettles, and minibars that are stocked upon request; suites have sitting areas. This property is home to a small restaurant, lobby bar, small gym, and two meeting rooms.

The 94-room Hotel Valentina is a trendy and modern hotel located in Paceville, an area known for its thronging nightlife. Sleek rooms have wall-mounted flat-screen TVs and colorful LED lights; some have furnished balconies. The rooftop infinity pool -- with lounge chairs and a stylish bar -- overlooks the city, and the 24-hour lobby bar caters to late-night revelers. A modern dining room with ample natural light serves breakfast, but not lunch or dinner. And the lobby provides an airy space to linger plus a library area with Apple computers and book-lined shelves.

The 95-room Imperial Hotel is a historic boutique located in the heart of Sliema, a short walk from restaurants, bars, shops, and the main ferry terminal. Although somewhat dated, the property is packed with character and charm, and features stately interiors that hint at the hotel’s former glory days. Rooms are large, clean, and have free Wi-Fi, but decor is a little basic, and amenities could use an update, especially the small tube TVs. There are a restaurant, several lounges for mingling, and meeting space, but the highlight is the lovely courtyard, complete with a pool, loungers, and a bar with a few tables in a shaded area full of plants. 

The 108-room Sunflower Hotel is a fresh and affordable mid-range property in Qawra, a 10-minute walk to Bugibba Square and the waterfront promenade. The hotel has a 24-hour bar, a restaurant, and a swim-up bar at its modern seasonal rooftop pool with a hot tub and kids' pool (there's also an indoor heated pool). Clean, no-frills room have traditional decor, tile floors, wood furniture, balconies, and old-fashioned tube TVs.