When heading to Valletta in Malta, there’s no other place to stay than the Hotel Phoenicia…
The city’s first luxury hotel, it still exudes this charm and elegance, perfectly marrying classic detail with contemporary nuances. There are 136 rooms in total, though we recommend a balcony room where you can sit and soak up the views and atmosphere. It’s peaceful and calm and when on a higher floor you can see miles into the distance. It offers real chance to sit back, relax and oversee the stunning architecture, with cathedrals and other beautiful structures standing tall against the horizon. The rooms are all tastefully decorated with soft shades of blue and white. Deliciously fat pillows lay at the head of the beds, beckoning the perfect night’s sleep after a day of exploring. Infact the beds are so comfortable it’ll be hard to drag yourself up in the morning. But make sure you do in time for the hotel breakfast – you’ll regret it if you don’t. Other elements such as a large wardrobe complete with robes and slippers, a complimentary mini bar and White Company toiletries all create the little touches that make the stay that bit more indulgent.
Leave time in your trip to head to the pool for it’s not to be missed. A short walk through the hotels beautiful gardens, it is one of the most impressive pools we’ve seen. Again, it continues to encapsulate the magic of Malta. There are no tacky gimmicks, loud music playing or complicated water features. Instead you have a stunning infinity pool bordered by the Valletta city walls overlooking some of the best views of the city. You can while away your day swimming lengths, taking in the sunshine from the plush white pool loungers, and sipping cocktails from the pool bar menu. If you get peckish they also have a menu you can order to your sunbed or a separate one just behind the lounge area with seats and tables.
This is just one of a few dining areas within the hotel – there is also Cafe Phoenicia, a casual and cosmopolitan dining destination with a selection of sandwiches and other lighter bites. The hotel bar is the perfect spot for an aperitif before heading to the Phoenix restaurant for dinner. One of the most breathtaking dining locations you’ll ever see, it has high ceilings and large windows flooding the room with light during the day and offering views of the stars when night falls.
Tables are draped in elegant white table cloths and it truly feels as though you’re somewhere special. Begin your meal with a glass of ice-cold champagne as you peruse the menu and just take in the atmosphere. The Phoenix offers a contemporary twist on Maltese classics, with the menu headed up by chef Daniel Debattista. Each course is cooked with precision and presented to look at good as it tastes. It’s an excellent way to marry fine dining with discovering food from the area. Be sure to round off with a dessert as they’re not to be missed! Round off your evening with a cocktail in the lounge, or wander two minutes outside into the old city of Valletta which truly comes to life once the sun sets. In the morning, be sure to wander around the old town – it’s the ideal spot to meander as you let your breakfast go down – there are so many stunning cobbled streets to get lost in, perusing the local shops and cafes.
The Phoenicia Hotel Malta is one of those special hotels that you will never be able to forget. It offers the best of everything you want when heading on a city break. It offers style, comfort and indulgence, it offers a central location and it offers a chance to relax, recharge and rejuvenate at the end of the day. When heading to Valletta there’s nowhere else to stay than the Phoenicia Hotel.
Prestige Holidays has a four night break departing in March from Gatwick with Easyjet to Malta with private transfers and BB accommodation in a Superior room at Hotel Phoenicia from £599 per person. (www.prestigeholidays.co.uk, 01425 480400)
