The credentials:
Palazzo Consiglia, one of Valletta’s newest boutique hotels, is a converted 400-year-old townhouse that was once home to an aristocratic family. The well-preserved Baroque architecture with Roman and Arabic features reflects Malta’s rich history, and displays of antique jewellery and portraits dotted around the building add to the sense of cultural heritage.
Its location near the capital’s Grand Harbour makes the Palazzo a handy base for a city break that includes boat trips around the Maltese archipelago, and the rooftop pool with views that stretch to the sea is the perfect place to relax with a glass of prosecco after a busy day of sightseeing.
Dine:
While Palazzo Consiglia doesn’t have a restaurant, a selection of traditional Maltese dishes and cold platters can be ordered from the kitchen. My friend and I sampled the lasagna and a pea pasty in the cosy library alcove but, although tasty, the food isn’t the main attraction here—heading out is a better bet. The hole-in-the-wall brasserie Taproom is only five minutes’ walk away and was a lovely venue for a candlelit dinner.
The hotel’s continental breakfast buffet offers everything you’d expect, including freshly squeezed juice and plenty of fruit, cold cuts and baked Maltese delicacies.
Sleep:
The mix of antique furniture and modern luxury in the 13 individually designed bedrooms channel the Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Classical and Baroque styles. We were booked in to Viaggiatrice, a comfortable room with large windows overlooking the internal courtyard.
Clearly a lot of effort has gone into kitting out the rooms with the latest technology, including a sound system, motion-sensitive lighting and elaborate settings for the air conditioning. But at night the humming sound from the air vents on the roof and the little flashing red lights in the ceiling kept me awake. Maybe an eye mask and earplugs would have helped, but you shouldn’t need either in a smart boutique hotel. There was only one thing for it: I rang reception and the helpful staff swiftly transferred me to another room.
Religiosa is described on the hotel’s website as its most demure room but, to me, it was a step up in luxury as it is more spacious and the decor tastefully opulent. The fresco-style wallpaper with a mythological print in neutral colours provides a touch of Renaissance chic, and the huge shower in the sleek ensuite bathroom is perhaps more practical than the previous room’s bath. I fell into bed and was soon fast asleep.
The following night we were rehomed to Sirena, the hotel’s most expensive suite, with a separate hallway and bedroom, plus both a bath and shower, which is a plus. It has a welcoming, cosy feel but is quite poky compared with Religiosa.
Who goes there?
Couples and business travellers, although the hotel also served as a great base for our girly mini-break.
Out & about:
Valletta is a lovely little city, brimming with culture and easy to explore on foot. For a fascinating insight into the island’s history, visit the 16th-century Grandmaster’s Palace, in the heart of the capital, and admire the frescoes and ornate stately rooms still in use by the president.
Also worth taking in are the stunning views from the Upper Barrakka Gardens, a city oasis that overlooks the harbour and the historic Three Cities, which are a short and scenic gondola ride away.
The worst thing:
Some couples may find the glass walls that separate the bathrooms from the bedrooms at Palazzo Consiglia provide a less than ideal degree of privacy for retaining the mystery on a romantic break, and the lack of soundproofing is an issue for light sleepers.
The best thing:
The fact that the hotel feels like a well-kept secret. During our stay it was nearly fully booked but, other than at breakfast, we hardly bumped into anyone, and we had the rooftop pool all to ourselves.
