Elite Traveler Spring 2022

WHERE TO STAY

INIALA HARBOUR HOUSE The Gallarija Grand Harbour View Residence It’s good to have goals in life, and nobody could claim the team behind Iniala Harbour House lacks ambition: Not content with this period property being recognized as Malta’s most luxurious hotel, they wanted it to be known as one of the best in Europe. They got o ff to a good start by securing a peerless location in tiny Valletta, with the hotel occupying four caramel-colored townhouses that date from the 1600s and overlook the superyachts grandstanding in the shimmering waters of the Grand Harbour. Inside, Turkey’s Autoban design studio has gone all out to create compelling interiors. Original features are juxtaposed with modern artworks; furniture is bespoke; the hyper-modern 24-hour gym features vaulted ceilings; a sophisticated subterranean spa is an especially popular retreat during the blistering heat of high summer. With every room unique, accommodation options vary signi fi cantly too, though most guests are won over by the two-bedroom Gallarija Grand Harbour View Residence — a sprawling, double-height space with a custom-made, glass-fronted Maltese balcony and private kitchen facilities where Iniala’s chefs can cater spontaneous in-suite parties. For a restorative pick-me-up the next morning, guests can always order the Full Brexit, a nod to the former colony’s long-standing connections with Britain and the property’s playful take on the traditional Full English. From $3,388 per night. Contact Kyle Pace Cumbo, sales manager, kyle@iniala.com, +35 621 661 111, inialamalta.com

XARA PALACE Presidential Suite

THE PHOENICIA Panorama Two-bedroom Luxury Suite

The only hotel within the towering walls of Malta’s sleepy former capital of Mdina, this converted 17th-century palazzo occupies one of the most coveted perches in the country. Ringed by cobbled alleyways and neighbored by an ancient Benedictine convent, the hilltop Relais & Châteaux property is among the most beautiful buildings found within the so-called ‘Silent City.’ On a clear day from its roof terrace, cocktail- sipping guests can admire views that stretch beyond the shoreline and across the Mediterranean all the way to Sicily. Family-run and with an appropriately old-school sensibility, this hotel has an intimacy and cordiality that is perhaps attributable to its small inventory. With only 17 rooms, the teammakes a special e ff ort to get to know guests. Those rooms vary greatly, with the odd modern embellishment (perhaps a freestanding bathtub in gleaming silver or a private terrace with open-air Jacuzzi) placed alongside original features, grand old paintings and sundry other antiquities. Popular with families, the duplex Presidential Suite is a homey aerie with balcony, six-person dining table and handsome high ceilings. Couples with something to celebrate should reserve a table at Michelin-starred de Mondion, where exemplary modern Mediterranean dishes feature exceptional precision and are unfailingly delicious. (For something more casual, ground-level Trattoria AD 1530 serves pizzas and pastas on the edge of a tranquil piazza.) From $556 per night. Contact Nicola Paris, hotel director, nicky@xaracollection.com, +35 621 450 560, xarapalace.com.mt

With the hotel’s grounds abutting Valletta’s 16th-century bastions, The Phoenicia is minutes from everything the capital o ff ers while providing signi fi cantly more space and more expansive facilities than any hotel in the area. Shaded by orange and olive trees, its surprisingly lush gardens fl ourish with blazes of brightly colored blooms that are hardy enough to withstand arid summers (think oleander, callistemon and lantana). Outside, you can also fi nd an in fi nity pool that overlooks Marsamxett Harbour and the surrounding cityscape. Coupled with all that is an impressive social history; prior to Iniala’s arrival, this was the number-one choice for visiting dignitaries and celebrities (and lots of them do visit given Malta’s thriving fi lm industry) — back in the 1940s, Maltese residents Princess Elizabeth and Prince Charles often danced in the hotel’s Grand Ballroom. Among The Phoenicia’s various bars and restaurants are the classically minded Mediterranean restaurant Phoenix and the Palm Court Lounge, famed for its old-school afternoon tea. But the best views of all are those enjoyed from the Panorama Luxury Suite, which overlooks Valletta, multiple harbors and the 17th-century forti fi ed town of Floriana. From $1,026 per night. Contact Yanica Vella Nwoba, reservations manager, yanica.vella@phoeniciamalta.com, +35 621 225 241, phoeniciamalta.com

Photos Dan Cam, James McDonald, Chris Sanchez, Sergio Ramírez Lesmes