Iniala Valletta

Among Malta’s most compelling attractions is its recent surplus of residential-style luxury boutique hotels. One of them, in the capital city of Valletta, is Iniala Valletta, a row of four antique townhouses, meticulously renovated by three distinguished design studios—Autoban from Turkey, A-cero from Spain, and DAAA Haus from Malta—into an ultra-luxe lodging that blends eclectic design with contemporary comforts. The location is equally attractive, facing right out over the harbor, and the vibe, thanks to its small size, is ultra-private and ultra-discreet. The accommodations themselves are widely varied, though all are at least spacious, ranging all the way up to palatial. Each house’s rooms share common stylistic elements, with wall-sized murals a recurring theme. And while some antique architectural or decorative elements remain, the prevailing style is a modern one. With just 23 rooms you could forgive Iniala Valletta for omitting some luxury-hotel services, but in fact they’re more or less all present, including a lavish spa in the hotel’s old stone vaults and a well-equipped gym across the street. Most remarkable, however, is the restaurant; ION Harbour by Simon Rogan, on the rooftop, is the city’s finest table according to MICHELIN.