Zaha Hadid's twenty-story tower commands St Julian's Bay with bold angles and floor-to-ceiling glass. Radio Rooftop delivers wraparound views alongside two pools, while a subterranean spa offers retreat from the Mediterranean sun. The ground floor opens directly onto Portomaso Marina and Dragonara Casino, positioning this architectural landmark for travelers seeking design-forward accommodations with nightlife at their doorstep.
Where to Stay
Where to Eat
★ Michelin
Chef Hiram Cassar, whose international tenure sharpened a precise culinary instinct, earns Fernandõ Gastrotheque its Michelin star through rigorously seasonal cooking. A compact menu yields memorable compositions: pecorino agnolotti lifted by Delica pumpkin and mostarda di Cremona, seabass escalope brightened with preserved lemon and kombu. The wine program—over 700 labels, many poured by the glass—matches the kitchen's ambition with equal sophistication.
★ Michelin
Eleven floors above Sliema, Le GV occupies a one-Michelin-starred rooftop where dining rooms channel Orient Express elegance and a panoramic terrace surveys the city skyline. Chefs Andrew Borg and David Tanti work an open kitchen, sending out a deliberately concise menu—raw amberjack finished tableside with Sicilian pink grapefruit cream, whisky zabaglione paired with butter-soaked brioche. Mediterranean precision, theatrical presentation, no excess.
★ Michelin
Rosamì occupies the first floor of a handsome Maltese villa above Balluta Bay, its elevated dining room framing the water through tall windows. The kitchen delivers Asian-inflected cuisine via blind tasting menus of six or eight courses, punctuated by local artisanal cheeses that showcase Malta's small producers. One Michelin star confirms the precision; the setting supplies the romance.
Michelin Selected
A glass cabinet displaying aged beef greets diners at this St. Julian's address, signaling the kitchen's dual obsession: premium caviar and expertly handled meat. The Argentine ribs, grilled and paired with roast potatoes and sautéed onions, reward carnivores, while a cocktail bar offers drinks from chef Gauci's personal recipe collection alongside Cuban cigars. The atmosphere channels private-club exclusivity with polished, attentive service throughout.
Bib Gourmand
Three globe-trotting brothers helm this Bib Gourmand seafront address in Gzira, channeling their travels into a menu that roams from Lebanese lamb-stuffed pitas with harissa and yoghurt to Iranian eggplant stew with walnuts and spiced rice. The atmosphere runs lively and informal, the value exceptional. For travelers seeking culinary adventure without pretense, AYU delivers genuine cross-cultural cooking with personality.
Michelin Selected
Perched at Tigné Point with sweeping views of illuminated Valletta, Chophouse commands one of Malta's most dramatic dining settings. The enclosed terrace—heated through winter months—frames the fortified capital like a living canvas. A Michelin Plate holder, the kitchen builds its modern repertoire around the grill, turning out robust preparations of both prime cuts and fresh catch with confident, flame-kissed precision.
Michelin Selected
A fish display greets diners at the entrance of this understated Gzira address, showcasing the day's Mediterranean catch. The kitchen works with precision across preparations—raw plates, ceviche, oysters, caviar, and shellfish alongside whole fish served pan-cooked, grilled, or fried. Removed from tourist circuits, the atmosphere favors substance over spectacle, drawing locals and seafood purists seeking honest, ingredient-driven cooking.
Michelin Selected
Inside a stylish St Julian's hotel, Zest delivers an ambitious sweep of Far Eastern cooking within sleek, contemporary surroundings. The Michelin-recognized kitchen moves confidently from delicate sushi and steamed bao to aromatic curries and lacquered Peking duck, with noodle dishes rounding out the repertoire. For travelers seeking refined Asian flavors on Malta's eastern coast, this elegant dining room offers genuine range and polish.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best area to stay in Sliema or St. Julian's?
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Sliema's Tower Road offers a quieter residential feel with easy access to the seafront promenade and local shops. St. Julian's suits those seeking proximity to restaurants and nightlife, with Portomaso Marina providing a more polished, modern setting away from Paceville's busier blocks.
Can you swim in the sea at Sliema and St. Julian's?
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Yes, though beaches are rocky rather than sandy. Locals swim from flat limestone platforms along the Sliema front, with metal ladders descending into deep, clear water. Balluta Bay has a small sandy stretch, and several hotels offer private lido clubs with sun loungers and direct sea access.
How do Sliema and St. Julian's differ from Valletta?
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Valletta is the historic capital — compact, monumental, car-free within the walls. Sliema and St. Julian's developed as resort towns from the British colonial era onward, with a more relaxed, contemporary character. The ferry from Sliema to Valletta takes five minutes, making it easy to enjoy both settings.
Nearby Destinations
Explore Malta
Sliema St Julians
Malta's northeastern coast unfolds along a continuous promenade connecting Sliema's residential calm to St. Julian's after-dark energy. The walk from Tigné Point to Spinola Bay takes twenty minutes, passing Art Deco townhouses, rocky swimming spots carved into the limestone, and fishing boats bobbing beside waterfront trattorias. Sliema retains its 1930s holiday-town character — morning swimmers, corner bakeries selling pastizzi, elderly men playing cards outside bars that haven't changed in decades.
St. Julian's shifts register entirely. Paceville draws weekend crowds, but step beyond the main strip and you'll find Balluta Bay's belle époque architecture and Portomaso's yacht-lined marina. The restaurant scene here skews international: Japanese omakase in converted boathouses, Sicilian seafood on candlelit terraces, modern Maltese cooking that reworks lampuki and rabbit into tasting menus. Hotels cluster along Tower Road and the Portomaso waterfront, most built within the last fifteen years to serve business travelers and extended-stay visitors drawn by Malta's tech sector growth.