Queer travel expert Jack Kenworthy turns 250+ city adventures into your guide for safe, vibrant, and inclusively fabulous global journeys.
Malta! This text here happens to be one of the only articles in our gay hotel listings that target a country rather than an individual status, but given the fact that it is an island rather than a landlocked state, we think you’ll find it easy enough to single out the gay hotels in Malta that best fits you and your wants.
Specifically speaking, the capital of Malta is Valletta, and thus it’s there where we’re going to find most of our hotels. But why take a trip down to this island nation? What does it have to offer, and – given that this article is about gay hotels in Malta – what does it offer to queer travelers looking to get away from it all and enjoy some time in the sun?
Malta is the very pinnacle of what people look for when they think of the glamor of a Mediterranean holiday, and as such, you can expect all of the cliches of sunny beach life and so much more.
Valletta’s architecture largely consists of sandstone and wonderfully refined wood, meaning that the city has an overwhelmingly pleasant visual effect that sucks you in no matter from which angle you’re experiencing it.
The island has an incredible variety of natural and man-made wonders to choose from when you’re looking to explore some tourist sights, and one will find that things vary greatly from one end of the country to the other despite its small side.
Along the coast, one can find sublime coasts and coves such as the world-famous Blue Grotto, and more inland, there are also natural attractions such as the Upper Barrakka Gardens. Valletta has plenty of museums and cultural spaces for tourists and residents to enjoy, so it will be pretty hard for you to avoid learning at least a little about the island state’s colorful and impressive history while visiting.
International sources rate Malta’s commitment to LGBTQ rights as one of the highest in the world, and one can see this fact in many of the country’s laws against hate speech and discrimination. Even as a traveler, the feeling of acceptance and lack of judgment sets in almost immediately upon arrival, allowing tourists to settle in and enjoy the benefits of visiting Malta.
Despite this fact, however, the attractions of Malta are often quite openly marketed to whoever would like to take part in and enjoy them, and as such, there aren’t going to be many gay hotels in Mlata out there marketed exclusively towards gay people or queer people in general.
We know that, and therefore we’d like to note that the hotels on this list follow the same logic. Most of them have been listed as accommodating, friendly, and unjudgmental to, for, and by queer people in general, as well as being highly rated in general.
Ready to get out of your swimsuit and enjoy the Mediterranean life? Then let’s get going with eight of Malta’s most queer-friendly hotels!
In this article we will cover...
The Phoenicia Malta
Coming in to start the list off with a massive bang, the Phoenicia Malta is a five-star hotel with a decent price tag that nonetheless makes an impression that will stay in your head for a long time. The hotel earns every one of those five stars, providing a full-sized, excellently maintained pool,
The location of the Phoenicia is splendid as well – although the hotel doesn’t truly find itself in any real separated neighborhood – and the range of locations it offers access to is almost unparalleled in this entire list.
Set overlooking the Maltese Grand Harbor of Valletta, the Phoenicia Malta is also only a six-minute walk from the National Museum of Archeology and quite literally a few steps away from the world-famous Valetta Waterfront, which is considered one of the best in Malta.
The hotel’s style is a glorious mix between classical and cutting-edge modernity, meaning that you can fully embrace that aged, cultured feel of Malta without having to be set on the back foot by not having the services and technology you need to be comfortable.
Even though Phoenicia truly takes luxury and service to the point of wonderful satisfaction, it isn’t too uptight to prevent itself from opening its arms to just about everyone with equal care.
You can expect this to be especially true as a queer traveler, but this is also a benefit if you’re thinking of traveling with pets, with children, or if you’re moving as a part of more than two people. No matter what you need, the Phoenicia is here to serve, and all you need to do is sit back and enjoy the wonderful scenery and the services provided.
Corinthia St George’s Bay
There is no better place to experience luxury than the shores of the Mediterranean. The second hotel on this list, and also the second 5-star hotel, the Corinthia St. George’s Bay – as its name might betray – move away from Valletta to the nearby St. George’s Bay, a place characterized by its abundance of bars, relaxation areas, and gloriously upscale culture.
While Valletta is one of the most known areas of Malta because it is a massive tourist center, St. George’s Bay is a much more upscale neighborhood that leans further towards locals living their lives and having a good time. It might not be for everyone, considering that many tourist spots are a little further away, but it’s definitely for those looking for a more calm place to stay.
Even with all that said, however, staying at the Corinthia isn’t half as expensive as the luxurious setting and the hotel’s benefits make it seem. This effect is doubly true when one considers that the Corinthia is almost solely purposed to please couples and that massive discounts are available for bookings made by a pair.
In other words, if you’re looking to make memories that will last forever, or if you’re looking to spend quality time with a loved one, this hotel is the best one you’re likely to find on the entire island.
This is equally true for queer travelers and anyone concerned about their safety and the strength of their enjoyment while holidaying. The Corinthia has proved its dedication to matters of equality and good handling time and time again, which has earned it a shining reputation amongst both straight and gay travelers.
The Vincent Boutique Suites
One might think that we’re taking a step away from luxury and into budget accommodation with this one, given that The Vincent Boutique Suites are a four-star rather than a five-star place of accommodation, but the second part of that statement might be slightly true, the first is not.
The Vincent Boutique Suites aren’t at all budget in a negative or compromising sense of the word, but they do go a little lighter on the pocket without any loss of experience.
As one expects at least somewhat when one hears the word ‘suites’, it is a plus factor of the Vincent Boutique that the rooms – the suites themselves – are much larger than even that of the five-star hotels on this list, meaning that visitors will have the room they need to feel as tranquil and at peace as possible during their holiday.
Just like the Corinthia George’s Bay before it, the Vincent Boutique suites are targeted towards couples and nurturing memorable experiences, meaning that they are also a wonderful place to try out if you’re looking to balance convenience with a wonderful space, beautiful settings, and time to share with a loved one.
The ratings are high, the space is incredibly large, and the services are top-notch, without even mentioning the Vincent Boutique’s location!
We talked a bit about how St. George’s Bay is a little removed from the general comings and goings of the city with our last hotel, but those tourist-orientated can rest assured that with the Vincent Boutique, all the desirable things about Malta are even closer to home than you might expect.
This can be said mostly about the glorious sea, which the Vincent Boutique Suites almost quite sit above in their position along the coast.
Marina Hotel Corinthia Beach Resort
Given that the Marina Hotel Corinthia Beach Resort sticks close to its name by being a beach resort, reviewing this location is quite a good opportunity. This goes both for us in exploring the many different styles of holidaying that Malta offers and for you in picking out the kind of trip you want to make and also learning what kind of accommodation suits your expectations most.
Resorts are almost always some of the most queer-accepting establishments, no matter which country one goes to, and thus it comes without saying that the Marina Hotel Corinthia Resort is so to a tee. However, don’t be fooled by this hotel’s similarity in naming to the earlier Corinthia St George’s Bay, as the two are entirely separate.
Like their names, though, the themes and details of the two share a lot. Both find their home in one of Malta’s most upscale, uptown, and luxurious parts. Both are establishments dedicated to quality couple time and exclusive services and pampering.
The good news is that the Corinthia Beach Resort is even cheaper than the Corinthia St George’s Bay, even though it offers different strengths such as a much more coastally located center and better views.
The strengths of the Corinthia Beach Resort are also incredibly strong on paper, including wheelchair-accessible access – which is rare for hotels in general – free breakfast every morning, a pool, a restaurant and bar ensemble, airport shuttle renting, and the list goes on.
With the rooms including such luxuries as hot tubs, 24/7 room services, and even dedicated kitchenettes in some cases, you can be sure that all of your needs will be balanced perfectly between comfort and the sheer abandon of being close to the sea.
La Falconeria
Another hotel that finds itself nestled into the sunny, tourist-friendly heart of Valletta, the La Falconeria Hotel is a four-star establishment that nonetheless pulls into the race for the best gay hotel on this list with all bells jingling.
The La Falconeria’s pool is one of the hotel’s highest-reviewed and overall best components. This is easily understandable, given that it’s an indoor relaxation paradise that is both practical and stylish at the same time.
Suppose you’re not interested in getting wet. In that case, however, the La Falconeria’s suites also have a wide array of luxurious services, going from the comprehensive minibars and room delivery to a range of installments such as kitchenettes and separate living rooms.
There’s also a wide array of suites with balconies that provide wonderful views over the city’s sea and the beachy escape.
The La Falconeria also sticks out from the rest of the hotels in this list in a positive way thanks to the fact that it has a fitness studio, which means that if you’re interested in keeping up your exercise routine while on holiday searching for a gay hotel in Malta, then this one is a wonderful option for you.
As we said for the Marina Hotel Corinthia Beach Resort, accessible accommodation locations are always hard to find, especially in more exotic travel locations, so we’re happy to say that the La Falconeria also has suites that are wheelchair accessible.
You needn’t miss out on their views, thanks to their spacy patios and stunning location. The La Falconeria is also smoke-free and child-friendly, meaning that it’s a wonderful option for just about anyone looking to explore the Mediterranean and has a good time, no matter your requirements!
Casa Ellul
Another four-star hotel and another gay hotel that truly takes expectations and inverts them on their head! Once more located in Valletta, the island nation’s capital, The Casa Ellul, specializes in giving visitors the space and the comfort to do whatever they want, feel good, and enjoy the scenery.
This, coupled with the relatively affordable price tag associated with the hotel, means that you’ll truly be able to relax when staying here – and that’s just the beginning of the benefits that the Casa Ellul offers!
Taking up a position of pride right next to the Manoel Theatre – one of the city’s most famous show production locations – and offering an overlook of the sea just as good as any of the other hotels in this list, which is impressive, to say the least, the Casa Ellul backs up its sound inclusion of free breakfast and laundry services with the fact that it is one of the only locations on this list to be pet friendly, and also by including kitchens and hot tubs in quite a few of its rooms.
Speaking of the rooms, one of the best factors of staying at the Casa Ellul is the luxurious, individually personalized suites, each of which offers a wonderful base camp of sorts for you to enjoy the sunny, wonderful scape of one of Malta’s best areas.
No matter what your taste in living and accommodation is, Casa Ellul is sure to have just the thing to make your holiday right! This is especially true when it comes to traveling couples, as the Casa Ellul is especially well known and highly rated for how it provides privacy and romantic settings to visitors, such as with its bar and restaurant ensemble and with its many sunny lounging areas.
Hotel Valentina
If you’re traveling to Malta on a budget or just looking to balance out what you spent with the strength of what you get for every dollar, then the Hotel Valentina is undoubtedly the place for you.
Not only are the prices quite favorably low compared to the other hotels of equal luxury around it, but the Hotel Valentina includes several services like free breakfast, parking, and laundry. All these charges you don’t have to pay in the end up, meaning that the savings one gets from staying at the Hotel are greater than just the room price alone.
Even with all of that said, in terms of money. However, it feels dismissive to boil down the wonderful Hotel Valencia to a cheap option. Not everything about the Hotel Valentia exists purely to be practical – this is the wonderful beachscape of Malta, after all, and hotels like this exist to grant people the best spring pad to explore the island as they can.
Nestled deep into the St Julian’s neighborhood but equally privy and close to the bars and up-town areas of St. George’s Bag, the Hotel Valentina has just about everything that the other hotels on this list have – a wonderful, idyllic outdoor pool, an airport shuttle to take you directly to and fro from the Malta airport, and a restaurant and bar combo that is just as sure to knock your socks off as any of the stand-alone eateries in the neighborhood.
Outside of the wonderful, highly commended food, the wonders of the Hotel Valentina continue to the building’s appearance – colorful, stylish, inviting, and well-maintained down to the interior of every single room. Suites can even include balconies, kitchens, and separate living spaces!
Rosselli – AX Privilege
And here we are again, back in the Valletta district all over again, with another five-star, all-needs-met hotel! The Rosselli is a pillar of relaxation and high standards, offering a truly tranquil accommodation experience and a calm, attentive attitude to its guests that make it the perfect gay hotel to end off this list.
Many of the positional advantages that apply to the Phoenicia Malta also work for the Rosselli, and as such, one can expect to be in close touch with the sea and with the Valletta harbor when staying here. That, however, is just the start of the many unique and individual benefits the Rosselli offers.
For one, the hotel is built within a well-aged stone townhouse and is surrounded by a positively quaint residential quarter that is an absolute pleasure to walk. When you’re inside the hotel’s walls, expect to be pampered with Rosselli’s in-house restaurant, its comfortable, accommodating bar, and its terrace and outdoor pool combo.
This hotel offers so many places and so many ways in which or which to relax oneself that it’s practically impossible to remain stressed during your stay there. This factor is strengthened even further by Rosselli’s complimentary breakfast services, 24/7 room service, and immaculately cleaned, expansive rooms for one to let down their hair and enjoy the time.
If you’re not the type to want to stay in your room, there is a mass of beautiful touristic locations to visit nearby, and if the convenience of traveling is important to you, you’ll be happy to learn that the Rosselli and the rest of the hotels in this general area are less than eight kilometers away from Malta’s international airport, which is only a short taxi ride in any case.
