3 Best Hotels in Sliema and St. Julien's, Malta

A great setting on the curve of Spinola Bay, Hotel Juliani is one of the more characterful parts of St. Julian's. This slick stay is surprisingly quiet given the busy road outside (seriously thick glazing on the balconies does that); it's also a great way to escape the masses in the resorts further to the north and has one of the larger rooftop pools in the city. Best of all, nonresidents aren't allowed access, so its facilities are never busy. A respected restaurant (Zest), spa, and gym round off things in the smallest "big hotel" in the city.

Less than 10 minutes' walk from St. George's Bay lies the first in a new breed of hotel taking over St. Julian's backstreets; it's a more budget-minded version of the larger Marriott resorts, but the drop-down in amenities is no hardship. The heated rooftop pool (open year-round) in particular is huge and boasts impressive views over the coast, plus an all-day bar-restaurant lies just below, so you're never far from a cocktail. Rooms are up to the brand's usual high standard, plus there's free parking, a small gym, and hallway water machines on every floor (to cut down on plastic waste). 

Sitting in the heart of Sliema's network of backstreets, the most glamorous stay in the area plays its hand well, with a choice of restaurants including a rooftop pizza and grill joint for when you want a snack beside the infinity pool. The most eccentric thing here is its themed rooms, with the "music suite" in particular sticking to its theme by managing to fashion a drum kit into a desk. It's playful, unnecessary, and charming all at once.