Valletta Vintage

Rooms

This eclectic (and growing) collection of lodgings offers three rooms, two 1-bedroom maisonettes and a 3-bedroom townhouse.

All three rooms have a similar size and layout, and are fantastically lovely. Each has a private slice of terrace on the roof with deckchairs for sunbathing. Library is named after its wall of shelves filled with coffee-table art books; it also has a hammock swinging inside a bright windowed gallery. Atelier was once the architect's workspace; now styled as a mini workshop, it comes with groovy low-slung chairs and a slimline white four-poster bed. We loved our stay in the spacious top-floor studio, Gallery, which has picture-window views over the harbour on all sides, and an original patterned tiled floor set off to perfection by deep grey poured-concrete walls. The bathroom, with its powerful rain shower, is also concrete-coated, with zinging mustard-yellow tiles and a heated towel rail. There's a walk-in wardrobe area, plus a nook with coffee machine, fridge and kettle. Cable TV (an unobtrusive flat-screen) and a selection of DVDs and books make the space feel homely.

If you want more space or independence, the unique Retropad is a one-bedroomed maisonette in a residential street nearby. It comes with the same grey walls, fabulous hexagonal floor tiles and salvaged pieces. Alternatively, over in the fortified medieval town of Birgu (aka Vittoriosa) on the south side of the Grand Harbour, Hideout is a small townhouse - formerly Chris' grandmother's home - with vintage and modern furniture on Maltese tiled floors, a conservatory style shower bathroom beside the new kitchen, and a bedroom and breakfast balcony above.

Families will love Doma, a remodelled 18th-century townhouse with three bedrooms spread across five floors. Expect a similar mix grey-, stone- and white-painted ceilings and eaves, tall curtained windows (mostly overlooking an internal court), super-comfy beds, and a scattering of designer chairs and funky artworks. There's also an enclosed sun-trap terrace with a few sunbeds, an outdoor dining table (and butler's kitchen), and a tiny dipping pool. We can't wait to come and stay here en famille one day.

Features include:

• Air conditioning
• Minibar/fridge
• WiFi

Eating

In the rooms, you'll find an expresso coffee machine with Illy pods, complimentary water and juices in your fridge, and a kettle for making tea. There's also a shared kitchen and dining area (for guests in Gallery, Library and Atelier).

The maisonettes, fittingly, get kitchenettes. Retropad has a retro Smeg fridge-freezer, and a kitchen constructed atop a vintage marble-topped table with pots and pans underneath and a Belfast sink to one side. Hideout, in contrast, has a new fitted timber and marble kitchen with hot plate, toaster and kettle.

In Doma townhouse, there's a good-sized kitchen upstairs for preparing food; it opens onto a terrace with great views and dining furniture. In the cupboards are all-needed appliances, like pots, pans, knives, etc, as well as salt and pepper, olive oil, and sugar. There's also a small fridge, mini oven/microwave and toaster.

Valletta has some excellent restaurants, and Anna and Chris will give you a booklet with their personal recommendations of eateries and bars, as well as information about the best places to buy food locally if you're looking for supplies.

Features include:

• Minibar/fridge
• Restaurants nearby

Activities

• Valletta’s major sights are a short walk away from the rooms and maisonettes: St John’s Co-Cathedral, the Grand Master’s Palace, Renzo Piano's new parliament building and City Gate
  
• The townhouse, meanwhile, is practically next door to the Fort of St Elmo with its Malta at War museum
  
• Take a harbour boat tour or ferry trips to Malta's historic Three Cities - Vittoriosa (where Hideout is found), Senglea and Cospicua
  
• Laze on pretty Golden Bay beach or day trip to Gozo for the picturesque San Blas or Ramla Bay. There are wonderful places to go swimming off the coast, too (including a spot 5 minutes away from the townhouse) - plus some of the best dive sites in Europe

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Cycling
• Hiking
• Nightlife
• Scuba diving
• Shopping / markets

Kids

The studio rooms, apartments and maisonette aren't suitable for young children - all beds are doubles and there are no extra beds, so it would only work for a solo parent travelling with an older child. Fa can fit a travel cot if needed.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available, Family Rooms

Distances:

• Airport: 16 min drive (Luqa)
• Supermarket: 4 min walk
• Hospital: 15 min drive (Mater Dei)

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Except for Hideout, Valletta Vintage is in the heart of Valletta (the capital of Malta), which is a compact city so it's easy to walk around as long as you don't mind hills and steps. The townhouse is close to Fort St Elmo, and the district has a residential, local feel that adds to its charm. Hideout apartment is located in the serene old fortified city of Birgu.

By Air:
Fly into Luqa (Valletta) Airport (8.5km); click on the links below for a list of airlines serving this airport.

Getting Around
You won't need to hire a car (Valletta Vintage can organise a transfer, or just jump in a taxi), but car hire is cheap for when you want to explore elsewhere on the island - see our car rental recommendations. You can park for free outside the property.

Otherwise there's a network of local buses heading almost everywhere from Valletta (the bus depot is a 10-minute walk from the townhouse).

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

More on getting to Malta