The 5-Star Hilton Malta St Julian’s overlooks the Portomaso Marina, where you will find plenty of bars and restaurants within a five-minute walk.
The Hilton Hotel has over 400 rooms and suites with indoor and outdoor pools. In addition, the Merkanit Beach Club by the sea is open from April to October.
I will be reviewing the resort, including the executive lounge, restaurants and pool area. The hotel does have a fitness centre, spa and a business centre but I was on holiday to relax!
Who goes away on holiday and uses a gym? Let me know in the comments section at the end of the review.
When I initially booked the hotel in July 2021 for my stay in September 2021, the room I requested was a Relaxation Suite.
However, as a Hilton Honours Gold Member, I was upgraded to a King Junior Suite for no additional cost.
How Much Did It Cost?
For a five-night stay on a Hilton Honours fully flexible rate (change or cancel one day before arrival), the average rate per night for two people was €436.00 (£370.00).
Covid-19 Restrictions
I visited Malta while there were still some restrictions in place. For example, you had to wear a mask while inside the hotel and restaurants but not in open spaces around the pool.
In general, most guests followed the rules, and the hotel was clean and regularly sanitised.
Hotel Facilities
Free parking Concierge Spa Tennis Resort Executive lounge On-site restaurant |
Indoor pool Outdoor pool Fitness centre Pet-friendly rooms Room service Business centre Meeting rooms |
Check-in
Reception Hilton Malta St Julian’s
My EasyJet flight arrived in Malta from Liverpool before noon. It took a little longer than usual to get through immigration due to Covid-19, but I got to the hotel before 2.00 pm.
The room was ready, and after a welcome drink, I was in the room in no time.
The Room
Hilton Malta King Junior Suite – Bedroom
Sleeps 3 Ocean/water view Separate bathtub and shower Hand-held shower Seating area with sofa Sofa bed Balcony |
Coffee maker 40-inch HDTV Hairdryer Iron Iron/ironing board Executive Lounge |
Hilton Malta King Junior Suite – Living Area
The King Junior Suite is approximately 50 sqm with a separate living area and a king-sized bed.
There was a 40-inch TV in the bedroom and living area with various English and European languages channels.
The bed was comfortable, and the air conditioning worked!
There was plenty of wardrobe and cupboard space for two people, with an iron and ironing board. In addition, the room had a kettle with tea and coffee, a fridge, a separate coffee maker, and a safe.
I didn’t use the living area apart from storing suitcases, but there was a sofa, table, and chairs. However, the sofa turned into a bed, and the room would be ideal if you stayed with small children.
Hilton Malta King Junior Suite – Bathroom
The bathroom was a good size with a bathtub and shower.
The hotel provided complimentary amenities by Crabtree & Evelyn, including body wash, body lotion and shampoo.
Room 550 Junior Suite Balcony View
The balcony in the room had two sun loungers and a table and chairs.
As you can see from the picture above, it was a good size, and you had a sea view, just! However, the only problem is the balcony didn’t get any sun.
Executive Lounge
Executive Lounge Entrance – Level 9
Opening Hours Breakfast Afternoon Tea Pre- Dinner Drinks & Canapes |
7.30 am to 10.00 pm 7.30 am - 10.30 am 3.00 pm to 5.00 pm 6.00 pm to 8.00 pm |
The lounge was open from 7.30 am to 10.00 pm, with a selection of soft drinks and snacks available throughout the day if you were staying in an executive room or suite.
The dress code was smart casual with no swimwear or flip-flops; however, some guests sometimes ignored the rules!
Children were allowed with the supervision of an adult. But once again, some parents didn’t seem to mind and let their kids run around. It didn’t bother me, but it may if you are looking to relax.
Breakfast Executive – Lounge 7.30 am to 10.30 am
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the breakfast was not self-service. Instead, you pick from a menu in the lounge, and a staff member makes up your plate.
Even so, there were enough options every day, and on the balcony, there was a chef making eggs and omelettes.
The staff were happy to top up your hot drinks, and you could also help yourself to cold soft drinks and juices.
Afternoon Tea 3.00 pm – 5.00 pm in Executive Lounge
Served from 3.00 pm every day, Afternoon Tea was pleasant but to be honest, I only went once to see what was on offer as I preferred to sit around the pool and relax in the afternoon.
There was a selection of sandwiches, cakes and pastries with cream and jam.
Executive Lounge Canapes
Pre-Dinner Drinks & Canapes from 6.00 pm to 8.00 pm
My expectations of the service were low, but on the whole, the lounge itself was a decent size with tables and chairs on the balcony, offering great views of the bay.
I’ve been using Hilton Executive lounges for several years, and there is a noticeable change in the product. But, sadly, the offering is not what it was, and it is not just Covid-19 changing things.
The staff were terrific and made sure that your drinks were topped up and didn’t stop throughout the service.
There wasn’t an extensive choice of alcoholic drinks, but local beers, red and white wine and spirits were available (nothing premium).
The canapes were okay, but I didn’t eat much as I would go out after for a meal.
The biggest problem, as always, was getting a decent seat. If you wanted to sit outside on the balcony, you would need to get into the lounge before 5.30 pm and even then, it is touch and go.
Restaurants and Bars
Vista Lobby Lounge
I would generally stay away from eating and drinking at hotels, but the reason for the trip was to relax for five days and not worry about finding places to go outside a hotel.
However, I ventured out for food and drink, and it was considerably cheaper outside of the hotel.
In the hotel, there were four restaurants with The Gazebo Restaurant and Aqua Bar open seasonally from July-September and April-October.
In addition, the Vista Lobby Lounge served food and drink from 11.30 am to 10.00 pm, and the Quarterdeck Bar was open for drinks from 6.00 pm to 1.00 am.
The Merkanti Beach Club
Generally, during the day, I would eat poolside or at The Merkanti Beach Club for ease and not for the food.
The menu included light bites, sandwiches, burgers and pizzas. In addition, there were a couple of vegan and vegetarian options available, and the food prices were reasonable for a hotel.
A 500ml coke was an astonishing €6.25, the local 500ml Cisk beer €7.00 and the Australian Chardonnay €11.50 for 250ml.
Hilton Malta – Thai Blue Elephant Restaurant
I ate at The Blue Elephant twice, and on both occasions, the food and the service were exceptional. I didn’t expect to find such an excellent Thai restaurant in Malta, let alone in a hotel.
Pool Areas
The Merkanti Beach Club Pool Area
There are four pools at the hotel, and I stayed at the hotel outside of the school holidays in Europe. My feeling is that the pool areas would get busy when the kids are on holiday.
The hotel also has an indoor pool, but I didn’t go to have a look.
Hilton Malta – Main Pool
Families used the main pool area closest to the hotel and therefore was the busiest area during my stay.
Sadly, people secured sunbeds and left them unattended for hours before using them when travelling in Europe!
Pool Below Resort Grounds – Beach Club
I tended to relax at the pools on the ground level below the hotel due to them being quieter and the availability of the Merkanti Beach Club.
The only issue is it is a members club and can get busy at the weekend.
Staff and Service
The staff at the hotel were fantastic. I couldn’t fault anyone, from check-in to check-out.
The executive lounge staff didn’t stop with excellent service at breakfast and through to the evening drink service.
The Beach Club and The Blue Elephant staff worked throughout the day were extremely helpful.
Tips
- I would book a room with Executive lounge access, purely to have breakfast in the lounge. The evening drinks and canapes service is okay, but you are more likely to get a sea-view room with an executive room.
- Go to The Blue Elephant Restaurant for food if you like Asian cuisine.
- Sadly I expect during the school holidays the pool area will get busy, so you may need to get up early!
Summary: Hilton Malta St Julian’s Hotel Review
Overall I enjoyed the hotel stay, and it met my expectations; therefore, I would book again and recommend the hotel.
However, although the hotel rating is 5-Star, I would disagree, and in my view, I would rate it a good 4-Star Hotel.
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