With 360 days of sunshine and some winning restaurants and bars, my first foray into international travel, post-pandemic, had to be the archipelago of Malta. Its appeal is obvious and it also happens to be a relatively short flight from London, so my travel buddy, Roshina, and I headed to the southern Mediterranean country for a fun, food-filled trip combined with a stay at the luxurious Iniala Harbour House.
The hotel
As soon as we landed we were whisked away from the airport to Valletta, a twenty-minute drive later and we arrived at the Iniala Harbour House, our home for the next few nights.
The recently renovated 18th-century building, comprising four townhouses, has been lovingly restored to the tune of £10million. We were shown to our residence, and it did not disappoint. We had a fabulous apartment, two en-suite bedrooms, I drew the long straw and had the one with the lovely deep bathtub, which was calling my name! And Roshina didn’t luck out either as her room had a balcony.
We had a spacious common area, an open plan dining area, a kitchen with a bar, and a lounge, with outstanding views of the bay. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the most outstanding feature of the apartment, the lighting; above the dining table is a magnificent intricate chandelier and the lounge area also has the most elaborate lighting design.
The spa
Upon arrival we had time for quick showers, and then headed down to the spa for our pre-booked treatments, every trip should start with a massage; it’s the perfect antidote to recover from travelling.
The Essensi Spa is located in the basement, and in this little grotto you will also find the indoor heated pool, it’s an intimate setting and one gets the sense of seclusion and privacy. After unwinding poolside, it was time for my treatment, and my therapist Myying may have looked small in stature, however don’t be fooled as she has the might of a mighty man. She battled away at my knots and slowly but surely the tension started to melt away. Myying did her training in Bali, and has been a practicing masseuse in Malta since 2005. Her mother also works at the spa; it’s a real family affair.
Hotel dining
Iniala is a hotel with residences, a spa, gym, and a Michelin starred rooftop restaurant ION Harbour, which is manned by executive chef Alex Dilling. We had the delightful opportunity of dining at ION, a sensation for the taste buds. Each course of the seven course tasting menu was a revelation and a culinary delight, chef Dilling used the finest ingredients from the local larder and cooked up a storm. Already we felt privileged and very spoilt, and suitably stuffed we had a night cap and hit the hay.
Breakfast at Iniala is in the rooftop restaurant and is your usual standard Maltese-style breakfast, be warned the portions are big. After a delicious and filling breakfast, it was time to work off those calories and take in a walking tour of Valleta, there’s so much history in the streets of Malta, every corner you turn there is a landmark of some significance, it is a truly fascinating city.
Valetta is home to a Caravaggio which is housed in the St John Cathedral, top tip is to visit during Mass to avoid the tourist queues. To be that up close and personal to this piece of art is a truly exceptional experience.
Eating our way round Malta
On our second evening we were treated to an incredible meal at De Mondion, a Michelin-starred restaurant housed in the Relais and Chateau family-run, boutique Xara Palace Hotel. It took us twenty minutes to reach this hilltop hotel which is located in the grounds of a 17th century palace on the ramparts of the UNESCO protected ‘Silent City’ of Mdina. Every course of this seven-course tasting menu was an absolute delight. Head chef Kevin Bonello created the menu, and he has been working at de Mondion for over two decades. The food in Malta, the service, the hospitality does not disappoint. They have hospitality down to a tee.
On our final night in Malta we opted for more casual dining at Gracys located in the stunning 17th century Palazzo Verdelin. The host Danny Drinkwater blew us away with his knowledge, and we were surprised to learn that he had been at the helm of the restaurant for only three months. He recommended the local fish, rock fish, a white fish barbequed to perfection and served with vegetables, great choice.
All too soon it was time for us to leave Malta, sadly. However we hope to return as soon as we can!
Factbox
Rooms at Iniala Harbour House can be booked from £245pn.
Address: Iniala Harbour House, 10 St Barbara Bastion, II – Belt Valletta, VLT 1961, Malta
Phone: +35621661111
Email: reservations@inialamalta.com
Website: inialamalta.com
