If you haven't been to The Xara Palace Relais & Châteaux - a family run, exclusive boutique hotel in the heart of Malta’s Silent City - you're missing out. The historic building was built in the 17th century, and was recently restored to reflect its former noble standing in the medieval city of Mdina. It now boasts 17 luxury rooms and suites enjoying stunning views from the perched bastions. So impressive is the award-winning accommodation that it continues to grab international attention, with top online sources shining a spotlight on it. Here are five recent times The Xara Palace has made international news.
1. Forbes
Forbes has nothing but praise for The Xara Palace. Arriving at twilight is the ultimate atmospheric scenario, they say, and the gorgeous de Mondion restaurant boasts “a terrace and panoramic views of Malta” and is just “begging for a Michelin star.” We couldn’t agree more!
2. The Telegraph
The Telegraph ranked The Xara Palace among the top five-star hotels in Malta and Gozo, and can you blame them? Experts said that it “gives you the chance to really appreciate The Silent City” being the only hotel in Mdina. The Telegraph described it as “unique in Malta” and “furnished to suit its past as an aristocratic palazzo.” Honestly, pictures don’t do it justice!
3. GQ
GQ also raved about The Xara Palace Relais & Chateaux in its guide to Malta, recommending the fine dining menu at de Mondion - especially the Maltese traditional dish, roasted local rabbit loin. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt stayed in this hotel after all, and no doubt enjoyed the luxurious facilities!
4. Fox News
And how could Fox News not include such a stunning location in its top 10 castle hotels around the world? Fox News praised the Zammit Tabonas (the current owners,) for its beautiful restoration, stating, “upping the wow quotient even higher, a portion of the castle is integrated into the bastion walls.” Doesn’t get any more spectacular than that!
5. Vogue
The Xara Palace was also named among Vogue’s nine mansion hotels to consider in Europe, obvs. The individually decorated suites at the hotel were put in the spotlight, as were the ornate atrium, the beautiful reconstructed façade, antique tapestries and paintings by Maltese artists.
Isn’t The Xara Palace a stunner? Apart from all of the fantastic things above, it's also worth mentioning that the gorgeous boutique hotel is situated in the most romantic city on the island, making it the perfect getaway for Valentine's Day, coming up soon! For enquiries, visit the hotel’s website - they have some awesome V-Day packages available!