The Osborne Hotel, Valletta, Malta - Reviews and Hotel Information

I did not want to stay in a concrete block, however luxurious.

I did not want to stay in the built-up drink-and-party-all-night areas of Malta.

As a single traveller, package deals (usually based in those very areas) are not good value for me.

Using Valletta as a base suited me, and the Osborne was within my budget (there is not a massive amount of choice in Valletta, to be honest). And I was very pleaantly surprised.

It's a very old building (at least, on the site of one...probably only the underground parts are original) and became a hotel in the 1800s. There are five floors of rooms and two lifts. I chose a 'standard' room: a bit cheaper, and without the extra bits and pieces the renovated 'superior' rooms offer.

My room was on the third floor. A view of the side-street and building opposite only, but that was not problem...it was far too hot to open the shutters (good ones) let alone the windows! Twin beds (quite narrow, proper singles), a wardrobe, a dressing table, a teeny-tiny television high up. Bathroom with bath, hand shower and proper shower. Clean, simple, perfectly adequate for my needs. Good air conditioning (presumably it would be equally good at heating in the winter). A wall-safe is available for a small daily charge.

I chose to have breakfast daily. The breakfast room/restaurant is pleasant, with a variety of hot dishes, cheese, cold meat, rolls, preserves, cereals etc. Coffee and juice from machines, but both perfectly acceptable. I especially enjoyed the chunks of water and canteloupe melon. I did not eat in the hotel, but the restaurant seemed to be quite busy at lunchtimes and in the evenings. There is a bar area too, pleasant to sit in, with daily newspapers available and internet access (3 euro per hour in August 2009).

On the 6th floor there is a stunning view towards Fort St Elmo from on of the public rooms (the hotel hosts conferences, meetings etc) and a rather useful small roof terrace. Not only does this offer somewhere for smokers other than stnding in the street outside, it also provides a shady area in which one can spend the hottest hours of the day (and I did). There are a few sun loungers, a couple of tables, and a very small 'splash pool'. Not big enough to swim more than one stroke, but absolutely ideal for just cooling off before returning to one's book or sun-bathing. Part of the pool also has whirlpool/jacuzzi jets.

Staff were generally pleasant and courteous, although one was somewhat dour.

One oddity is that one is given a postcard with one's room number and name, which one is supposed to present in order to get breakfast/the room key. I did not realise this, and was caught out when eating breakfast on my third morning. Not that it mattered: I just played 'dim'. :-)

So.....this is a clean and pleasant hotel, ideally situated for exploring Malta (about 7 minutes walk from the bus station), very quiet (little traffic during the day and hardly any in the evening) and within easy walking distance of all Valletta's sights, restuarants, clubs and pubs. Furnishings may be a bit old-fashioned (I think the 'superior' rooms are probably not) but I was very satisfied with it.

The Osborne Hotel, Valletta

The Osborne Hotel

Valletta Hotels