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Opinion and personal hotel review: ME Malta by Meliá in St. Julian’s gave me something I did not expect during the recent World Travel & Tourism Council summit: a hotel stay that became a highlight of the trip. My 19th-floor suite had two large balconies, sweeping city and bay views, an extraordinary bed, and enough thoughtful touches to impress someone who spends close to 100 nights a year in upscale hotels.
I came to Malta for tourism’s big conversations. I found myself having another conversation entirely: Could I stay a little longer?
Having enjoyed excellent stays at Malta’s Westin and Hyatt, I arrived with high expectations. ME Malta exceeded them.
Two balconies—and very little motivation to leave
The hotel was home to media and some delegates attending the WTTC gathering. During my stay for the summit and General Assembly, it became much more than a convenient base.
My suite’s two large balconies faced different directions, giving me different perspectives over the busy streets, surrounding buildings and the bay.
Sitting outside was one of those simple travel pleasures that no room description quite captures. After meetings, conversations and a schedule full of obligations, I could finally sit down and watch Malta carry on below.
There was one interruption: construction in the surrounding area. The changing skyline came with a soundtrack, and on the balconies it was sometimes difficult to ignore.
Inside, however, closing the soundproof doors made an extraordinary difference. The disturbance faded, and the suite became a peaceful retreat.
Sorry, Westin. I may have found a better bed.
ME Malta by Meliá: The Hotel That Made Me Forget My Favorite Bed
For years, the Westin Heavenly Bed was my benchmark. I knew it, loved it and slept in it regularly.
Then I slept at ME Malta.
I do not know which mattress, pillows or bedding combination the hotel uses, but somebody made excellent decisions. For my personal comfort, it beat my longtime favorite.
I could have spent considerably more time doing precisely that.
When you spend close to 100 nights a year in four- and five-star hotels, beautiful rooms can start to blur together. An exceptionally comfortable bed still gets your attention.
So does a suite that works as well as it looks.
There was a proper living room, a fully stocked minibar, an espresso machine, attractive decoration, and two large television screens. I had room to relax, spread out and get some work done.
And I must congratulate whoever chose the desk lighting.
My eyes are no longer young. I appreciate a hotel where I can read and work comfortably without moving lamps around or using my phone as a flashlight. At ME Malta, I could sit down and get on with it.
That may sound less glamorous than a balcony overlooking the bay. For a working traveler, it deserves its own applause.
A bathroom surprise—and a lotion I loved
ME Malta by Meliá: The Hotel That Made Me Forget My Favorite Bed
The bathroom amenities left me wanting for nothing.
One item stood out: the night face lotion. I loved it. It felt wonderful on my skin and became one of those small pleasures that made the suite feel especially indulgent.
The bathroom arrangement itself took a little getting used to. It was integrated into the suite’s open living space, rather than entirely separated in the way I had experienced in my excellent suites at the Grand Hyatt in Dubai and Izmir.
Unusual? Yes. Disturbing? Not for me—I was traveling alone.
Guests sharing a suite might want to check their particular room’s layout before booking. For my stay, it simply became another distinctive feature of a hotel with its own personality.
A bold address in St. Julian’s
ME Malta forms part of the Mercury development in St. Julian’s, with architecture associated with Zaha Hadid. Mercury’s published account identifies Istanbul-based Autoban as the interior design studio, drawing inspiration from Malta’s landscapes and natural textures. The development also incorporates the restored historic Mercury House.
You feel that ambition throughout the property. There is plenty to look at, but during my stay the design also delivered spaces I enjoyed using.
The surrounding shopping and dining development added to the convenience. Shops, restaurants and the energy of St. Julian’s were close at hand.
For someone who enjoys being in the middle of things and then retreating above them, this was an excellent combination.
Breakfast threatened my schedule
I would place the breakfast buffet among the best I have experienced in Malta.
During an industry summit, breakfast usually competes with messages, appointments and the need to get out the door. At ME Malta, it deserved my full attention.
This was a breakfast worth allowing time for. My only problem was having other places to be.
The wider dining offering includes Luciano by Gino D’Acampo, Cabana Club Malta and Radio Rooftop. Meliá describes Luciano’s Italian cuisine and Radio Rooftop’s Asian offering, with panoramic views from level 20.
Those venues give the property different settings for dining and socializing. My personal enthusiasm, however, starts with that breakfast on the eighth floor.
Below ground, another world
One of my favorite places in the hotel was several floors beneath the action.
ME Malta by Meliá: The Hotel That Made Me Forget My Favorite Bed
ME Malta by Meliá: The Hotel That Made Me Forget My Favorite Bed
The indoor pool made me feel as though I were swimming in a grotto. I loved the atmosphere. It was somewhere to linger, enjoy the water and let the day slow down.
That impression reflects the design: Mercury describes a subterranean spa with limestone walls and a cave-style pool inspired by Malta’s natural grottos.
The gym impressed me just as much.
This was a serious fitness facility, with everything I needed and considerably more. During my stay, it was accessible 24 hours a day.
Then came a detail I had never encountered before in a hotel gym: alongside cold and room-temperature water, there was espresso and hot tea.
A workout and an espresso? I could get used to this.
First, learn the elevator trick
Navigating the hotel required a little practice.
Reception was on the seventh floor, breakfast on the eighth, the gym on minus two and the spa on minus three. Clearer information near the elevators would have helped me find my way.
The elevators themselves introduced another surprise. You choose your destination before entering. Once inside, there are no conventional floor buttons to press.
For a moment, you may wonder what you have missed. Then the doors close, the elevator takes you where you need to go, and it all feels rather clever.
A brief explanation on arrival would make the first trip easier. After that, it becomes second nature.
The chief engineer—and the response that impressed me
For all my enthusiasm, I noticed a few practical details worth raising with General Manager Neal Debono.
At the outdoor and indoor pools, I noticed steps into the water without a handrail. For some older guests, or anyone less confident on wet steps, something solid to grip could make a meaningful difference.
Near the gym and pool area, I also noticed a sharp-edged fixture beside a short staircase. What initially appeared to offer support was part of a lift installation.
I mentioned these observations to Neal. I did not expect a conversation about pool steps to become one of the most memorable parts of my stay.
His subsequent email included this promise:
“I will get my chief engineer involved so we can make things the right way.”
That response mattered to me.
I cannot confirm that alterations have since been completed. What I can say is that Neal listened and committed to involving the person equipped to examine the issue.
A beautiful pool should also feel comfortable to enter. A guest’s observation deserves attention. His response gave me confidence that mine had received it.
Other guests see the appeal, too
My positive experience has company.
At the time of research, Tripadvisor displayed a rating of 4.7 out of five. Individual reviewers praised the staff, stylish rooms, and breakfast. Some also reported shortcomings, including slow food service, crowded pools, and rooftop access affected by private events. These are other guests’ accounts, rather than conditions I independently verified.
ME Malta by Meliá: The Hotel That Made Me Forget My Favorite Bed
ME Malta by Meliá: The Hotel That Made Me Forget My Favorite Bed
My own stay left me with a very clear set of memories: the balconies, that remarkable bed, breakfast, the grotto-like pool, a properly equipped gym and a suite where I could comfortably work.
And, yes, the night face lotion.
ME Malta made me want to spend more time in my hotel during a trip when there was every reason to be somewhere else.
For a frequent traveler, that is quite an achievement.
ME Malta by Meliá: The Hotel That Made Me Forget My Favorite Bed
ME Malta by Meliá: The Hotel That Made Me Forget My Favorite Bed
ME Malta by Meliá: The Hotel That Made Me Forget My Favorite Bed
ME Malta by Meliá: The Hotel That Made Me Forget My Favorite Bed
Disclosure: I stayed at ME Malta while attending the WTTC gathering. General Manager Neal Debono subsequently offered a complimentary room upgrade. The opinions and descriptions of my stay are my own.