AX The Palace, Sliema

AX The Palace is a 5-star hotel run by the Maltese group AX Hotels. It opened in 2007 on High Street, right in the centre of Sliema. The building has nine floors and around 149 rooms. Categories range from 33 m² Comfort rooms to 55 m² suites. Six suites in the “Designer” collection are each decorated around a theme. Some have a private hot tub on the terrace. Comfort rooms have no balcony and look onto an inner atrium.

Dining is spread across four venues. The Tabloid serves the breakfast buffet and an evening buffet, with themed nights. On the 9th floor, TemptAsian offers Asian fusion cuisine facing Valletta. The RoofTop Restaurant serves pizzas, pasta and grills by the pool. Talk of Town Café, on the ground floor, doubles as a café and bar. Lounge 360 rounds things off on the roof.

For relaxation, the rooftop infinity pool is heated and open all year round, weather permitting. A quieter corner of the roof is for adults only. On the 7th floor, an indoor pool is flanked by a sauna and a steam room. The spa offers massages and treatments. The gym is open from 6 am to 10 pm.

The hotel welcomes families with rooms for four and a free cot. There is no kids’ club and no children’s pool. Babysitting can, however, be arranged on request. The hotel also has a paid underground car park with 230 spaces.

Recent reviews praise the staff above all. They are mentioned in seven out of ten detailed comments. The welcome, reception, breakfast team and rooftop bar receive the same praise. Guests also appreciate the birthday touches and frequent upgrades. The rooms are seen as very spacious, with huge, comfortable beds. The rooftop infinity pool and its view over Sliema win almost unanimous approval.

The location is the other big plus. The hotel sits on a quiet street in the centre. The seafront and the ferry to Valletta are a few minutes’ walk away. The only drawback: the street climbs steeply from the promenade. The breakfast buffet scores highly for choice. Several guests, however, find it repetitive, with a crowded dining room in summer. The rooftop Asian restaurant is often recommended, as is the pool bar. The evening buffet divides opinion more, especially on half board. Vegetarians find little choice there.

The most frequent criticism concerns the hotel’s condition. Furniture, bathrooms and corridor carpets are judged dated for a five-star hotel. A damp smell is reported in some corridors. Comfort rooms without a balcony often disappoint, as they look onto a dark atrium. Other guests mention noise from ventilation or the roof terrace. In summer, the sunbeds by the rooftop pool are quickly taken. The pool then feels small for the number of guests.

AX The Palace is best suited to couples and families looking for a central base to explore Malta. The warm service and rooftop pool work in its favour. It is best to book a room with a balcony on a high floor. A full refurbishment is planned for winter 2026-2027. It should address guests’ main complaint.

AX The Palace stands on High Street, right in the centre of Sliema, on Malta’s north-east coast. The seafront is less than 10 minutes’ walk away. Fond Għadir’s rocky beach is 400 m away. The ferry to Valletta leaves 700 m from the hotel, and the crossing takes about ten minutes. Buses serve the whole island from the promenade. St Julian’s is around 25 minutes’ walk along the sea. The airport is 11 km away, around 25 minutes by car.

Good to know: the hotel sits at the top of a steep street from the promenade. A closure for refurbishment has also been announced from November 2026 to spring 2027. Check opening dates before you book.