Azur Hotel by ST Hotels, Gżira

The Azur Hotel by ST Hotels is a 3-star hotel that opened around 2019 in Gżira. It belongs to the Maltese group ST Hotels. The building stands on Triq Belvedere, a quiet street two minutes from the seafront. The area borders Sliema and faces Manoel Island.

The hotel has 177 rooms in four categories: Standard, Superior, Deluxe and Family. Superior rooms measure 23 m², Deluxe 26 m² and Family rooms 28 m². The decor has an industrial feel, with exposed concrete ceilings. All have air conditioning, a safe, a fridge and a kettle. Most have a small balcony, often facing the back.

The Sapphire restaurant, on the ground floor, serves the breakfast buffet. A lounge bar occupies the lobby. The hotel has no pool, but its guests get free entry to the Aqualuna lido. This beach club is about 300 m away, on the seafront. Its pool faces the harbour and the bastions of Valletta. A small gym completes the facilities.

Families can book family rooms with a sofa bed. There is no kids’ club. From the age of 3, children pay the adult rate. You must be at least 18 to check in.

Recent reviews praise the location above all. The seafront, the buses and the boats to Valletta are all close by. The restaurants and shops of Gżira and Sliema are a few minutes’ walk away. The rooms also get good feedback. They are seen as spacious, modern and clean, with very good beds. The staff are often described as friendly, especially the daytime reception and housekeeping. The Wi-Fi also scores well.

The Aqualuna lido divides guests. Many enjoy its harbour-facing pool and the free entry. Others only find out on arrival that it is outside the hotel, across the road. In summer, the sunbeds go quickly and access closes in the late afternoon. The breakfast buffet is seen as generous for a 3-star hotel. However, it is repetitive, and the room gets overcrowded at peak times. Cups, plates and cutlery are often in short supply. The lido remains a real bonus for unwinding after a day of sightseeing.

The downside is maintenance. A damp or sewage smell in the bathroom comes up in many reviews. Overflowing showers, damaged doors and hard-to-adjust air conditioning are also mentioned. Many balconies overlook unattractive back yards. In 2026, roadworks made the hotel harder to reach and caused noise. On the first floor, you can hear breakfast being set up from dawn. The gym is seen as very small.

The Azur Hotel is best suited to couples and friends who spend their days exploring the island. Its location and large rooms make it a practical base. It is best to ask for a room on a high floor, away from the breakfast room. Travellers who want a pool on site or a very polished setting should look elsewhere.

The Azur Hotel stands on Triq Belvedere, in Gżira, on Malta’s east coast. The Gżira seafront is two minutes’ walk away, facing Manoel Island. The Aqualuna lido is about 300 m away. The restaurants of Gżira and Sliema are close by. Boats to Valletta leave from Sliema, 10 to 15 minutes’ walk away. The bus stops on the seafront serve the whole island. The international airport is about 10 km away, 20 to 25 minutes by car.

Good to know: you cannot swim off the Gżira seafront, which is taken up by boats. For a sea swim, Fond Għadir Beach, in Sliema, is about half an hour’s walk away. Parking in the area is difficult.