Barceló Fortina Malta, Sliema

The Barceló Fortina Malta is a 5-star hotel on Tigné Seafront, in Sliema. It replaces the former Fortina Spa Resort, rebuilt and reopened in 2023 under the Spanish Barceló brand. The hotel occupies a modern tower facing Marsamxett Harbour. Almost all of its 183 rooms and suites have a balcony or terrace. The best ones look straight across to Valletta. Some suites have a hot tub on the terrace, or even a private pool.

Dining centres on a single restaurant, Stella’s. It serves the breakfast buffet, then a themed buffet dinner every evening. Breakfast is not always included: it depends on the rate you book. The Bridge Bar, on the first floor, serves drinks and snacks until half past midnight. Room service completes the offer. Across the road, the Manta Lido beach club houses two restaurants run independently of the hotel.

For wellness, the Ina spa covers 510 m² in the basement. It has a heated indoor pool, a sauna, a steam room and a jacuzzi. Access is included for guests, and only treatments are charged. A large, modern gym completes the facilities. The outdoor pool is at the Manta Lido, on the other side of the road. This beach club is run by an outside company. Access is free, but sunbeds must be booked at reception the day before.

The hotel welcomes children and offers family rooms. However, there is no kids’ club. The spa and indoor pool are off limits to under-16s. The lido’s party atmosphere, with a DJ in the afternoon, is aimed more at adults. Pets are not allowed.

Recent reviews praise the welcome above all. The staff are mentioned in half of the detailed comments. A welcome drink, luggage taken up to the room and birthday touches come up often. Complimentary upgrades are also regularly mentioned. The rooms go down well too: spacious, modern, spotless and with comfortable beds. Several guests appreciate the daily housekeeping and evening turndown. The view of Valletta from the upper floors delights almost every traveller.

The location wins unanimous praise. The ferry to Valletta leaves five minutes’ walk away, as do the excursion boats. The Point shopping centre and the promenade restaurants are close by. The breakfast buffet is often described as exceptional, with eggs cooked to order. The buffet dinner divides opinion more. Some enjoy it on half board, while others find it lukewarm or repetitive. The Manta Lido restaurants, just opposite, get good reviews.

The outdoor pool attracts most of the criticism. It belongs to the Manta Lido, a beach club open to the public. Hotel guests must book their sunbeds the day before, by half-day. Their area is set back, often with no view, while the best spots are charged. A DJ plays in the afternoon, which bothers guests looking for peace and quiet. Other complaints: partial views from side rooms, road noise on lower floors and leaking showers.

The Barceló Fortina is best suited to couples and solo travellers who have come to explore Malta. It is an upmarket city hotel rather than a beach resort. It is best to book a room with a full sea view on a high floor. That is what makes all the difference in the reviews. Those who love long days by the pool, on the other hand, may well be disappointed.

The Barceló Fortina Malta stands on Tigné Seafront, at the entrance to Sliema. It faces Marsamxett Harbour and the bastions of Valletta. The ferry landing is 400 metres away, about five minutes on foot. The crossing to the capital takes around ten minutes. Bus stops and excursion boats are in the same spot. The Point shopping centre is just behind the hotel.

There is no sandy beach nearby. The rock platforms at Tigné Point are ten minutes’ walk away. Fond Għadir beach, popular for snorkelling, is around twenty minutes along the promenade. The international airport is about 20 minutes by car. Good to know: ask for a sea-facing room on a high floor, for both the view and the quiet.