Baz Dreisinger, the Forbes writer who experienced the boutique hotel first-hand, mentioned that she has stayed in “countless properties that were marvellous indeed, but lacked that vital sense of place – so much so that they left [her] waking up in the middle of the night, trying to remember where in the world [she] was.” She then noted that this particular Maltese destination, along with five others across Europe, “all luxuriate in their lovely locales, and via exquisite attention to detail, ensure that their guests do the same.”

The first on Dreisinger’s list was indeed the Maltese Cugó Gran Macina. She wrote, “What could be more Malta than sleeping in an ancient fort? The culturally rich island—a magnificent liminal space between North Africa, the Mediterranean, and Europe—is so chock-a-block with castle-like structures, the place might as well be one big fort.”

“Bravo, then, to Cugó Gran Macina – a 21-suite hotel carved from a towering structure built almost half a millennium ago by the Knights of St. John – for letting the Malta magic speak for itself,” the writer continued. “Minimalist yet high-end design touches mean attention is paid to the majestic vaulted ceilings and stonework, painstakingly restored. Gorgeous views of the Grand Harbour and surrounding marina are at every turn, especially from the perfectly perched rooftop pool.”

On the location, Senglea, Dreisinger wrote, “The neighbourhood has a funky, more local vibe than Valletta, which – while a beautiful UNESCO World Heritage site well worth wandering around – can feel overrun with tourists. Plus, taking a Maltese luzzu boat from right across the street from the hotel to the heart of Valletta is a joy.”

 

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The writer went on to recommend two restaurants in Malta with “very different yet equally delectable offerings”, these being Taproom in Valletta and Mykonos by Yiamas, which is located right in front of the boutique hotel.

In her list of the best luxury hotels in Europe, the writer also mentioned a restored convent in Lisbon, a hotel cleverly called Convent Square, the “ultimate French luxury” destination, Le Cinq Codet in Paris, as well as Portrait Milano, which she described as the metropolitan city “distilled into a hotel”, “dripping in panache, uber-sexy and smart.” The other two hotels include another location in Portugal called the Independente Comporta, and the Hard Rock Hotel in Madrid.

Have you ever visited the Cugó Gran Macina in Malta?