The Xara Palace
Daily price line
Upcoming nightly rates
Review
Character and identity
The Xara Palace occupies a restored 17th-century baroque palazzo inside the walls of Mdina, Malta's Silent City, and it remains the only hotel within those medieval ramparts. Just 17 rooms fill the building, each dressed with antiques, fine French linens and marble bathrooms, giving the place the intimacy of a private residence rather than a hotel. Dining is the headline act: de Mondion is a formal, dinner-only tasting menu restaurant perched on a centuries-old bastion with sweeping views, while Trattoria AD 1530 handles pizzas and pasta al fresco on a Mdina square. Guided food tours and wine tastings round out the programme.
Who's it for
Best for:
Couples and culturally curious travellers who want a quiet, atmospheric base for exploring Malta's history, from the Mdina Cathedral Museum to Domvs Romana. The setting suits design lovers, serious diners drawn to de Mondion's tasting menu, and anyone who prizes a hushed, walled-city evening over beach-resort bustle.
Should look elsewhere:
Families wanting a full resort experience, beach-seekers, and anyone planning a swim-heavy stay. The pool is seasonal (June to September) and sits at The Xara Lodge, a five-minute shuttle away, so it isn't a poolside hotel in any meaningful sense. There's no spa programme to speak of.
Bottom line
The draw here is singular: sleeping inside Mdina's walls in a 17-room palazzo, with one of Malta's most ambitious kitchens a staircase away. Book it for the location and the cooking, not for resort amenities. Couples should aim for a room with countryside views and reserve de Mondion well in advance; spring and early autumn offer the best balance of weather and quiet.