Iniala Harbour House

Among Malta’s most compelling attractions is its recent surplus of residential-style luxury boutique hotels. One of them, in the capital city of Valletta, is Iniala Harbour House, a row of four antique townhouses renovated by the Istanbul-based architectural studio Autoban into an ultra-luxe lodging that’s eclectic in its design and totally contemporary in its comforts. The name is an accurate description of the location, facing right out over the harbor; the vibe, thanks to its small size, is ultra-private and ultra-discreet.

The accommodations themselves are widely varied, though all are at least spacious, ranging all the way up to palatial. Each house’s rooms share common stylistic elements, with wall-sized murals a recurring theme. And while some antique architectural or decorative elements remain, the prevailing style is a modern one.

With just 23 rooms you could forgive Iniala Harbour House for omitting some luxury-hotel services, but in fact they’re more or less all present, including a lavish spa in the hotel’s old stone vaults and a well-equipped gym across the street. Most remarkable, however, is the restaurant; ION Harbour, on the rooftop, is one of the city’s finest tables, and has earned a Michelin star for its trouble.