Rosselli - AX Privilege

The Baroque palazzo known as Casa Rosselli-Massa is a splendid piece of 17th-century history, and many of Valletta’s hoteliers would have been perfectly content to keep it that way. But the AX Hotels group had greater ambitions. Forward Architects transformed this heritage structure into Rosselli – AX Privilege, developing no fewer than six distinct looks for the hotel’s 25 rooms and suites. It’s a much-needed dose of high design for Malta’s capital city, and a hotel that makes good on its promise to deliver an experience you won’t soon forget.

Each style is named for a significant figure in the building’s history, and they range from a monochrome Deco-inspired look to a colorful geometric modernism to a postmodern mixture of a variety of eras and schools of design. All of them are equipped with luxe comforts like espresso machines and high-tech modern bathrooms, as well as high-end designer furniture that wouldn’t look out of place in Milan.

The restaurant, Grain, describes its chefs as “culinary poets,” which is high praise indeed — validated by a Michelin star. It’s split into three spaces: Street, at ground level, is a more casual small-plates concept, the subterranean Under is upscale fine dining, and Over is the rooftop garden and lounge. And the service throughout the hotel is formal in a way that’s refreshingly at odds with its design-hotel looks. To put it simply: Rosselli is in a class by itself.