Ursulino Valletta

Malta’s capital city of Valletta may not be the commercial nexus it was back when the Mediterranean’s business was conducted by ship. But this beautiful Baroque city, with its harborside island setting, remains a tempting leisure destination, not only for its ancient sights but for contemporary boutique hotels as well — hotels like Ursulino Valletta, a classic townhouse that retains its historic façade but whose interiors have been transformed into something unmistakably modern.

The house’s vertical layout means the rooms adopt unusual layouts to adapt to the existing space, and while some spread out over two floors, they’re not inconvenient, but rather full of character. The graphic palette, meanwhile, provides some uniformity, with black and white predominant, livened by accents in golden yellow, while the house is decorated with an extensive collection of works by local artists.

While it’s rather more than a standard B&B, bed and breakfast is indeed the plan here — for lunch and dinner you’ll be at the mercy of Valletta’s well-stocked streets. What it does offer, though, Ursulino Valletta does well indeed: both breakfast and a sunset aperitivo are served on the hotel’s lovely roof terrace, with expansive views over the harbor and the city’s rooftops.