DoubleTree Hilton Malta St. Paul’s Bay, a stylish Mediterranean escape with family-friendly comfort, but lacking luxury and a few food-related issues.
Stay dates: 12–17 February 2026
Location: St. Paul’s Bay, Malta
Hotel: DoubleTree Hilton Malta St. Paul’s Bay
Brand: Hilton Hotels & Resorts
First Impressions & Arrival at Doubletree Hilton Malta St Paul’s Bay
Arriving in February should have offered the perfect off-season balance, sunshine without crowds and a relaxed, easy check-in experience. Unfortunately for us, we landed in a red weather warning for wind but we werent going to let that get in the way of our trip!
The DoubleTree’s signature warm cookie welcome immediately sets a friendly tone, and the lobby creates a strong first impression with contemporary Mediterranean styling.
The reception space feels open and airy, with natural tones, modern lighting and plenty of comfortable seating zones designed for both families and couples arriving for a winter sun break. We arrived an hour early and they kindly let us have the room straight away as it was ready which was a real treat after a long journey.
Decor & Interiors
The hotel leans confidently into modern resort styling rather than traditional Maltese decor, think: neutral stone tones, textured fabrics, clean architectural lines and warm wood accents. It’s pleasant but a little tired in places like the corridors and lift areas.
Large glazing maximises sea views and natural light, something I always notice immediately when assessing how a space feels emotionally as well as visually.
Communal areas are cleverly zoned so the hotel never feels overwhelmingly busy, a key success in a large resort property.
Rooms & Comfort
Guest rooms feel calm, functional and thoughtfully designed for both short stays and longer holidays. We stayed in a family room which had a sofa bed that was pulled out and made up ready upon our arrial. It was a good size and comfy – perfect for two children to share. They have a room upgrade for families if you want to pay the extra, which has two separate bedrooms. If you can afford it I would recommend doing this, we didnt and the space felt quite cramped at times for four of us.
Key features included:
Comfortable beds with high-quality linens.
Neutral palettes promoting restfulness.
Excellent storage, always essential for family travel.Separate desk area
Balcony spaces offering either sea or resort views, although we were slightly lacking in furniture on ours for a family of four, as you can see from the above!
Bathrooms were modern and well-maintained, with generous walk-in showers and good lighting, often overlooked but essential when travelling. Well-designed bathroom with large shower – sadly no bath.
Housekeeping throughout the stay was consistent and reliable, although (and this might sound a bit miserable!) they took over an hour to clean the room sometimes because they were making towel art for the beds (pictured above). Personally, I’d rather not be kicked out for so long and live with flat towels (sorry!). In fact, at previous hotels we’ve loved it when you get drinks vouchers as a reward for skipping daily housekeeping in your room, but here they insisted on going in your room daily which can be quite an inconvenience if you are at the hotel for the day rather than out on a trip.
Food & Drink – this might be a bit controversial…
The half-board deal seemed like a good offer for the price, but in hindsight, it wasn’t right for us. We found the buffet dinner, although there was a variety of food, it wasn’t really the sort of food our kids wanted to eat. There was lots of interesting dishes, things like Brussels sprouts, apricots and almond flakes for breakfast. Rabbit. They tried to do a theme each evening, a different country around the world, and the meats, although there was a selection, it was overcooked and chewy, very tough.
Every evening became a bit of a struggle trying to find things for the kids to eat, so they would inevitably rely on chips for dinner and ice cream, which was a shame. Also, another factor which I personally found really off-putting was the smell as you entered the dining room. Because there was such a wide selection and no seemingly ventilation in the restaurant, the smell of all of the food combined together, the cooked meats, the fish, the very strong blue cheeses, at the same time, was quite revolting. So whilst we were queuing to get into the restaurant, I was already starting to feel a bit put off eating, which was a shame, and not something I’ve ever experienced at a hotel before.
So I think it must be something to do with the ventilation in the room. It’s a large hotel and very busy, and dinner times were extremely packed. We took the advice of the hotel and went as soon as they opened, so 6pm for dinner, and we were down early before 8am for breakfast, but it was busy. A lot of people queuing and it just felt like a lot of people coughing on everything. which was again a shame.
The view out of the restaurant’s windows varied depending on where you sat. If you were fortunate enough to be in the adults-only section or one of the platinum guests, you got a view of the lovely sea.
Unfortunately, the alternative for famileies like us, was a billboard and some very unattractive, dilapidated buildings, which we had to make do with (pictured above).
The breakfast selections was fine. Cooked breakfast, omelettes, the usual sort of thing, cereal, options for different types of milk. They catered for allergies and intolerances, which was great if you had them. Lots of bread available, but overall just a little underwhelming.
I think we were spoiled when we stayed last year at the Western Dragonara in St. Julian’s Bay. It really was the most wonderful buffet and à la carte options for half board. And breakfast was just divine with the most wonderful views. And unfortunately, this hotel just didn’t measure up. The Western Dragonara is a five star and the Hilton Doubletree is a four star and definitely cheaper. So it’s not really fair to compare them like for like.
Poolside and lounge areas also offered convenient light dining options.
Azure restaurant
We ate lunch most days in the on-site Azure restaurant as the weather was too sketchy to venture out much, sadly. The food was great in this restaurant, a mix of pizza, pasta and burgers etc. The coffee and cakes were good and the drinks not overly expensive.
The view was good through fully glazed walls, although we spent a lot of time looking at the stormy weather and rough sea. The service was very slow at times ad lots of people did get annoyed, we were in holiday mode so it didn’t bother us too much.
Sabi Restaurant
The Sabi restaurant was lovely, a gorgeous space, stylishly decorated with Ibiza beach house vibes. It’s separate from the main hotel and on the seafront.
The staff were very friendly and you get a discount (15%) if you are on half board – this is good as it is quite expensive. We enjoyed the food, although the kids’ pizzas were quite burnt underneath.
Facilities
One of the hotel’s strongest assets is the breadth of facilities available even outside peak summer months.
Highlights included:
Indoor swimming pool, particularly valuable for February stays. The pool was lovely and warm and a good size but got very busy. You get issued towel cards which you can use to loan towels at the pool – dont forget to bring them or the man gets very grumpy!
The poolside changing rooms are very small and not great. We saw a lot of people come to the pool in robes and leave without getting dry or changing. We didnt get robes in our room so perhaps you have to ask for these separately or get them with a room upgrade? Either way, we got changed at the pool as quickly as we could.
Spa and wellness area
The spa gets a big tick as was really well kitted out with lots of treatments available, plenty of staff and a good amount of space. We stayed over Valentine’s Day so i was worried it might be full of couples but luckily it wasn’t too bad! I had a shoulder massage and it was very pleasant.
You get access to the pool and steam room afterwards for one hour and a complimentary glass of prosecco. Overall, it was a lovely experience. I returned on another day just to use the pool and steam room (all guests get an hour per day access, but you do need to book) and didn’t receive quite the same warm welcome and it’s a slightly odd set-up where the pool door is locked from the outside so you need someone to let you in. Either way, it’s a good addition to the hotel and I recommend visiting if you stay.
– Multiple outdoor pools, weather-dependent in winter.
– Fitness centre.
– Direct coastal access nearby.
Service
Service was consistently warm and efficient.
Standout moments included:
Friendly reception staff willing to assist with local questions.
Restaurant teams managing busy periods smoothly.
Housekeeping maintaining excellent standards.
The overall feeling was professional but approachable, exactly what you want from an international brand property.
Location & Exploring the Area
St. Paul’s Bay offers a practical base for exploring the island.
Advantages include:
coastal walks.
easy access to transport links.
proximity to cafés and waterfront restaurants.
February proved ideal for sightseeing without peak-season crowds.
Pricing & Value for Money
Travelling outside high season offered good value, but it certainly wasn’t cheap.
You benefit from:
lower room rates.
quieter communal areas.
easier access to facilities.
For winter sun travellers especially, this represents strong overall value compared to many European resort destinations.
Location:
We found the best way to get about when the weather relented was to order a Bolt taxi. I downloaded the app and it was so easy to use. You choose your destination and any requirments eg no. of seats and booster seat etc and there are man drivers available in minutes. We used Bolt to get to and from the airport and this saved a lot of money compared with the transfer cost that BA wanted to charge us. Doubletree Hilton Malta St Paul’s Bay is about half an hour’s drive from the airport, but beware the traffic in Malta is often terrible and it can take a lot longer to get around. We also got a Bolt to the capital Valetta one day and that took about half an hour too. We used the bus to get home which was around the same duration but was cheaper at only 2-3 euros each vs 25-30 for a taxi.
Who Is This Hotel Best For?
Ideal for:
families wanting reliable facilities.
couples seeking relaxed winter sunshine.
Those looking for room-only packages rather than B&B, half or full board
Less suited to travellers seeking boutique or hyper-local design immersion and those wanting a great evening meal experience.
Booking Tips
February is an excellent time to visit for quieter travel.
Request a sea-view balcony where possible.
Indoor facilities make this a strong off-season choice.
Final Verdict – would we stay again?
The DoubleTree by Hilton Malta St. Paul’s Bay delivers exactly what many travellers want from a Mediterranean resort: dependable comfort, thoughtful design and genuinely warm service.
It balances family-friendly practicality with contemporary styling, something not every large resort achieves successfully. However, personally, I would recommend spending the extra money if you can and enjoying the luxuries of the unrivaled service, the wonderful customer service at the Dragonara. Whilst the staff were polite and friendly at the Hilton Doubletree, it just didn’t have the same welcoming, friendly vibe that the Dragonara does.
We wouldn’t return to the Doubletree Hilton Malta St Paul’s Bay, purely because of the food options and restaurant issues. For us, food is one of the most important features and mealtimes became a bit stressful, sadly.
For winter sunshine, relaxed interiors and easy exploration of Malta, it’s a confident recommendation.
Doubletree Hilton Malta St Paul’s Bay – FAQs
Is it good in winter?
Yes, indoor facilities and mild temperatures make February an excellent time to visit.
Is it family friendly?
Very much so, although adults can still find quieter relaxation spaces.
Is there really free wine and beer?
We were surprised to find that there is indeed wine and beer on tap at dinner, but this didn’t make up for the other dining issues, unfortunately.
