The Barrister Hotel

A tiny little gem of a hotel in a perfect location, spotless well equipped room - with all the toiletries etc that so many hotels have done away with. Yes, they provided earplugs (Valletta has a thriving nightlife). This did not bother me at all but if you want silent nights it might not be for you. The breakfasts were simple and delicious. The staff were outstandingly friendly and helpful. Everybody was genuinely engaged with our having the best experience - from remembering a morning coffee order to organising a fabulous day out with a driver in Gozo. I felt truly taken care of. So thanks to the team it was a super stay. There were building works outside so the road was blocked but there was ample help with bags for the 3 minute walk! Taxis are plentiful and very cheap using Bolt or Uber.

My husband and I have been traveling together for more than 20 years and have visited over 35 countries during that time. We usually choose boutique hotels because we appreciate the character, individuality and personal service they tend to offer, so we are quite familiar with this category of accommodation — the same category in which The Barrister positions itself.

The hotel is housed in a beautifully renovated historic building in central Valletta. The rooms are nicely refurbished, although quite small. The front desk staff and housekeeping were undoubtedly the highlights of our stay.

The continental breakfast, however, is fairly average and falls short of what we would expect from a hotel in this price range.

The main issue, though, is the noise. There are several bars and nightlife venues nearby, and the noise in our room at night was considerable. In fact, the hotel provides guests with earplugs — a thoughtful gesture, perhaps, but also a fairly good indication of the problem. Unfortunately, even with them, we had difficulty sleeping.

In hindsight, I would probably have chosen a different hotel had I paid closer attention to previous reviews and guest tips before booking.

One final observation: while reading those reviews, I was genuinely surprised by the owner’s responses to some guests who had expressed criticism. Rather than simply acknowledging that different guests may have different experiences and perceptions, several responses seemed unusually defensive and, in some cases, questioned the legitimacy of the reviews themselves.

This approach to customer care feels distinctly at odds with what we have come to expect from high-end boutique hotels, where graciously handling criticism is considered an essential part of hospitality. In that respect, The Barrister appears to belong to a rather different school.

The rooms are big,clean and have everything you need.There are loads of extras in the room and it all feels very luxurious. The hotel is very close to all the amazing sites, bars and restaurants. Staff are amazing especially Olena on reception and of course all the other staff who went above and beyond who we met during our stay. We will stay here again when going on holiday in Malta This hotel is highly recommended 👍