Cugó Gran Macina Grand Harbour

It was our second stay here and it was just as good as we remember. We booked this as a minimoon after our wedding and are so glad we did. The room upgrade was very much appreciated and all the staff we encountered were brilliant - particularly those that were up and down to the pool to serve drinks and food. It is the only hotel we want to stay at in Malta and we will certainly be back.

OMG what a location and 2 story room in the old fortress tower. Excellent restaurant & breakfast. Staff was very helpful.

TL;DR: Very beautiful hotel but a bit out of the way requiring transit to get to the main areas. Didn’t feel like a 5 star hotel experience For context: American tourists visiting Malta for the first time. M/F couple 30 years old. Pros: Clean, spacious rooms and bathrooms, lovely staff, beautiful property and surroundings, rooftop pool. The restaurant is also great - staff was wonderful and attentive, portions were HUGE, food was delicious with a great breakfast menu (lots of interesting choices). Cons: Felt expensive for what it was - towels could have used a bleach, robes seemed dated. Not sure I would consider this a 5 star hotel experience. Toiletries not replenished, no turndown service. My biggest con was the location. For context, we are 2 30 year olds (M/F couple) and we had to Uber/Bolt to get anywhere on the island vs being in a busy area like Valletta/St Julian’s since it was very quiet around the hotel. You can also take a ferry or a small boat to Valletta but you’re definitely not in a main area, which added onto the cost of the hotel. Please note that the rooftop pool area is quite small so seats are fairly limited. Maybe I’m picky but one thing I couldn’t stand about this hotel was the constant 70s and 80s music playing all around the hotel. I think this hotel is for a demographic and I don’t think that demo is a couple in their late 20s/early 30s!

Location: We had an amazing stay at Cugo Gran Macina! The area is so relaxing with incredible views and it is a 5 minute walk to the ferry port to head into Valletta which made getting around so easy. Rooftop Pool: The pool is slightly on the smaller side and I would recommend getting to the pool early as there aren’t many sun loungers in the shade. It is easy to order food to the pool through WhatsApp or calling the phone. Our only downside was one day it took over an hour to have one dessert delivered to the pool and it also became a frustration when children were in the pool with pool noodles and floats making it hard for others to use the pool and relax due to them floating into other hotel guests. Service: The entire team were amazing and always taking great care of us! Rooms: We stayed in the Grand Harbour suite (Room 201). The room was very spacious for the two of us however a few adjustments could be made. The only window in the room is near the living/dining area meaning that everywhere else although there are lights the rooms on our opinion were very dark. When we checked into our room we did have an issues with the shower as it started to flood but we contacted reception and the issue was quickly resolved by maintenance team and the cleaners. We absolutely loved the rituals products in the bathroom, air conditioning and underfloor heating in the bathroom - not something you think you’d like until you’ve experienced it 🤣! When we had checked into our room we also requested the mini bar be emptied so we could put our own foods and drinks in which was also done swiftly. Overall, we had an amazing week with incredible service in absolutely beautiful location. The hotel is definitely on the more pricier side however I would still definitely recommend!

Location: We thoroughly enjoyed our 7-night stay at Cugó Gran Macina. Staying inside a beautifully restored historic fort that has been sensitively and cleverly restored. The quiet and scenic area of Senglea was fantastic. The regular ferry with a 10 minute trip into the heart of Valletta made getting around effortless. Outstanding Service: The entire team was excellent. A special thanks to Valentina at reception for being so helpful, and Martha for taking great care of us with poolside service. Dining: Breakfast was amazing with plenty of cooked options. The hotel restaurant is easily one of the best in the area—we ended up eating here three nights! The “Enchante” restaurant just 5 minutes away on the harbour is also excellent (for when the hotel restaurant is closed). Rooftop Pool: The pool is a bit small and could use more shaded loungers, but the views from the roof are stunning. There is no pool side bar but it’s easy to order what you want delivered to your sub lounger. Rooms: Rooms vary widely in size and layout due to the building's existing architecture. Our Senglea Suite was very spacious for three adults, though it could do with a slight refurb. My mother’s initial room (105) was quite dark due to deep-set window and wasn't fully clean on arrival, but reception resolved this quickly and moved her to a new room (103) without issue. (Note: The booking platform asks you to pick a specific room, though this wasn't provided). There is a minor issue with the old mortar causing some dust on the floor but it’s a minor gripe. WiFi coverage was perfect and the room has TV with a lot of channels. Activities: You can get beauty treatments in your room but we didn’t opt for this. The hotel recommended a good boat tour for us. Perhaps more use could be made of the rooftop for guests (usually for events) perhaps a communal guest feast? Overall, a unique, high-quality stay with fantastic service in a convenient and beautiful area with delicious food. In terms of value I felt it was maybe a little expensive but still better value than some of the other luxury hotels and in a good location. Highly recommended!