Malta's history stretches back thousands of years, to the days of the Knights of Saint John, Phoenicians, even the Vikings. The Cugo Gran Macina can't trace its own history back quite back that far, but it's still definitely on the 'impressively old' side. Set in the pretty fortified town of Senglea, the hotel is housed in a 500-year-old very tall building once used to repair sailboat masts. While the building itself is ancient, the interior has been completely refurbished and the atmosphere and service is totally modern, as is the stunning rooftop pool.
There are 21 enormous suites, all with unobstructed views of the Grand Harbour and its surrounding marina. Outside, golden-walled streets are lined with boat-building shops and sites (Senglea is still a working area of the local nautical industry), but great restaurants too; this is an up-and-coming area. Staying here is a peaceful retreat from Malta's crowds, and allows you to explore the Three Cities - a real slice of authentic local life. Then you can dip back into the action at your leisure: Valletta and Gozo are a quick ferry ride away.
Highs
- Contemporary award-winning design, yet the hotel retains lots of traditional Maltese charm and character
- Amazing views of the Grand Harbour from every top-spec suite and the rooftop pool
- Less than 5 miles from the airport
- Hammett's, the excellent fine-dining restaurant and cocktail bar, plus great local restaurants
- Kind staff offer personalised service
Lows
- Some would say it's off the beaten track, away from the main tourist areas (though this was actually a High for us)
- Breakfast is expensive, and room service meals are small; the restaurant is closed for other meals some days during low season – check ahead
- A very pricey minibar
- No twin rooms; all beds are doubles
- Constant dust fell from the limestone ceiling in our bedroom, onto our bed
Best time to go
Any time from April to October - of course, June, July and August are hottest (and least likely to bring any rain).
Our top tips
This is a perfect hideaway hotel for anyone who wants the charm and heat of Malta without the crowds of tourists which can be found in some other parts of the island. You get the history without the hordes!
- Boutique Hotel
- 21 rooms
- Restaurant and bar open daily
- All ages welcome
- Open all year
- Outdoor Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car not necessary
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
Rooms
The 21 suites are spacious and very modern. On the one hand, this is great because they're slick and attractive, with all the bells and whistles one would expect – a widescreen TV, coffee machine, remote-controlled curtains, polished concrete floors, and a luxurious slate bathroom with a walk-in shower. On the other hand, you could be anywhere in the world. This is true international décor, with wingback chairs and geometric patterned rugs – beautiful, yes, but we didn't feel any of it was especially Maltese or even "of the Mediterranean". That said, exposed limestone walls and barrel-vaulted ceilings gave us a sense of the building's old character.
We especially liked the light-filled Corner Suites with Harbour Views, whose lovely terraces look onto crumbling fortress walls and have outdoor dining areas and alfresco sofas. If you're travelling with kids, several of the rooms have mezzanine sofa areas, which can be set up as second bedrooms. All but the Fortress Suites have kitchenettes and dining tables, which are useful for whipping up snacks. The Macina Suite is the only room with a bathtub.
Features include:
- Hairdryer
- In-room treatments available
- Minibar
- Safe box
- WiFi
Eating
Breakfast (not included) was a boutique version of what you might expect at a larger 4- or 5-star hotel – top quality and imaginative offerings, but all prepared by hand. In bigger hotels, you can often feel as though you're being herded in and out of the breakfast room; here you get personal attention from the waiters, who make tea, coffee and juices to order. We enjoyed our scrambled eggs and smoked salmon; banana short stacks, Full English, and parma ham and cheese omelettes were also on the menu.
Award-winning Hammett's restaurant is quite small but more than adequate since the hotel itself doesn't accommodate too many guests. In the evenings, you can choose from a tasting menu or a la carte. Note that the restaurant isn't open every day of the week in low season. We didn't eat here but the food sounds fantastic: seared tuna with prickly pear, fattoush salad and margarita jelly; lamb rump with smoked aubergine puree; crushed lemon pie with basil ice cream.
The area is full of great restaurants; ask staff for recommendations.
Features include:
- Bar
- Coffee maker
- Dishwasher
- Hob or stove
- Kitchenette
- Restaurant
- Restaurants nearby
Activities
- Senglea is one of Malta's Three Cities, the fortified harbour inlets. The oldest, Birgu, dates back to the Middle Ages; don't miss a visit to Fort St Angelo. Senglea and Cospicua were both founded by the Order of St John in the 16th and 17th centuries. Wander around all 3 and admire historical churches and bastions
- A short ferry ride away is the golden-walled Fort St Elmo, which now houses the National War Museum
- Malta's beautiful capital Valletta is a ferry ride away, where you can visit the Grand Master's Palace and magnificent St John’s Co-Cathedral
- Day trip to Gozo for the picturesque San Blas or Ramla Bay
- Bask in the sun on the rooftop terrace, with its magnificent views and lovely pool
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Boat trips
- Historical sites
- Museums / galleries
- Well being
Kids
Cugo Gran Macina is certainly family friendly: the staff seem to love kids, the atmosphere is convivial rather than at all stuffy, and the rooms are huge. We visited with our 11-year-old son who was a big fan of the high-tech side of the hotel (good WiFi, big TV).
Best for:
All ages
Family friendly accommodation:
All rooms can fit 1-2 children in baby cots or extra beds. The Macina Suite is the only room with a bathtub.
Kids Activities on site:
Rooftop pool and open-air cinema
Families Should Know:
There are a lot of stairs, which you might want to take into account if you have a inquisitive toddler!
Distances:
- Airport: 6.5km (Luqa)
- Shop:: 0.2km
- Hospital: 10km
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
Cugo Gran Macina is in Senglea, one of the Three Cities in the Grand Harbour area of southeast Malta.
By Air:
Fly into Luqa Airport (6.5km). It's a 15-minute drive to the hotel but you don't need to hire a car (Cugo Gran can organise a transfer, or just jump in a taxi). That said, car hire is cheap for when you want to explore elsewhere on the island and you can park for free on the streets. Otherwise there's a network of local buses around Malta.
Detailed directions will be sent when you book through i-escape.com.
Airports:
- Malta International Airport (Luqa) 6.5 km MLA
Other:
- Beach 2.0 km
- Shops 0.2 km
- Restaurant 0.2 km
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 3 independent reviews from i-escape guests
Feedback is only from guests who have booked and stayed through i-escape