From 8th December 2026 – 1st January 2027, Iniala Valletta marks the season with a festive calendar, two rooftop restaurants and the newly launched WITHIN Spa and WITHIN Recovery.
This festive season, Iniala Valletta, a Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star hotel with two Michelin Keys, opens its doors for 25 days of gatherings on St Barbara Bastion. Whether you’re staying the night or simply joining for an evening, the Grand Harbour and the Three Cities set the scene. The season includes carols by candlelight, festive dining on two rooftops and private Christmas celebrations, as well as a new space for restoration and much more besides. For those giving Iniala this year, every €100 spent on gift cards includes a complimentary €10.
25 Days of Gatherings
The season begins on 8th December, as the Grand Christmas Tree comes alight in the lobby. Maltese singer Edel performs, chestnuts roast by the entrance and mulled wine is poured. From there, a new gathering unfolds each day, many of them complimentary for hotel guests. The hotel’s sommelier pairs seasonal wines with cheeses chosen to draw out their character. Edel returns for carols by candlelight on the grand staircase and a Maltese Christmas afternoon tea brings island sweets and traditional recipes to the table. One evening, the Ark Lounge becomes a Venetian bàcaro, with cicchetti and Prosecco made for unhurried conversation.
“For me, Christmas at Iniala Valletta is about the special moments we share together. Whether it is a family gathering around the table for Christmas lunch overlooking our beautiful harbour, or friends coming together on the rooftop to welcome the New Year, it is these moments of togetherness, the joy of sharing and the memories we help our guests create that make the festive season at Iniala so special,” said Claudia Schwarze, General Manager, Iniala Valletta.
Festive Dining Above the Grand Harbour
At ION Harbour by Simon Rogan, Malta’s only two-Michelin-starred restaurant, the season unfolds across three occasions. A Christmas Eve gala dinner is served as the harbour lights come on below. Christmas Day follows with an unhurried lunch, the Grand Harbour beyond the glass. On New Year’s Eve, refined live entertainment carries the evening towards midnight, when fireworks rise over the water.
On the roof of the Solis wing, celebrated chef Ian Kittichai brings a festive accent to the regional Thai cooking of Anaalā Valletta. There are candlelit dinners on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and an adults-only Thai banquet on New Year’s Eve. As Anaalā usually opens for dinner only, a festive Thai lunch, with live music and cocktails, offer a rare chance to enjoy the rooftop by daylight, while its daytime guise, Solis Club, offers a more traditional Christmas Day lunch.
Christmas Celebrations Above the City
For companies planning their end-of-year celebration, both rooftops can be reserved privately, for anything from an intimate dinner to a larger gathering. Anaalā Valletta offers a choice of settings: a terrace for a seated dinner or a standing reception for up to 150 and an upper terrace beside the pool with sweeping views of the harbour and city. At Malta’s culinary landmark, ION Harbour, celebrations of up to 120 unfold with the Grand Harbour as the backdrop. Both are fully catered, with menus and wine pairings tailored to each occasion.
Restoration at WITHIN Spa and WITHIN Recovery
Amongst the dinners and late nights, WITHIN Spa offers a quieter rhythm. Set within a historic stone vault, it introduces signature festive rituals this December, alongside bespoke treatments rooted in Malta’s light, limestone and sea. The newly launched WITHIN Recovery takes restoration further. Infrared therapy warms the body gently, easing tension and helping muscles recover and cryotherapy follows with a brief, invigorating burst of cold that leaves guests feeling refreshed and clear-headed. Together they make a natural reset between long lunches and late celebrations.
As the year draws to a close, Renew Before the New offers three days of restoration. From 28th – 30th December, guests can enjoy the full spa circuit of indoor pool and sauna, with smoothies, wholesome bites and Champagne served by the pool. It’s a moment to slow down and step into 2027 feeling renewed.
Stay the Night
For those who would rather not end the experience with a journey home, a suite at Iniala Valletta is only a few steps from the celebrations, where every detail is quietly taken care of.
