The Club Bar

The Club Bar is a small, dimly lit cocktail bar at the Phoenicia Malta, on The Mall in Floriana, the district that sits directly outside the walls of Valletta. It has been pouring drinks since 1952, and the room keeps much of its old character: dark wood, leather chairs, soft lamps and walls covered in historical photographs.

Although our directory lists it under nightclubs in Malta, the bar is not a dance club. It is a place for a considered drink in a landmark setting, open every day from 17:00 until midnight. That makes it a good fit for an early-evening aperitif, a nightcap after dinner in Valletta, or a quiet catch-up away from the louder venues.

A bar with a history

The bar is an intimate cavern whose charm has stayed consistent across the decades. Archive photographs of the same room are in black and white, with a chandelier above a curved counter, shelves of bottles behind it and guests gathered at small tables or standing at the bar.

The bar sees itself as a gathering place, a watering hole and a timeless drinking den for socialites and stars. The approach is understated contemporary elegance: service without pretence, but packed with feeling. For UK visitors, the nearest comparison is a classic hotel bar, with an emphasis on conversation and well-made drinks rather than loud music.

Designer cocktails

The current menu is built by a mixologist and is changed with care to add to the bar's long legacy. The latest chapter brings in the couturier Luke Azzopardi, and a capsule collection of four designer cocktails is available only to the bar's own patrons. The drinks draw on the bar's own history.

Tempest Storm pairs Campari with Cocchi Vermouth di Torino, soda and rosemary syrup, topped with a torched sprig of rosemary. Billie Holiday on the Radio combines Havana 3 and Bacardi Oakheart rums with pineapple, orange, grenadine and lime, finished with a flambéed passion fruit, mint and an edible flower. An Afternoon in 1957 mixes yellow Chartreuse, Tanqueray gin and Amaretto DiSaronno with cherry blossom soda and citrus. How High is the Moon? uses Ketel One vodka or Tanqueray gin, Cocchi Bianco or Cocchi Rosé, rose water and either egg white or aquafaba, a plant-based alternative, with lemon peel and a maraschino cherry.

Photographs of the drinks show them served with props such as old books, pearls and fresh flowers.

Visiting from the UK

Floriana is next door to Valletta, so the bar slots easily into a day in the capital. Start with the Valletta guide, take in the view from the Upper Barrakka Gardens and visit St John's Co-Cathedral, then finish the day with a drink. The Knights of Malta guide gives the history behind the city's architecture.

If you are planning where to sleep, hotels in Valletta are booked through our partner TripX. A morning boat trip with Adventure Cruises Malta or an afternoon at AMIS City Spa, Beauty and Hair Salon both sit comfortably before an evening at the bar. Things to do in Malta and the Malta weather guide have further ideas for planning your trip.

Getting in touch

The Club Bar is at the Phoenicia Malta, The Mall, Floriana FRN 1478, and it is open Monday to Sunday from 17:00 to midnight. Prices are not published online, so ask the bar if you need details for an occasion or a group. Because Floriana adjoins Valletta, the bar is easy to reach from the capital and from nearby hotels, and an evening there fits neatly between a late dinner and the journey back.

To ask about a visit, use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to the bar, who will reply to you directly.