Villa Overhills

Villa Overhills is a historic villa with a modern interior, standing on a hilltop in Birżebbuġa in the south of Malta. Its origins go back to the late nineteenth century, and it now operates as an event venue under Elia Caterers, one of Malta's long-established family catering firms. New management has restored the building and given it a fresh start as a place for celebrations.

For UK couples and companies looking for an alternative to a large banqueting hall, the villa offers a smaller, more personal setting. It is listed in our directory of wedding venues in Malta, where you can compare it with other choices around the islands.

The villa and its setting

The house faces Għar Dalam, Malta's oldest prehistoric site, and lies close to the Borġ in-Nadur prehistoric complex. From the grounds there are panoramic views over Wied Dalam on one side and St Lucian Tower and the blue sea on the other, so the scenery forms part of the occasion. If the south appeals, our guides to the Blue Grotto and the Ħaġar Qim temples cover nearby sights worth adding to a trip.

The restoration kept the character of the house. Traditional stone slabs, known locally as xorok, and stone corbels, called kileb, were retained and highlighted, and they sit alongside new infrastructure. At the heart of the villa is a modern open kitchen, in keeping with the way Elia Caterers likes to work, and a new conservatory brings the outdoors inside for use in any season.

Facilities and capacity

Facilities include air-conditioned indoor spaces, free Wi-Fi, fully equipped kitchens, full access for guests with disabilities, a backup generator, an outdoor pool area, an outdoor space with a retractable canopy, four main bars, a photo area, gardens and terraces with country and sea views, private parking and chairs. The adaptable lighting design helps the villa work as a year-round venue.

Guidance on numbers depends on the layout. A standing reception can hold 450 guests indoors and 700 outdoors, 1,150 combined. A seated reception suits 200 indoors and 400 outdoors, 600 combined. Indoors only, theatre style takes 100, U-shaped 60 and classroom style 40. These figures are indicative, and the team will talk through set-ups with you.

Events and Elia Caterers

The venue is pitched at intimate celebrations: weddings, corporate events, team building days, birthdays, baptisms, graduations and anniversaries. Catering comes from Elia Caterers, founded in Ħamrun in 1953 by Elia Borg Bonaci and his wife Rita as a confectionery and coffee shop, and still run by the family. Its other venues, Giardini Lambrosa and Veranda, opened in 2016 on the outskirts of Mdina, and our Mdina guide covers that area.

The firm also keeps traditional Maltese recipes alive, including seasonal specialities, which is a draw for visitors who want local flavours at a wedding. Food tasting sessions can be booked through the Elia website, a useful step before you commit to a menu. Corporate groups can use the same facilities for conferences and workshops, since the layouts include theatre, classroom and U-shaped formats, and the free Wi-Fi and air conditioning suit a working day.

Visiting from the UK

Viewings take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5pm to 7pm, with tours available without an appointment, which suits a short trip. For travel, see flights to Malta from the UK and where to stay in Malta. Our Malta weather guide helps you pick a month, and things to do in Malta gives ideas for guests who arrive early.

Many wedding parties add a few days of sightseeing, and our Valletta guide is a good starting point. For more background, read about Malta holidays in general. To ask about dates or numbers, use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to Villa Overhills.