The Xara Palace Relais & Chateaux Hotel

The Xara Palace Relais & Chateaux Hotel is a 5-star boutique hotel in Mdina, Malta's ancient "Silent City," and the only hotel located within its medieval fortified walls. Housed in a meticulously restored 17th-century palazzo, the property offers just 17 individually designed rooms and suites, each furnished with antique furniture, original artwork and luxurious Parisian fabrics, many enjoying 180-degree views across the Maltese countryside.

Perched on centuries-old bastions surrounded by baroque architecture, The Xara Palace pairs luxurious accommodation with award-winning cuisine — including the Michelin Star restaurant de Mondion, detailed below. Every facet of the guest experience, from décor to the unhurried pace of life within Mdina's walls, is built around impeccable attention to detail.

Stepping outside the hotel, guests are immediately immersed in Mdina's narrow limestone streets, just a five-minute walk from Mdina Gate and the main square. The property's central location makes it easy to explore Valletta, the wider island, or take a day trip to Gozo via the ferry.

The Xara Palace's 17 rooms and suites are individually designed, each reflecting the noble heritage of the palazzo with antique furniture, period pieces and rich fabrics. Categories range from Deluxe Rooms with Panoramic View through to the property's most exclusive accommodation, and interconnecting Duplex Rooms and Suites suited to families.

The Deluxe Suites with Panoramic View, set directly into Mdina's bastion fortifications, are among the most sought-after in the hotel for their unhindered island views. For a further touch of indulgence, the Deluxe Suite with Terrace and Jacuzzi and the Executive Duplex Suite with Terrace and Jacuzzi both offer a private outdoor Jacuzzi and sun deck terrace atop the bastions — the latter widely recommended for honeymooners. The Duplex Suite makes use of the palazzo's high ceilings with a spiral staircase separating an upper bedroom from a private sitting room below, while the Presidential Suite and Executive Suite with Panoramic View, set on the hotel's first-floor "Piano Nobile," offer the grandest accommodation on the property. All rooms include air conditioning, WiFi, marble-clad bathrooms and turndown amenities.

Beyond de Mondion, The Xara Palace offers three further dining options. The Medina Restaurant, just off Mdina's Cathedral Square, is housed in an original 11th-century Norman residence full of Romanesque features, honey-coloured stone walls and a charming internal courtyard — used for al fresco dining in summer and warmed by an open fireplace in winter. Trattoria AD1530 offers a more relaxed, al fresco Italian-Mediterranean menu in the hotel's own courtyard piazza, opposite Vilhena Palace. For guests who prefer to dine privately, in-room Private Dining is also available.

There is no swimming pool on site at The Xara Palace itself — Mdina's historic, fortified footprint doesn't allow for one — but guests have complimentary shuttle transfers to the seasonal outdoor pool at the hotel's sister property, Xara Lodge, on the outskirts of Rabat, just five minutes away by car. The on-site spa and gym cater to guests wishing to relax or maintain a fitness routine during their stay.

The Xara Palace hosts weddings and celebrations under the "Infinitely Xara" wedding brand, part of the wider Xara Collection, offering couples planning a wedding in Malta a choice of three distinct settings within the same collection. Ceremonies and receptions at The Xara Palace itself suit smaller, more intimate celebrations, set within the centuries-old palazzo walls in the heart of Mdina, with the Michelin Star de Mondion available for wedding dining. For larger gatherings, Xara Lodge on the outskirts of Rabat can accommodate hundreds of guests, while Palazzo de Piro offers a classic reception venue for a more traditional celebration.

The Xara Palace's 17 individually designed rooms and suites can be booked for the wedding party and wider guest list, allowing the celebration to extend across a full stay rather than a single day. Wedding enquiries are handled directly by the Xara Collection's dedicated events team, who can advise on the right venue for the size and style of celebration you have in mind, alongside catering, styling and the wider logistics of planning a destination wedding in Mdina.