The Xara Palace
The Xara Palace is an intimate 17th-century palazzo and the only hotel inside Mdina’s fortified walls, pairing individually styled rooms with sweeping countryside views and destination dining.
The Xara Palace occupies a restored 17th-century palazzo within the walls of Mdina, Malta’s former capital and its atmospheric Silent City. Staying here allows guests to experience the lanes and bastions after most day visitors have left.
With fewer than 20 rooms and suites, the hotel feels genuinely personal. High ceilings, stone walls, antiques and traditional fabrics preserve the building’s character, while select suites add terraces or private Jacuzzis overlooking the island.
The setting is the defining amenity. Guests can step directly into Mdina’s palaces, churches and narrow streets, then return to quiet public rooms that feel integrated with the historic city rather than separated from it.
Dining is unusually ambitious for such a small hotel. De Mondion serves fine dining above the bastions with panoramic views, while Trattoria AD 1530 offers a more relaxed meal in the square outside.
The Xara Palace is best for travelers who value atmosphere, history and intimacy over resort facilities. Few hotels in Malta provide such direct access to the island’s architectural past or such a memorable setting after dark.