Staying in a hotel with a rooftop can be a real bonus on a city or beach break. With Malta being so compact, you can enjoy the convenience of staying in the city while still being close to the beaches. Which is exactly what I did! I’m here to share my stays in St Julian’s at ME Malta and AX The Palace in Sliema, and whether the rooftops genuinely added value. What the experience was like beyond the glossy photos and wow views. From the rooms to the location, each review breaks down the practical details. If you love the idea of a rooftop sunset or a pool day without leaving your hotel, these reviews should help you decide if either hotel is your kind of stay.
ME Malta Hotel Review
⭐ Quick verdict
Best for: Great service, modern technology, and 5-star comfort in St Julians
Not ideal if: You’re looking for a calm area or hate gadgets
Rooftop value: Good
Who this hotel is for: Business travellers, solos, couples
Overall feel: Businessy and tech-first, a bit soulless
🛏 Room Details
Type: Standard: Always ME with balcony
Size: Big
Storage: Plenty
Hanging space: Good for one
Bed: Comfy – not as amazing as the usual ME signature snugly ones
Table: Yes
Blackout curtains: Yes
Air con: Yes – heating and AC worked well and wasn’t complicated
View: The shopping area
Balcony: Yes
Mirrors: Yes – but none near a plug! (Bathroom plug doesn’t fit anything but the hairdryer)
Water in room: Yes
Kettle: Yes
Coffee machine: Yes
Mini bar: Yes
Any extras?: Bluetooth for the TV and music. Straighteners though you can’t use near a mirror, so bring one! I converted the tea and coffee station into a hair and make up station as I had brought a portable mirror! As it was part of my big birthday trip, there was a cake and bottle of prosecco awaiting!
🛁 Bathroom
Style: Modern with old-school glamour in gold finishings
Shower pressure: Excellent
Hairdryer effectiveness: Great
Shampoo & conditioner: Yes
Bathrobe: Yes
🏨 Hotel Logistics & Practical Info
Distance from airport: 20–30 minutes
Location: Mercury Towers, St Julian’s (Google Map)
Getting around: There is a bus, but Uber or Bolt are fastest – arrive like lightning
Hotel size: Feels big – 20 stories, approx. 175 rooms
Communication prior to arrival: Amazing – had concerns over the twin room not being guaranteed. While they couldn’t officially confirm, Francesco did everything possible to ensure it, and on arrival we were immediately told yes, the room was held for us
Welcome drink: Yes – reception on the 7th floor
Local supermarket: Yes, opposite
Staff: Amazing – really kind, keen for feedback, and nothing was too much trouble
🏖️Workout, Rest and Play
Gym: Yes
Spa: No
Pool: Yes – 3 on the rooftops
Beach: No
🍽️ Restaurant & Bar
Breakfast: On the lower 5th-floor terrace – lovely area for a lazy morning or business breakfast. Smaller selection than I’d expect for this size of hotel, but still plenty of choices – especially if you love eggs!
Bubbles at breakfast: No
Bar/restaurant: I only used the rooftop and the restaurant for breakfast but heard it was great for dinner
🥂 Rooftop 1 – Radio Rooftop
Size: Small–medium, mainly inside with a wrap-around terrace
View: Over St Julians and beyond – 20 floors up!
Bar: Yes
Pool: Very, very small – mainly for private hire of the whole rooftop
Shade: Yes
Best for: Sunset
Read my full rooftop bar review
💧 Rooftop 2 – Cabana Club
Size: Big
View: Over St Julians – on floor 8, rooftop of a lower hotel building
Bar: Yes – day only
Pool: Yes – 2
Shade: Not much – meant no pool day for me
Best for: Sun seekers and soakers!
Read my full rooftop pool review
💰 Cost & Value
Cost: Reasonable
Worth the money?: Yes
Would I stay again?: Not unless I needed accommodation in St Julian’s – then yes
✍️ ME Malta Hotel Review Summary
Arriving at ME Malta, I was greeted on the ground floor by the doorman rather than reception – this always throws me off a bit. But the welcome on the 7th floor was warm, helpful and personal – they had taken note of all my requests. They quickly assisted with our late dinner plans and even tried to “squeeze us onto the rooftop for dinner,” which was amusing since the rooftop was mostly empty. Still, the dinner itself was convenient, with sensational views and tasty sushi, even if the vibe felt a little flat.
I’m a big fan of the Melia group for their diverse hotel range and the ME by Melia in particular. The cool vibe, squishy beds, and usually with an amazing rooftop, but ME Malta didn’t fully hit the same notes. The beds were comfortable but closer to Innside-level comfort than the signature ME softness. The hotel’s tech-heavy approach is a mixed bag: the elevators were confusing, and on our first night we got stuck between floors and had to call reception. We never could figure out the tech safe. On the plus side, the air conditioning was simple to use – quite a rarity! And it was still a personal experience as the hotel surprised me with cake and bubbles for my birthday – a lovely touch.
The location is in Mercury Towers which is a curious building for the area that is clearly scaling up the clientele but still shares streets with the partygoers of St Julian’s. It’s convenient but be prepared for some nightlife energy nearby.
Now, the rooftops – these are genuinely the reason to book ME Malta. Two rooftop options offer a mix of sunset views, sun soaking and selfies. They may not be massive or buzzing with atmosphere, but the views over St Julian’s are spectacular.
Overall, ME Malta is solid for business travellers, solo trips, or couples wanting a modern, tech-forward hotel with rooftop options. It’s not the signature ME vibe I’ve loved elsewhere, but the rooftop makes it worth considering, especially if you’re in St Julian’s and want a convenient base – which it absolutely delivered for us.
📝 Admin
Date Stayed: September 2025
Information check/updated: 2026
Hotel website: ME Malta
Hotel Rooftop Booking Tip
Some hotels close their rooftops for private events, seasonal schedules, or refurbishment. This isn’t always communicated to guests in advance. If the rooftop bar or pool or restaurant is vital for your stay, do contact the hotel to confirm opening times during your potential stay.
AX The Palace Malta
⭐ Quick verdict
Best for: Walking distance to Sliema and Valletta
Not ideal if: You prefer super-modern hotels
Rooftop value: Really good
Who this hotel is for: Couples used to 3–4 star older hotels who like charm and character
Overall feel: 4 star, not 5. Needs a refresh in areas, rooftop saves the day!
🛏 Room Details
Type: Deluxe Twin
Size: Small to medium
Storage: OK
Bed: Good
Table: Yes
Blackout curtains: Yes
Air con: Good
View: Over Sliema
Balcony: Yes
Mirrors: Yes
Kettle: Yes
Mini bar: No
Any extras?: No
🛁 Bathroom
Style: Older
Shower pressure: OK
Hairdryer effectiveness: Good
Shampoo & conditioner: No conditioner originally, but as of the 2026 update this is now provided
Bath robe: Yes
🏨 Hotel Logistics & Practical Info
Distance from airport: 20 minutes by taxi
Location: Sliema (Google Map)
Getting around: Five-minute walk to the water and ferry, or Uber/Bolt within minutes
Hotel size: Approx. 150 rooms
Communication prior to arrival: Poor – failed to inform us of a rooftop event on our first night
Welcome drink: Yes
Local supermarket: Lidl, two streets away
Staff: Very helpful, nothing was too much trouble
🏖️ Workout, Rest and Play
Gym: Yes – didn’t use
Spa: Yes – didn’t use
Pool: Yes – two (indoor and rooftop)
Beach: No
🍽️ Restaurant & Bar
Breakfast: Good
Bubbles at breakfast: Yes
Bar / restaurant: Yes – only used the downstairs restaurant for breakfast
🥂 Rooftop
Size: Small to medium, spread across different areas
View: Over Sliema
Bar: Yes
Pool: Yes
Restaurant: Yes
Shade: Yes
Best for: Pool days and dinner
Read my full rooftop restaurant and pool review
💰 Cost & Value
Cost: Reasonable
Worth the money?: At the time, yes
Would I stay again?: No
✍️ AX The Palace Malta Review Summary
When I arrived at AX The Palace, I was excited for the plans ahead, starting with sunset rooftop drinks. Unfortunately, those plans were immediately derailed when we were told there was a private event already underway. There had been no advance communication, no mention on social media, and nothing on the hotel website. This is one of my biggest rooftop bugbears, and I learned the hard way to always double-check. The disappointment was real.
I had booked this hotel specifically for first-night drinks and a rooftop pool day. Thankfully, the pool day wasn’t affected and was everything I had hoped for. The staff were attentive and incredibly accommodating, even squeezing us in for a sunset dinner before a late flight home.
The hotel itself felt a little dated in both décor and rooms. Some areas shown online look much more modern, but our room wasn’t one of them. That said, it was clean, comfy and the balcony views were good. Breakfast was a treat, and the location is excellent – very walkable.
Unless the hotel undergoes further refurbishment, I wouldn’t choose to stay again. However, if you are planning to properly use the rooftop pool, that alone could make it worth considering, as it is without doubt the standout feature of the hotel.
📝 Admin
Date stayed: 2018 – while this was some time ago and some rooms have since been refurbished, many still haven’t. Key details have been checked and updated, and the review remains rooftop relevant today
Information checked/updated: 2026
Hotel website: AX The Palace Malta
