Welcome Autumn - Exclusive October Online Offer

There is still time to enjoy some nice weather!

Looking for a special place to spend your holidays in Malta? Malta is bursting with exciting events and the Grand Hotel Excelsior awaits you to celebrate and relax in elegance and luxury.

Benefit from Our October Exclusive Offer available only when booking through Our Official website...

For stay dates 4th till 11th & 23rd till 31st October book a Deluxe Inland Room on Bed & Breakfast Basis and get a FREE Room Upgrade to a Deluxe Partial Sea View Room. And if you stay 3 nights or more you can benefit from a discount off your rate. The average nightly rate includes the % discount for stays from 3 nights.

Rates start from 155 Euro per room per night.

For more information visit the Grand Hotel Excelsior Malta Website.

World Tourism Day at Excelsior Hotel Malta

Tuesday 27th September 2011 - Hosting guests from around the World and operating with personnel from 23 different countries, the Grand Hotel Excelsior believes in finding unity in diversity. To celebrate this day the Grand Hotel Excelsior’s Lobby will be transformed into a little global community embracing music, food, drinks and art from around the World, from the collection of Dame Francoise Tempra.

The Harbour View Bar will serve typical cocktails from around the globe, whilst Le Grand Spa will be having special packages on treatments originated in different cultures.

In the evening, an International Buffet will be held at the Admiral’s landing featuring cuisines from Latin America, Asia, Middle East and the Mediterranean. Click Here to View Menu.

Activities in the Lobby are free of charge whilst the International Buffet is at 33 Euro per person.

For more information kindly visit Our Hotel Website.

Chef Challenge on Cibus Magazine

This month Cibus challenged the Hotel Excelsior's Executive Chef Roger Friggieri to create an original dish utilising Fresh Lampuki, Figs, Capers and Peppers. 

If you would like to try out some of our mouthwatering dishes visit one of our renowned Malta Restaurants.

The Maltese Cross

Introduced to Malta by the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem upon taking possession of the islands in 1530, the Maltese Cross has become an intrinsic part of Malta’s culture and heritage, as well as a much-cherished symbol by the Maltese.

The Maltese Cross formally adopted by the Knights Hospitallers of St. John in 1126, stylistically owes its origins to the crosses used in the crusades, when it was identified as the symbol of the “Christian warrior”: Its eight points denote the eight obligations or aspirations of the knights, namely “to live in truth, have faith, repent one’s sins, give proof of humility, love justice, be merciful, be sincere and wholehearted, and to endure persecution”. With time, the eight points also came to represent the eight “langues” (literally “tongues”, but in effect national groupings) of the noblemen who were admitted to the famed order, namely those of Auvergne, Provence, France, Aragon, Castille and Portugal, Italy, Baviere (Germany), and England (with Scotland and Ireland). The Maltese cross remains the symbol of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.

The link between the Maltese Cross and these islands was forged with the Knights’ arrival in Malta in 1530. By then, the Cross had become the established symbol of the Order, and as the Knights set about putting their stamp on these islands through their inspired architectural feats and patronage of the arts, so the Maltese Cross provided the signature to this glorious legacy. The Cross found itself on coats-of-arms, palaces, hospitals, the entrances and gates to various forts and towers, on fortifications as well as on coins, cannon, monuments, churches, paintings and frescoes, furniture, silverware and jewelry.

A selection of souvenirs including thimbles, magnets, baseball caps, lighters and pendants featuring the Maltese Cross are available at the Grand Hotel Excelsior's Gift Shops.

Sunday's Symphony - Excelsior Sunday Lunch

Our Popular Sunday Lunch will be back starting 2nd October 2011

With 6 life cooking stations to tempt you, and 20 different desert dishes to choose from, the Sunday Lunch Buffet becomes a never-ending exploration of the world’s finest cuisines.

Each station offers authentic, ethnic dishes to taste and explore - from Asian, Indian and Turkish to French, Lebanese and Spanish.

Excelsior’s team of chefs uses only the freshest ingredients guaranteeing the finest in 5-star cuisine.

There’s live entertainment for the grown-ups, a menu for the children and animation to keep the young ones occupied while you relax.

And those wonderful Harbour views from the Spice Island Restaurant windows complete the picture.

Call the Grand Hotel Excelsior on 2125 0520 to make your booking for Sunday Lunch or email food.beverage@excelsior.com.mt.

Gozo - Excelsior Malta Excursions

Gozo, meaning “joy” in Castilian, is the second largest Island of the Maltese archipelago, with a population of approximately 30,000.

Though separated from mainland Malta by a 5km stretch of sea, Gozo is distinctly different from Malta. The Island is a third the size of Malta, more rural and simple, its culture and way of life rooted in fishing, as well as in primitive pastoral and agricultural activity.

Exuding a relaxed pace of life, Gozo is the ideal secluded safe haven and at just 25 minutes or so by ferry from Malta, the hop can easily be made for even the shortest stay.

Gozo and its inhabitants have their own distinct character and identity, with noticeably different lifestyles, accents and dialect. Gozitans are known for their friendliness and welcome to visitors, going out of their way to indicate a direction or help a visitor find their destination.

The real beauty of Gozo, apart from its stunning seascape and interior, lies in the villages. Here, it seems as if time really does stand still. The locals treasure their peace and the villages are tranquil, proving to be a wonderful respite from the trials and tribulations of everyday life for visitors.

Village bars open early in order to cater for the early risers who attend the first mass of the morning and close fairly late at night, catering for the socialising needs of locals and visitors. These watering holes have stayed unchanged for decades, the only sign of time passing by being the food and drink displayed for sale on the solid shelves and the Edwardian glass cases.

All roads in Gozo lead to Victoria, also known as Rabat, which is where the fortified citadel sits atop a summit.

Restaurants abound in Rabat, Mgarr and the fishing villages of Marsalforn and Xlendi, as well as in several other places.

Check Out Our Gozo Tour:

Price for 2 to 4 persons: 160 Euro, or

Price for 5 to 6 persons: 180 Euro.

Should you wish to experience one of Our Special Malta Tours kindly contact our chauffeur driven service on: +356 2125 0520 or concierge@excelsior.com.mt.

Interview with the General Manager of the Grand Hotel Excelsior Malta

What do German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Spanish King Juan Carlos 1 and Latin heartthrob Enrique Iglesias have in common?

They’ve all been to Malta and they’ve all slept in the same bed. This particular bed is found in the executive suite at the five-star Grand Hotel Excelsior in Floriana.

Speaking to General Manager, Norbert Grixti, Vida found out that there is a long list of celebrities – musicians, politicians and athletes – who have chosen this specific suite in which to catch their 40 winks while in Malta. Three flights of stairs bear testimony to this, with photos of Cliff Richard, the Black Eyed Peas, referee Pierluigi Collina, Dione Warwick and so many others taken with the Excelsior staff.

Our two-hour long discussion covers many topics and of course the national airline woes are always a concern for anyone in the tourism industry. Asked whether low-cost airlines have impacted the business negatively his answer is a clear ‘No’. A low-cost airline, he clarifies, does not necessarily mean a low-budget client. ‘People will choose their airline based on convenience. Why would you pay more to travel to an airport that’s further from home simply to use a more expensive carrier? The money that is saved in flights will probably be spent anyway while on holiday.’ The national carrier has done far more for tourism and the economy than it is given credit for. They will operate routes that are not making a profit as there are destinations that are not as popular, and that also may benefit the nation economically while not really helping the airline. Of course there is also the employment factor too.

And while it may have taken a few twists and turns over the last few weeks, there is also the crisis in Libya. ‘Occupancy shot up for a few weeks,’ he says, ‘as people fled the area and chose Malta as their destination.’

As we spoke we couldn’t help looking out over the Grand Hotel Excelsior’s private marina with views of the Sliema cityscape. ‘It is exclusive to our guests’ he says. ‘Although commercially it is a prime location, we focus on providing the highest standard of service to our clientele.’

As we head back out of the hotel we pass through the restaurants. During the summer months Wednesday evenings are themed Global Tastes where guests can try a vast selection of cuisines – Italian, Indian and Turkish. During the rest of the year eight cooking stations are available to cater to all tastes for the Sunday lunch buffet.

If you would like to find out more about what’s happening at the Grand Hotel Excelsior Malta then stay updated with this Luxury Malta Hotel’s website.

Relaxation and Wellness - Spa Malta

A massage like no other  

Experiencing a massage that utilises 2,000 year old techniques is enjoying the result of a tradition that has worked wonders on people's bodies.

A traditional Thai massage is an experience aimed at allowing the body to achieve harmony, ease aches and pains, stretch the body and provide wellbeing. 

Ms Marika Azzopardi of the Sunday Times has experienced the thai massage at the Grand Hotel Excelsior Malta's Le Grand Spa. Read the full article to find out what she has to say about this massage offered as this Spa Resort Malta...

Planning your Bid Day?

An Excelsior Malta Wedding

At the Grand Hotel Excelsior we strive to make your wedding day a special and personalised experience for you and your guests alike, providing five star service, fine cuisine, remarkable views and a venue unlike any other.

Find out what Julia Farrugia, a local newspaper editor has to say about her Big Day at the Grand Hotel Excelsior Malta.

'When it came to choosing the venue, the catering was one of the most important things on our list. Sometimes you go to weddings where food presentation is poor or with pastizzi or sausages on the menu. We wanted a team that excelled in food quality and designer presentation. The Excelsior was our first choice and our wedding date was shifted by two weeks so as to have this wonderful team on board. Weeks before the big day we had food tasting sessions with Executive Head Chef Roger Friggieri and we carefully chose our food together. Almost all items were cooked on the spot. The best comments we had were from our guests saying that the food was exquisite, at the right temperature and with a presentation that stood apart from other weddings.'

If you wish to organise your Malta wedding at this Luxury Malta Hotel contact our dedicated weddings team.