One way to modernize a centuries-old building is to layer new design over the old walls. The team behind Solis did the opposite. They carved new rooms directly into the limestone of a restored Maltese palazzo overlooking Valletta’s Grand Harbour, and the wing officially opened to guests on Sept. 28.
Solis is a new wing of Iniala Valletta that sits just behind the hotel’s flagship Harbour House, in a UNESCO World Heritage city. General Manager Claudia Schwarze said the team wanted to create “something that could only exist in Valletta.” The project, she said, was years in the making.
A Two-Michelin-Key Hotel Grows by 9 Rooms
The hotel says it’s Malta’s only property to hold two Michelin Keys for two years in a row.
Solis adds nine rooms and suites across three levels. They range from 35 to 72 square meters, or about 380 to 775 square feet. A central staircase and a panoramic elevator anchor the layout.
A Madrid Studio Dug Into the Limestone
A-cero designed Solis around a concept it calls “excavated architecture.” Co-founder Rafael Llamazares said the goal was “never to impose a new language on the building, but to reveal a new layer within it.”
The color palette takes its cue from Maltese limestone. Custom furniture and stone surfaces form part of the architecture, and natural light picks up the raw texture of the stone. Greta Apap Bologna, Iniala’s creative director on the project, oversaw much of the interior design, including the loose furniture and the public lobby areas.
4 Room Types to Choose From
Each of the four room types puts its own spin on the Solis look.
- Solis Rooms run 35 to 45 square meters, with either a king bed or twin beds, Maltese balconies, Diptyque bath products, JING tea and Difference coffee with an espresso machine.
- Solis Suites add living areas and Maltese balconies.
- Solis Superior Suites offer generous living spaces and more privacy.
- The Solis Grand Suite is the largest at 72 square meters, with separate living and dining areas, a walk-in closet and two balconies overlooking the city.
Some suites put a built-in bathtub right in the Maltese balcony area for an indoor-outdoor soak. Guests can also access and personalize key parts of their stay from their room through the OneAVANT system.
Dinner and a Swim on the Roof
Up top, the Solis Club pool looks out across Valletta and the Grand Harbour. Greta Design created the cabanas specifically for Solis.
The rooftop also holds Anaalā, a dinner-only restaurant from Thai chef Ian Kittichai. It has a 24-seat indoor dining room plus outdoor and bar seating. The tasting concept moves through Thailand’s four culinary regions, and the kitchen uses seasonal Maltese produce where possible.
Rates at Solis start at €700 ($795) a night for a double room with breakfast. That’s not cheap. It does put you inside the limestone of a restored palazzo, with a pool on the roof.