Small but pleasant hotel

The imperial hotel has an excellant locality being at the most a 15 minute walk to the habour it would potentialy cause a few problems for those less able as it is on a hill side. Once down though you are a brilliant area of shopping, eating and things to do - The habour cruises, Valletta ferry and bus terminous to go all around the island. The hotel is a frequently visited one by many who all seem to know each other which makes the hotel seem extremly friendly also the staff are very pleasant. The rooms need a little updating as they are slightly shabby and my air conditioning was very noisy to have on all night. My room was opposite the stairs and was quite noisy with passing guest as the marble floor echoed the sound. The food was was quite nice (I have had better) but there was a nice choice and was worth its money. All in all if you are going on holiday to stay in the hotel then maybe you should pick another but if you want somewhere nice to stay in a good location to discover the area then this is an excellant hotel. An enjoyable holiday

Better than the review led me to believe!

Having read reviews of the hotel on your site, unfortunately after I booked it, I was dreading what we had let ourselves in for! Fortunately for me, some of your reviewers could not have been to the same hotel. The Imperial is definately for a select group of people. Do NOT go here if you wish to have a 'sterile' room with powershower, satellite TV and a mini bar, or if you are a gastronome. However, if you would like a charming hotel with a few faults then this is for you. The restaurant would not win any prizes, the breakfasts were monotonous, cereal, bread, cold meats and cheese with scramled egg on alternate days, dinner was adequate, but as St Julien's Bay is a short walk away with numerous wonderful eateries (we paid on average 28mL for 3 course, wine and coffee for 2), we tended to eat out. The hotel staff were friendly and helpful, I asked for a softer pillow and someone was there with it within minutes! The reception staff were efficient and some more friendly than others. The bedrooms were basic, but on holiday I tend to spend as little time as possible in my room! The bathrooms were old fashioned, the showers tended to dribble rather than gush and there was no hairdryer, but fresh towels were provided everyday. Finally, whether it was because it was a fairly small hotel, or perhaps the clientele it attracts, we found everyone to be very sociable, people chatting by the pool, in the bar or even across tables at dinner! I would definately stay here again.

Pictures not worth a 1,000 words

I stayed at the Imperial for about a week. The hotel is located about four blocks from the main road fronting the sea. The pictures used in their web site were taken by a very good and creative photographer - discount them by 70%. I had a room with balcony and a 'garden and pool' view. To call this a garden was optimistic and the pool was barely visible. I believe there are only five rooms with a balcony. Although the rooms are clean they are right ought of the 1970's. Breakfast is basically processed food and tasteless. The hotel's seems to cater to mainly retired people, many of which stay at the hotel all of the time. The staff makes an attempt to be curteous (there are a few who actually pull it off) but mostly fail at it. They charge for EVERYTHING (eg 14 Maltese cents for a very basic tourist map given away at stores). If you are looking for a place to sleep which is clean and will not be spending too much time at the hotel then this could be an an option but only at a very attractive price. The hotel has massive potential but that is all - just potetnial. The only relatively nice thing about it is the main lobby area which is, as someone else stated, 'Grandeur in Decay'. This said, I have stayed at several other hotels in Malta and maintenance is not a major priority there in general.

Nice stay

Grand entrance, with exceptionally good restaurant. Food adequate. Staff very friendly, cheerful and competent. Bedroom with en-suite bathroom all a little old fashioned, shabby but clean. Very good value for money. My wife and I really enjoyed our two weeks there and would definitely stay there again.

Grandeur in decay !

The staff were very friendly and professional and the public rooms very grand-enough antiques to fill a small museum ! It was spotlessly clean and in an ideal location for "active" people who like a generally quiet enviroment. On a half board basis the breakfasts were "continental"-cold meats,cheese.cereals etc. and quite adequate,dinners were not so good. We felt the hotel was a little let down by the bedrooms. They were perfectly adequate but seemed a bit shabby when compared to the rest of the hotel.

We would certainly stay there again,on a B&B basis,

Love the hotel

Have stayed at the Imperial 9 times over a period of 11 years. Have always found staff very friendly. Although rooms generally basic have always been very clean. Food has always been excellent. Only complaint is that entertainment is basically the same each evening. Love the "olde worlde" finesse of the hotel.

Give it a miss!

Hotel has seen better days. Outside very shabby looking. Ground floor rooms huge and very basic. Wardrope was smelly, (blankets in wardrope probable source), didn't even unpack our suitcase had to demand another room it was so bad. Other room was at least clean if still very basic. Most rooms no balcony, 10-15 minute walk to seafront, road outside quite busy.

Not too keen on the Imperial

This hotel used to be quite grand but seems a bit dejected now. The rooms were very basic. The bathroom seemed to be in some kind of 70's timewarp and the shower was a mere trickle.

The pool area was quite shabby and the service at the pool bar was at best slow and at worst non-existant!

The hotel is also at the top of a hill so anyone who may have a disability or small children in pushchairs I would reccommend that you stay elsewhere although if you stay here you will get excellent calf muscles!

Also one evening we came back to the hotel late after an evening over the other side of the island only to find that the hotel was locked and we then had to wake up the security gaurd in order for us to get back into our own rooms.

Would use the Imperial again

ideally situated in the centre of the town, with easy walks to Balluta Bay, St. Julians, Qui Sana and Sliema promenade. guests don't have to dress up for meals,##but are not allowed to dress down## my age is 50 yrs old, and l have grandchildren, but fortunately no children were there to spoil what could be classed as an older persons hotel. food and wine is very good,with a good selection available. staff are attentive and pleasant, and service is very good. can recommend and would use again.

Oh Dear

Not very much to say abuot this one at all I'm afraid. Terrible service and the rooms are a little shabby. Ate out after the first evenings dinner even though it was included in the package - really not worth the bother.