Waterfront Hotel is a stylish, modern 4* hotel situated at the Gzira end of the Strand in Sliema, in easy strolling distance of buses, ferries and the noisier part of town. The Waterfront is ideally placed for exploring Sliema, Valletta or for just chilling out and spending days wandering along the seafront and people-watching from one of the pavement cafes and bars.

The lounge, reception and bar have a sleek, "cruise liner" look to them while the light and bright first floor restaurant has great harbour views but is perhaps more functional than intimate. Maybe not the best place for a romantic night out but the buffet-style restaurant offers a remarkably good standard and choice of dishes, changing every night, a mammoth size salad bar and a generous choice of buffet breakfast.
The pizzaria was louder, more funky, and seemed to be very popular with the locals at the weekend.

Our room had a modern nautical design, was spotlessly clean, airy and comfortable with a no-frills modern en-suite and good A/C. If possible, book a corner room to get the most space & double balconies (for the stunning view over the harbour to the floodlit domes of Valletta) and request an upper floor to lessen the traffic noise from the busy Strand which runs straight past the hotel.

The roof-top sun deck & snack bar were out of commission for the winter but for those that want to spend long days by the swimming pool, rather than swimming at the Lido, then maybe this might be an issue. This is the hotel's only outside space and the pool, whilst having pleasant surroundings and looking well maintained, is very small indeed and must get over-crowded in summer.

All the staff we met were helpful, efficient and unobtrusive and although we were there in January when the hotel was only half-full, the atmosphere was informal and friendly, not at all like a ghost-town as we'd feared.

We wouldn't hesitate to recommend this hotel to anyone looking for somewhere grown-up, stylish, modern and of a high standard. It deserves it's 4 stars.