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February 6, 2025 – Published in Design & Decor Autumn-Winter 2024 issue
The inimitable Corinthia Palace: A pioneer of quiet luxury re-envisioned
Photography Andrew Mizzi
Built over 100 years ago, the grand villa standing in one of Malta’s most sought-after neighbourhoods holds a very special place for the family of Alfred Pisani—the luminary behind Corinthia.
It is the birthplace of Corinthia Hotels, a Maltese heritage brand which has established its place as one of the world’s most illustrious names in luxury hospitality—with new hotels opening in landmark locations in New York, Brussels, Rome, Qatar, Bucharest and beyond in the near future.
The residence—Villa Refalo, as it was known at the time—was acquired by the Pisani family in 1959. It was first opened as a restaurant—named Corinthia by Alfred’s mother, Josephine—and, a short while later, established as the renowned Corinthia Palace Hotel.
In November 2021, the hotel’s General Manager position was passed on to Alexandra Pisani, whose life has been immersed in the hospitality industry since childhood.
Today, Alexandra is enhancing the historical origins of Corinthia Palace and transforming it into an even more alluring destination.
The Design & Décor team sat down with Alexandra to discuss her vision in more detail. “When Corinthia Palace Hotel was created in 1968 by our chairman and founder Alfred Pisani—who is also my father—Malta was going through a tourism boom. Corinthia Palace was the hub of innovation where all the foreigners stayed.”
Never has the hotel’s location been more desirable: in today’s environment, people are more frequently seeking out quieter areas to get away from their hectic lives, and the charming hotel, with its layers of history, beautiful gardens, and its exceptional Athenaeum Spa—which was refurbished a few years ago—are fast becoming even more appealing.
“We offer visitors a peaceful oasis as soon as they walk into the hotel grounds,” smiled Alexandra. “But more than that, my wish was to create a destination that is home to a diverse mix of uplifting lifestyle brands within its space. We can then really give back to our communities and go a step further than being just another hotel providing food, beverage, and wellness services.”
While striving to keep her legacy at the forefront of operations, Alexandra acknowledged that hospitality is changing rapidly.
“Nowadays, it’s not just about ordering a meal and a drink, it also concerns the full experience, the design of the place, what the client is looking for—and being able to provide all that in a subtle way! We have re-appropriated spaces to present meaningful moments and environments suited to the lifestyle of today. We love seeing the hotel bustling with people meeting up with friends or business colleagues and enjoying what we have to offer.”
The rebirthing of Corinthia Palace incorporated various outstanding refurbishments within different areas over the past few years. Extensive renovations were carried out on sixteen rooms and three suites, resulting in a new room category styled as the ‘Grand Deluxe’, which now form part of the total 144 rooms and suites.
Alexandra described how they invested heavily in a brand-new aesthetic within the bedrooms. “We introduced a serene Mediterranean feel to the new rooms by selecting a palette of calming hues and texture. The blend of soft neutrals and tactile fabrics creates a tranquil yet elegant atmosphere, balancing contemporary luxury and timeless design.”
Inside the hotel lobby sits Josephine’s—one of the island’s most popular coffee spots—which plays host to discerning sets of people ‘in the know’.
Botanical patterns adorn the lush armchairs and sofas spread around this capacious seating area, presenting guests with a homely and welcoming space in which to carry out business, socialise, or simply unwind—without disturbing the neighbouring tables. Likewise, the coffee shop’s namesake, Alexandra’s grandmother, was herself a homemaker, and in honour of Josephine’s love of baking and the lemon trees she planted herself within the hotel grounds, the signature Lemon Cake is one of the appetising menu items that can be savoured here. The loving influence of the Pisani matriarch is certainly a memorable inspiration to this day.
“Again, our wish was to make this space more accessible to people of all ages,” Alexandra added, “and I believe that, through Josephine’s, we were able to make the hotel relevant amongst the younger crowds too. The coffee shop is also fully sustainable, reflecting our conscious values to safeguard the planet and its inhabitants as much as we possibly can.”
The plant-based coffee shop serves a mouth-watering choice of sandwiches, buddha bowls, salads, and bakes, together with delicious hot and cold beverages which are sustainably sourced. It is, in fact, the only local retailer of the gold-standard certified coffee brand, Origin—which can also be found at The Hoxton, Nobu Hotels, Rick Stein, Selfridges, and Maison François, to name a few.
Another prominent addition within the hotel was Michelin-star restaurant, Bahia, presenting a creative menu within a modern setting. While fully respecting Malta’s culinary history, the skilled team at Bahia offer intriguing degustation menus complimented by a choice selection of fine wines.
The adjoining Villa Corinthia was also renovated to take on an exciting new project within its walls.
In June 2023, renowned Italian chef, Francesco Mazzei, took up residency at Villa Corinthia to deliver tempting offerings from Southern Italy for lunch or dinner. Originally from Calabria, Mazzei grew up working in his family’s kitchen from the age of nine, leading to decades of global recognition as one of the best Italian chefs in several illustrious hotels and restaurants.
Mazzei was just as honoured to partner with Villa Corinthia at the Palace, and in line with the sustainable concept of the hotel, he seeks to use local supplies and organic products, creating appealing dishes that reveal the diversity of Italian cuisine while drawing inspiration from Maltese seasonal ingredients.
The partnership with this talented chef was recently extended to cover The Summer Garden, the hotel’s chic poolside restaurant. The culinary experience here is enhanced by the magical atmosphere which takes over as the sun sets. A captivating lineup of musical acts is presented by various personalities every Wednesday evening throughout the summer—with more surprises awaiting guests throughout autumn and winter—cementing The Summer Garden’s position as the place to be for nights of relaxed dining and vibrant music.
Under the watchful eyes of the capable Alexandra Pisani, Corinthia Palace is set to continue blooming into the modern era.
“We are positioning Corinthia Palace in a way that is also relevant to the local market. Our programming is very strong, and we are partnering with artists and cultural events to add value to this special place we love so much. As we move towards 2025, I can proudly guarantee that my family’s legacy will continue, not just through the beautiful series of events we have planned for the coming year, but also because Corinthia Palace will always remain the best and most unique luxury retreat in Malta for locals and foreigners alike!”
Corinthia Palace
De Paule Avenue,
San Anton BZN9023, Malta
+356 2144 0301
