About this hotel
General information
Cugó Gran Macina Malta is a boutique hotel in Senglea, one of the Three Cities on the Grand Harbour. It occupies the Macina, a bastion raised by the Knights of St John in 1554 and named after the giant sheer crane that once stood here to lift the masts of sailing ships. The iron cranes came down in 1927, and in the 20th century the building served as a political headquarters.
Inside are just 21 suites beneath high vaults and arched masonry, looking across the water to Valletta. The interiors take an industrial-chic line, pairing Carrara marble, slate and volcanic stone with limed oak, Maltese hard stone, lacquered steel and Scandinavian pieces. A discreet pool sits on the roof, while The Sheer Bastion terrace, facing the Valletta skyline, hosts weddings and meetings for up to 300 guests. The hotel is non-smoking and best suited to couples and adults after a quiet, heritage-rich stay.
Location
The hotel stands on the Senglea waterfront above the Grand Harbour marina, opposite Valletta. The ferry landing is a short walk away and the crossing to the capital takes about five minutes; traditional water taxis also ply the harbour. Birgu, with the Malta Maritime Museum, the Inquisitor’s Palace and Fort St Angelo, is within walking distance, and the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum is a few minutes’ drive. Malta International Airport is about 7 km away (around 15 minutes), and the hotel can arrange a private transfer at extra cost. Free parking is 20 metres from the entrance.
Spa
There is no spa as such: massages, body treatments and facials are given in the suite and booked in advance. Reception can also arrange private wellness sessions tailored to the guest.
Sports & leisure
The roof holds a pool and solarium overlooking the Grand Harbour. Yacht charters leave from the hotel’s private pontoon for the sea caves and Blue Lagoon of Comino and the rugged coast of Gozo. The hotel also sets up gourmet picnics at a quiet spot by the sea, and the 24-hour reception books restaurants and arranges walking tours of Valletta with licensed guides and other outings around the island. The Senglea waterfront suits a jog, and sailing and open-water swimming are close at hand.
For children
The hotel is geared above all to couples and adult travellers. Cots are provided free of charge for children up to the age of three.
Restaurants & bars
The Little Bastion seats 100 inside the 16th-century bastion and serves contemporary Mediterranean cooking built on seasonal local produce, with a wine list that sets Old and New World labels beside Maltese wines from the native Ġellewża and Għirgentina grapes. Breakfast is à la carte, with local honey and Maltese bread; evenings bring cocktails and light bites, and in the warmer months tables move out to a terrace facing the harbour and Birgu, with live acoustic music once a week. Up on the roof, the pool bar pours smoothies, local wines and cocktails alongside salads and seafood, and room service is available at set hours.
Swimming
The hotel has no beach. Its rooftop pool, open to guests in the warmer months, comes with sunloungers, umbrellas, towels and a bar, and looks out over the Grand Harbour, Birgu and Cospicua.
Pets
Dogs and cats are welcome on request, for a nightly fee.
Rooms
The 21 suites fall into six categories, from 36 to 130 m², with vaulted ceilings, original arched stonework and Italian designer furniture. The larger suites add a kitchenette and Grand Harbour views.
Each suite has a king-size bed, a work space, satellite TV, free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, underfloor heating in the bathroom, a Nespresso machine, minibar, safe, iron, bathrobes and slippers, a hair dryer and a hair straightener.
Fortress Suite
A suite within the bastion’s 500-year-old walls, with high ceilings, Italian designer furniture, a king-size bed and a lounge area.
Grand Harbour Suite
A broad vaulted space with arches and wide windows onto the Grand Harbour, separate living and sleeping areas and a king-size bed; one- or two-storey layouts on request.
Macina Grand Harbour Suite
Two bedrooms with king-size beds, two bathrooms and a powder room, a large living room, dining for six, a kitchenette and harbour views. It can connect to a Fortress Suite to create 180 m² for up to eight guests.
Corner Suite With Harbour View
A dual-aspect corner suite in the hotel’s annex, with high vaults, separate living and sleeping areas, a king-size bed and views of the Grand Harbour.
Senglea Suite
A second-floor duplex with high vaults, a living room, a king-size bed, extra soundproofing and a private terrace over the old rooftops of Senglea.
Presidential Suite
The hotel’s grandest suite: two bedrooms with king-size and queen-size beds, a living room with dining for six, a kitchenette and a wrap-around terrace commanding the whole Grand Harbour.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.