Review: La Valette Club (Post-Renovation) in Malta International Airport – One of the Best Airport Lounges in Europe

After 5 wonderful days in Malta, it was finally time to head back to the European mainland. The small airport only has one lounge in the departures area and that is the La Valette Club. Passengers flying in business class with the small list of airlines that make their way to Malta as well as Priority Pass passengers get to have access to the lounge. Otherwise, it is also available on a pay-per-use basis for EUR 29.

When I arrived in the La Valette Club, I was told the lounge was renovated only earlier this year. This was my first time in the lounge but I must say I was really impressed with the sleek, Italian style furnishings. Visually, it is one of the most pleasant lounges I’ve been to.

I was there during a Sunday late afternoon. As Malta is a popular short weekend destination for Europeans, I found the lounge quite packed. Nevertheless, I was still able to find myself a place to sit.

Most of the seats have power outlets beside them which is pretty convenient to get charge electronic devices or to get some work done.

At the far end of the lounge, you can find a couple of sleeping pods. While they are by no means private, they’re perfectly fine for a quick nap.

There is also a computer station where users can surf or print some documents. At the time of my visit, I was told that printing was free.

You won’t find shower stalls in Malta International Airport, not even inside the lounge although you’ll find toilets here.

The La Valette Club has a nice buffet spread with quite an assortment of food. There are sandwiches, finger food, fruits and even various types of cakes. The spread is definitely enough to have a light meal if one is feeling peckish. If you still have not managed to try any local food by the time you leave Malta, you’ll be pleased to find some local delicacies here. At the time of my visit, I saw pea cakes.

Juices are of the chilled variety. There are also plenty of alcoholic drinks to choose from.

The lounge has a separate high flyers section which is reserved for club members. The room is quieter and has spaces for small meetings. It was not occupied at the time of my visit so I went in to have a look see.

The high flyers section is basically an extension of the lounge with the same sleek furnishings. However, it has its own drinks area. Those wishing to get food will still need to head to the main lounge.

Overall, I was quite impressed with the La Valette Lounge in Malta International Airport. I would have to say that at the time of this writing, it’s probably one of the best lounges I have ever visited. While the food is not designed to top first class lounges such as Singapore Changi Airport’s The Private Room, the gorgeous environment is certainly noteworthy.