Yes — St George's Bay Beach is about a 9-minute walk, and Portomaso Marina is roughly 400 metres from the hotel.
Discover Authentic St. Julian's: A Local Travel Guide by Mercure
At Mercure, we believe you shouldn't need a guidebook to feel like you belong somewhere. That's the idea behind Discover Local: since 1973, every Mercure hotel has been built around its neighbourhood, not just dropped into it — from the décor on the walls to the flavours on the menu. Step into any Mercure and our teams are on hand with the kind of tips you won't find in a guidebook: the market stall locals queue for, the bar where nobody speaks English, the walk that skips the crowds. They live here. They know. Discover Local isn't a generic city guide — it's a short, honest list of the restaurants, markets and neighbourhoods our own hotel teams actually recommend to guests, updated as the city changes around us. Below, you'll find our picks for St. Julian's, an interactive map to help you find your way, and answers to the questions travellers ask us most. So — where will Discover Local take you?
Our map pins local favourites such as Spinola Bay, Portomaso Marina and the beaches of St George's Bay, alongside our Mercure hotel.
Top 5 Things to Do in St. Julian's
Spinola Bay at breakfast time
Before the terraces fill up, this is just a working bay: painted fishing boats, gulls, and the Spinola Palace watching over it all. Walk it early and you'll have it mostly to yourself.
Gululu
Right on the water in Spinola Bay, this is where locals go for fenkata — Maltese rabbit, slow-cooked or pan-fried with garlic and wine. Not a dish you'll find dressed up elsewhere.
Balluta Bay
One bay over from Spinola, Balluta has the same sea views with fewer crowds and some striking Art Nouveau buildings worth a slow look.
Carob Tree Food Court
A modern food hall with stalls covering half a dozen cuisines under one roof — useful when your group can't agree on what to eat.
Sundays in Scotland
This coffee shop started life as a chocolate maker, and it shows: good espresso, better pastries, and chocolate worth taking home.
Explore St. Julian's's Best Local Spots with Our Interactive Map
What's on the map in St Julian's
We've mapped local spots around St Julian's, from waterfront strolls to Malta's liveliest nightlife.
Seafront & beaches
St Julian's centre
The heart of St Julian's runs along Spinola Bay and Balluta Bay. Walk past Spinola Palace and Dragonara Palace, the historic St Julian's Tower and the Parish Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
St Julian's · Historic waterfront · Perfect for a stroll
Portomaso Marina
One of the island's most exclusive corners: stroll past luxury yachts and settle in at a restaurant over the water.
St Julian's · Marina · Great for dining and relaxing
St George's Bay, Balluta Bay and Exiles Beach
Golden sand at St George's Bay, rocky charm at Balluta Bay, or swim and snorkel off the platforms at Exiles Beach, in crystal-clear water. Pick your spot.
St Julian's and Sliema · Beaches · Made for swimming and snorkelling
Valletta
Malta's capital, where trendy bars and cosy cafés line the streets of the historic centre. Pull up a chair.
Day trip · Capital city · Perfect for café culture
Mdina and Rabat
Stroll the quiet streets and walls of Mdina, Malta's ancient capital, visit St Paul's Cathedral, then head down into the St Paul's Catacombs in neighbouring Rabat.
Day trip · Historic towns · Ideal for history
Marsaxlokk
A picturesque fishing village whose market sells the catch of the day straight from local fishermen. Lunch by the colourful boats.
Day trip · Fishing village · Made for seafood
Mġarr
The village where Malta's signature rabbit dish is the star, cooked to recipes handed down through generations.
Day trip · Village · Perfect for Maltese cooking
Spinola Bay
The postcard bay of St Julian's: traditional luzzu boats bobbing in front of a curve of cafés and restaurants. Come in the evening, as the lights come on.
St Julian's · Bay and promenade · Ideal for an evening stroll
St Julian's Tower
A 17th-century watchtower built by the Knights of St John to guard the bay, now on the Sliema–St Julian's promenade, with wide sea views.
Promenade · Historic watchtower · Great for sea views
Nightlife & shopping
Paceville
Paceville is the heart of Malta's nightlife: clubs, cocktail bars and a cosmopolitan buzz that keeps going until late.
St Julian's · Nightlife district · Perfect for going out
Sliema
Sliema's busy streets are lined with boutiques, designer stores and markets, with the Mediterranean as backdrop. Shop, then stroll the seafront.
Sliema · Shopping · Great for shopping
Stephanie Borg Studio Boutique
Maltese surface pattern artist Stephanie Borg turns the island's heritage into colourful prints and objects. Her studio boutique is the place for a souvenir with a story.
Malta · Design boutique · Made for unique souvenirs
Savina
Gozitan cheeselets, chutneys, dried figs, olive oil, honey and jam – watch them being made, then take some home.
Food producer · Perfect for edible souvenirs
Heritage & landmarks
Spinola Palace
Built in the 17th century for a knight of the Order of St John, this palace above Spinola Bay, ringed by gardens, recalls the town's aristocratic past.
Spinola Bay · Historic palace · Ideal for history lovers
Dragonara Palace
A 19th-century seaside palace on the Dragonara point, now home to Malta's best-known casino. Not a gambler? The neoclassical façade facing the sea is worth the walk.
Dragonara point · Palace and casino · Great for a night out
Parish Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
The Carmelite parish church at the heart of St Julian's, its dome rising above Balluta Bay – the focus of local life and the summer feast.
Balluta Bay · Church · Perfect for architecture
FAQ
Yes, regular buses run from St. Julian's to Valletta, and a ferry from nearby Sliema offers a scenic alternative across the harbour.
Rabbit (fenkata) is the Maltese specialty — look for it pan-fried or slow-cooked in wine and garlic at a Spinola Bay restaurant.
St George's Bay has golden sand, Balluta Bay is a pretty rocky beach, and Exiles Beach has platforms ideal for swimming and snorkelling in clear water.
Paceville is the centre of Malta's nightlife, with clubs and cocktail bars open late.
Sliema, next door, has boutiques, designer stores and markets along the seafront. For a local design souvenir, visit Stephanie Borg Studio Boutique.
Where to Sleep in St. Julian's
This Mercure hotel appears on our map:
- Mercure St. Julian's Malta