The resort occupies one of the prime sites in Malta, with panoramic views over Golden Bay and the Mediterranean, offering some of the island’s most beautiful coastal scenery and unforgettable sunsets.
It’s regularly recognised in the World Travel Awards, most recently named Malta’s Leading Resort 2024, and has previously featured among TripAdvisor’s top Maltese hotels. Guests often highlight its spacious rooms, private beach access, and the peaceful setting away from busier tourist spots. While it’s not the newest property on the island, its combination of views, service, and reputation keeps it near the top of many “best hotels in Malta” lists year after year.
First impressions of Golden Sands
Walking through the entrance of Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, Malta Golden Sands is memorable in itself. Spacious and airy, with marble floors, towering ceilings, and huge windows, the place feels almost too grand for Malta.
Once inside, there’s really no reason to leave. With over 300 guest rooms, four swimming pools, a spa, gym, tennis courts, multiple restaurants and bars, and a private beach with water sports facilities, this resort has it all. Not many hotels in Malta offer such a vast range of amenities, in luxurious style and in a beautiful location. Which puts this resort above the rest.
The hotel consists of three towers perched on the edge of a cliff overlooking the bay, plus a newer wing with additional suites and penthouses. There are many levels, lobbies, hidden lifts, and walkways, so it’s easy to get lost but along the way you might discover a hidden gem like a cute café or a beautiful terrace.
Views don’t get much better
Hundreds of rooms and villas feel residential in their warmth, and the vibe is stylish yet casual, allowing the breathtaking views to take centre stage. Over half of the rooms enjoy an unobstructed view of Golden Bay, while the rest face the boundless northern Maltese countryside.
The private balconies are very spacious, which is perfect as you’ll spend a lot of time on them taking in the unreal views and lingering with a glass of wine as the sun sets over calm seas. Waking up every morning and drawing open the curtains is a ‘pinch me’ moment.
The rooms themselves are enormous with suites and penthouses equipped with a full kitchenette, separate living room and upscale bathroom with granite and marble countertops. The newer Sands Tower Suites offer even more space and of course have beautiful sea views. Some suites even come with a private hot tub on the terrace!
From loungers to lagoons
The resort has four large pools – one indoor, a huge (90-metre) outdoor family “lagoon” and an outdoor adults-only pool designed as an oasis to relax. Further tranquillity can be found at the Myoka spa – also with sea views through glass walls – which offers wet and dry therapies with professional therapists. The outdoor pools sit on expansive limestone terraces lined with palms overlooking the sea. Straight out of a travel magazine.
The hotel also has a spacious private beach area with sunbeds and towels complimentary for guests. Get comfy on one of the loungers and you’ll never want to leave, and nor do you need to – cocktails and ice cream can be brought straight to you.
After a lazy morning in the sun try out some of the activities. From the beach you can hire a jet ski (highly recommend!) or do parasailing, ride a horse at golden hour or go for a nearby hike and enjoy the scenery. Guided tours of neighbouring islands Gozo and Comino can be booked from the concierge and buses pick up right outside the hotel.
Flavours of the bay
Three restaurants and bars offer plenty of choice. Flavours’ sumptuous buffets are themed to a different region each night. This is also where the complimentary breakfast is served and has everything from made-to-order omelettes, cooked and cold options, breads and fruits, continental and on our first breakfast we were given a complimentary glass of champagne.
Mokka Lounge Bar serves specialty coffee, smoothies, delicious cakes, afternoon tea and bar food throughout the day. In the evening, you can stop by for cocktails and live music with a relaxing atmosphere.
Agliolio, with its bay-side terrace, is firmly Italian, offering pizzas, pastas, grilled meats and Italian wines. Great food and a solid option for dinner.
Best Indian food in Malta
However, the best food is found at Essence of India, a strong contender for Malta’s best restaurant, is where expert chefs craft delicate Indian specialities and mouthwatering curries. No surprise that you have to book this spot in advance and compete for a table with locals.
You can dine on the terrace – once again overlooking the beautiful bay – or inside the opulent interior made up of warm reds, dark woods and dim lighting, giving the impression you’re somewhere special.
The menu is bursting with flavour and thoughtfully curated. We started with refreshing Shikanji and Lime Delight mocktails, followed by poppadoms with tangy chutneys. The signature grill platter arrived next – murgh malai, lamb samosa, and chicken nawabi tikka – unbelievably good!
The bread basket comes with roti, butter garlic naan, and amritsari kulcha. Curries follow suit, each dish beautifully presented: indulgent Goan prawn curry and phenomenal butter chicken served with jeera rice, best enjoyed with doughy butter naan. The lamb biryani was another highlight. The ingredients here are absolutely top-tier.
There was little room for dessert, so we finished with mango and coconut lassi ice cream, which was the perfect way to finish an unforgettable meal. To be here with a cup of fragrant Indian tea, watching boats bobbing on the crystal-clear Mediterranean, feels as close to perfection as it gets.
If you come to Malta, the Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, Golden Sands is one of the best places to stay – a perfect location, beautiful beach, all the amenities you can ever need, amazing food and stunning views for days.
More information can be found here.
Image credits: © Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, Malta Golden Sands
