Review: La Valette Club lounge, Malta (used by BA, KM and Priority Pass)

This is our review of the La Valette Club lounge in Malta International Airport.

Malta International Airport is not big. In fact, it’s so small that it doesn’t have any jetbridges. It does, however, have a lounge – La Valette Club – that is operated as a third party lounge.

Any airline, including the new national carrier KM Malta, that wants to offer lounge access to its passengers at Malta must use it. It is also accessible with Priority Pass.

I was in Malta to see KM Malta Airlines. I will be reviewing their business class cabin but we are holding it back for a couple of weeks to link with an upcoming promotion.

The lounge is open 24 hours a day.

Inside La Valette Club

The good news is that the lounge is relatively large, with a big outdoor terrace. Whilst it was fairly busy when I arrived, just before the Emirates flight departed, it was never full and quickly emptied out once boarding began.

It’s quite a deep space and away from the windows relatively dark. The interior features an open floor plan with lots of low-backed seating:

In the windows you have a series of sofas grouped in horseshoes:

To the left is a dining area with sit down tables as well as bar tables.

On the right hand side you’ll find a row of pretty new iMacs, although the days of desktops in lounges is a thing of the past, I suspect:

Also in this area is a separate space for High Altitude members, I believe part of La Valette Club’s membership program.

The aforementioned terrace is large with half shaded and half open to the sun. It offered views across the runway and would be a nice place to hang out in warmer weather.

and

Food and drink in La Valette Club

A buffet offers a selection of hot and cold food options as well as a self-service bar. Drinks include beers, Maltese wines and Italian prosecco. Spirits and other alcoholic drinks are also on offer.

When it comes to food the hot items are largely meat skewers:

There’s also a salad bar and cold cuts:

Muffins, lamingtons and other deserts were also available.

Conclusion

La Valette Club is the only lounge at Malta International Airport, so it’s this or bust. Fortunately, the lounge is decent with comfortable seating and a fantastic terrace overlooking the airport.

Alcohol is self-pour and includes prosecco, which is a step above most third party lounges, although the food leaves a lot to be desired as there’s no real hot food, just once-hot meat skewers.