The Countess Behind Contessa

The story of the countess who founded Malta’s first five-star hotel – and the restaurant that proudly pays homage to her.

Guests dining at The Phoenicia Malta’s flagship restaurant, Contessa, often ask about the name over dinner. Italian for ‘countess’, Contessa honours the woman behind The Phoenicia Malta – the island’s first luxury hotel the restaurant calls home.

Countess Margaret Strickland’s story begins with her 1930s ambition to introduce five-star hospitality in Malta, endures through a war that nearly stopped her plans for good, and culminates in a landmark restaurant that has proudly carried her title since 2023.



A countess with a plan

In the 1930s, Countess Margaret Strickland set out to give Malta a five-star hotel to rival the grand hotels of Europe. As co-founder with her husband, Lord Gerald Strickland, hers was the vision behind the project and hers was the eye that shaped it, down to the last detail of its design and construction.

She commissioned Scottish architect William Binnie, who answered her brief in sweeping Art Deco lines of Maltese limestone, with chevron facades, marble floors and a rotunda built for grand entrances. 
Construction began at the gates of Valletta, on ground overlooking the city’s historic bastions, in a spot chosen for its proximity to the capital as much as for its views.

For its time, it was an ambitious plan. Malta had grand hotels before, but nothing built to the standard Countess Strickland had in mind, nor anything designed to place the island among Europe’s established travel destinations. 

A vision interrupted by war

Before a single guest could check in, war reached Malta. From 1939, RAF crews requisitioned the site, and the island spent the following years under siege, with its harbours and streets a target for near-constant bombing raids.

The hotel did not escape unscathed. In the same month that Valletta’s Opera House and Floriana’s Church of St Publius were hit, the building’s own Pegasus Bar, as it was then called, was also destroyed. For a project so close to completion, it was a serious setback, and for several years the future of the hotel was far from certain.

Nevertheless, the building held – as did Countess Strickland’s plans for it.

The opening she had waited for

In 1947, Countess Strickland finally opened The Phoenicia Malta to the public, presiding over the ceremony herself after years of delay. As the island’s first five-star hotel, it was a symbol of post-war pride and of Malta’s extraordinary resilience through the hardship of the preceding years.

Just two years later, the hotel’s Grand Ballroom had become one of the country’s most popular destinations – so much so, that it welcomed a young Princess Elizabeth, later Queen Elizabeth II, who danced there as a newlywed while her husband served with the Mediterranean Fleet. It was the first of several royal chapters at the hotel over the coming decades.

Contessa arrives

Contessa officially opened in December 2023, reimagining the former Phoenix Restaurant and terrace, and named in honour of the countess whose vision and elegant distinction started it all.

Today, the restaurant extends from its Art Deco dining room – which still boasts many original features – through to its glass-enclosed, botanical garden-inspired conservatory. Beyond its windows, more than seven acres of landscaped gardens reach out towards the centuries-old bastion walls of Valletta. 

By day, the conservatory basks in Mediterranean light, without ever losing the comfort of a five-star, fully climate-controlled dining space. By evening, it offers views of a Maltese sunset that fades into the horizon to reveal a starlit sky.

Dining at Contessa today

The menu at Contessa follows Malta’s seasons, inspired by the freshness and variety of local produce for a distinguished take on Southern Mediterranean cuisine.

The exceptional food, service and setting have set Contessa apart as a dining destination, drawing both local and international guests.

Contessa is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a seasonal weekend brunch service. The Contessa experience also includes a touch of theatre – signature cocktails and fresh tiramisu, both crafted tableside from golden trolleys, have become one of the restaurant’s most talked-about details.

It is easy to imagine Countess Strickland approving of the restaurant as it stands today. She set out to open a hotel that would hold its own against Europe’s finest – and in Contessa, that same standard is upheld nightly, one table at a time.



Reserve your table

Almost a century after Countess Strickland first imagined a hotel worthy of Malta, her name now welcomes guests as they dine in its signature restaurant every day. 

Reserve your table at Contessa or find out more about dining at The Phoenicia Malta here.

Mark Mizzi
Executive Head Chef

With 32 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Executive Head Chef Mark Mizzi has built his career in five-star hotels and restaurants, both in Malta and internationally. A specialist in entremetier, Mark has been part of The Phoenicia Malta team for the past five years, initially joining as Banqueting Executive Sous Chef. His dedication, expertise and passion for the culinary arts saw him progress to Executive Head Chef just over a year ago, where he continues to lead the kitchen team with a wealth of experience and a commitment to exceptional culinary standards.

Connect with Mark: [email protected] 

FAQ: How Contessa got its name – your questions answered

Why is Contessa named after a countess?

Contessa is named in honour of Countess Margaret Strickland, whose 1930s vision brought The Phoenicia Malta to life as Malta’s first five-star hotel. The restaurant took her name in December 2023, when the space formerly known as Phoenix Restaurant was reimagined as the hotel’s landmark dining destination.

Who was Countess Margaret Strickland?

Countess Margaret Strickland was the co-founder of The Phoenicia Malta. In the 1930s, she commissioned Scottish architect William Binnie to design a five-star hotel at the gates of Valletta and personally opened it in 1947 after the Second World War delayed construction for several years.

What food does Contessa serve, and when is it open?

Contessa serves seasonal Southern Mediterranean cuisine rooted in local Maltese produce, with signature cocktails and tiramisu prepared tableside from golden trolleys. The restaurant is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a seasonal weekend brunch, inside a glass-enclosed conservatory overlooking the hotel’s gardens.