We stayed at five-star hotel Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz, in Gozo, and tried out their new restaurant L-Istorja.
Travelling to Gozo on a weekday has its perks over the weekend; less traffic, fewer people queuing for the ferry and an overall sense of tranquillity. It is a long drive to the ferry, and even more, the drive to San Lawrenz from Mgarr, Gozo, but a pleasant and relaxing one. Just don’t forget to blast on the air conditioner on your way there, of course, if you are intent on making the journey in the Maltese summer heat.
As you probably have gathered, we spent a night at Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz, one of Gozo’s most iconic and Instagramable hotels. It is a five-star hotel in the quiet village of San Lawrenz with semi-tropical gardens over a total area of around 30,000 square metres. The hotel boasts 137 elegant rooms and suites. In our opinion, it is an ideal place where you can spend a glorious midweek break, your weekend, or perhaps even plan your wedding day.
Upon arriving at the hotel, the staff greet guests elegantly and in a very friendly way. The Kempinski team is always great, and their welcome upon arrival makes you feel special, and well looked after. After checking in, a porter will lead you to your room and take your luggage, so you do not need to worry about it. Instantly, you will feel at ease. Your holiday has begun!
The rooms are spacious and luxurious (around 35 square metres, up to 90 square metres for an apartment), fitted with the facilities and amenities you may need, including free Wi-Fi. You may opt for room only, breakfast included, or a half board package depending on your preferences. What we liked the most was the view. When booking a room at Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz, you may choose to have a country view or a pool view, depending on which room you choose. You can also dine at Kempinski’s restaurants or opt for room service.
Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz is one of our favourite choices for a home-away-from-home culinary experience. Being an eco-certified hotel, the hotel even has designated areas where the staff can grow their crops. The dishes you enjoy at these restaurants in Gozo include fresh produce directly from their garden areas. Guests at Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz can view these garden areas themselves.
Last year we reviewed the Il-Baldakkin Lounge, which we recommend both in terms of food and an overall view of the pool area and gardens. Il-Baldakkin Lounge offers you the opportunity to enjoy a delicious meal whilst enjoying a great view. You may recall that our highlight dish of the meal was the Gbejna dessert, a creative dessert which Head Chef Trevor Portelli introduced to the menu last year.
The Gbejna dessert is a sweet take on the savoury gbejna. It is served on a bed of cinnamon crumble with a slice of brioche bread and drizzled over with lemon oil and pistachio. We honestly feel that this is the most creative dessert we have ever had in our entire life.
Thanks to years of experience in the field, Chef Trevor Portelli has created a beautiful culinary experience one can enjoy when dining at Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz. This year we had the pleasure of trying out the recently opened L-Istorja restaurant, which takes its guests on a culinary journey through Malta’s history and culinary influences.
Chef Portelli told us how the concept behind L-Istorja came to him around eight years ago. The menu at L-Istorja features a combination of different flavours ranging from Europe to the Middle East. “We started looking at the overall story of Malta, and it inspired me. I like particular things and wanted to reflect this in the menu.
Folklore stories show this country has a long culinary history. All this inspired me to start looking at ingredients and reflect them in the menu.” We had some delicious food overall, with our favourite dish of the night being, along with the Gbejna dessert, the Stuffed Calamari with Riso Venere olive and anchovy stuffing, squid ink, potato espuma and crispy onion and aioli.
Apart from enjoying the culinary talent of Chef Portelli, guests at Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz can enjoy a massage at the Kempinski Spa. Guests can also spend time soaking in the sun near the two large pools at the heart of the hotel (one of which caters for kids). In summer, you can enjoy a few drinks at The Pool Bar, which also serves a range of cocktails. Visitors also enjoy taking a stroll in the gardens, reading under the trees or visiting the staff garden. Families can also enjoy the kid’s playground!
Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz in Gozo is one of our favourite hotels on the Maltese Islands. A key feature of this hotel is the top-quality food, which is not necessarily present in many other hotels. We also love the calm one can enjoy in this location. Located in one of the quietest areas of Gozo, care has been taken to give Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz a secluded feel. Away from the hustle and bustle normally found in most parts of the islands, such peace is worth the journey.
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