Sabi and Kora bring two unique concepts to the DoubleTree by Hilton Malta

Two years in the making, and landing just in time for summer, two new venues have now opened their doors at the DoubleTree by Hilton in St Paul’s Bay. Kora and Sabi are both about summer fun, Mediterranean flavours, and memorable moments – but each comes with a distinctive personality, tone, and pace.

Decor, menu, and vibe immediately reveal that the venues reflect contrasting but complementary moods. Sabi is family-focused, casual. Kora is sophisticated, serving barefoot luxury, curated soundscapes, and sharing plates to adult guests.

“We wanted the concepts to feel like they’re speaking to each other,” says Sandro Deguara, Director of Operations at Sabi and Kora. “But the voices are different.”

Throughout the past couple of months, Kora has already made an impact on the island’s nightlife, attracting guests who are keen to enjoy a night out in a luxurious environment while still enjoying the laidback Mediterranean vibe.

“At Kora, guests can kick back and enjoy a slower pace. The whole idea of barefoot luxury means that there’s none of the stuffiness you may find at other high-end places. The venue is all about the chill, and the whole offering reflects that,” Sandro explains.

This extends to the staff, the drinks, the food, and the curated soundscape. As the sun sets on the balmy summer nights, the Kora Sunset Ritual marks a shift in energy, with the music softening to reflect a quieter, more sophisticated vibe. Tables are set far apart, allowing guests peace and privacy. The space is likewise designed to make you feel like you can take your time and let the evening take you wherever your mood goes.

“If you’re after a cocktail on one of the high-top tables, that’s fine. If you’re in the mood of a full meal, the regular tables will host you in comfort, whether indoors or on our spectacular terrace. And if you’d like to start with drinks and then move on to a series of shareable plates… then that’s also what Kora is about,” Sandro continues.

The menu offers a perfect balance of the Med, with inspirations from Greece, Spain, Lebanon, Malta, and Italy – reimagined in the Kora philosophy, of course.

Who is the typical Kora client?

“Anyone who wants to enjoy a leisurely night out, with a curated experience that makes it genuinely memorable – as opposed to limiting it to purely Instagram memorable,” Sandro says.

Of course, the venue itself is gorgeously Instagrammable. You can easily picture the perfect date night or a carefree friends’ day out unfolding here till the early hours. And, for that extra touch of exclusivity, Kora also hosts private events.

“We have an excellent events department who will help you create your own premium package. Interest and bookings are already marked, as guests love the idea of complete exclusivity combined with the stunning St Paul’s Bay backdrop. We also offer an internal space that can be used for afterparty events. The goal was to turn Kora into a go-to for those who understand that the setting is just as important as the occasion. And it looks like we’re already succeeding in this,” the Director of Operations says with a smile.

I turn the conversation to Sabi, the more carefree sister venue. Bright, open, and geared toward families, the menu is a glorious feast of comfort food with a seasonal, Mediterranean focus. Dishes like grilled halloumi, house-made burgers, crisp salads, and fresh calamari spells summer. And of course, there’s no compromise in terms of freshness of quality.

“Sabi and Kora may have a different vibe, but the same high standard is maintained throughout. The menus were even developed concurrently by our two brilliant Head Chefs. We took a creative approach that didn’t limit our imagination or the offering,” Sandro says with a smile.

This creative approach saw the focus placed primarily on the dish. Then, after testing and tweaking, the decision was made as to which menu it was best suited to.

“There were some dishes that we created for Kora but then decided they had more of a Sabi vibe – and vice-versa. It was the same with the cocktails; our mixologists created some unique concoctions and we took it from there.”

Even here, the profile of the venues played a role. Sabi is expected to have a higher volume and faster turnaround, so preparation time had to be taken into consideration when finalising the cocktails list. Kora, on the other hand, offers pre-batches that take days to be prepared.

“The best part about these two venues is that, although they are significantly different to each other, they still attract a crossover of guests. For instance, a couple after a night out would choose Kora. But when they’re after a family meal with the kids, they’ll obviously go for Sabi. There is no need to choose between the two – it’s purely about the mood of the guest and the kind of vibe they’re after,” Sandro continues.

The result of this eclectic approach is an experience that isn’t limited to the food, or the drinks. Instead, it delivers the whole package.

“Nowadays, the experience doesn’t start when the food hits the table,” Sandro acknowledges. “It starts the moment you look the place up. The name, the images, the vibe you expect… people arrive already feeling and expecting something. We want to make sure we meet and exceed those expectations, enough to keep them talking about it afterwards. People’s wants and needs change – and that’s our secret. We change with them.”

This interview forms part of the Companies to Watch in 2025, a business serialisation of BusinessNow.mt, Malta’s fastest-growing, cutting-edge business news portal, aimed at companies achieving their goals, marking important milestones, or planning to announce major business news.

Want to know more? Please drop us a line at info@BusinessNow.mt