Hugo’s Lounge is one of the longest-running names in Paceville, St Julian’s, and still one of the more reliable choices if you want a proper night out rather than a rowdy club crawl. It works as a cocktail bar and restaurant through the evening before shifting into a livelier lounge later on, so you can arrive for dinner and stay for drinks without changing venue. The drinks list runs well beyond the basics, and the setting — a step up from most of Paceville’s louder bars — makes it a good choice if you want the energy of Malta’s nightlife district without shouting over the music all night. St Julian’s and Paceville are Malta’s main hub for bars and clubs, and Hugo’s sits right in the middle of it, an easy walk from most St Julian’s and Sliema apartments. It gets busy from around 10pm on weekends, so arrive earlier if you’d rather ease into the night with a meal first. Later on, expect a proper crowd and a livelier atmosphere. It’s a solid base for a night out, whether that means one good cocktail before moving on or the whole evening in one place.
