Luna Restaurant at Palazzo Parisio, Naxxar has recently reopened its doors after undergoing renovation.

The refurbishment, the next step for the restaurant following a recent rebranding exercise, was an undertaking that required the collaboration of various local and international experts.

Italian Architect Antonio Girardi was brought on board to create the design, taking inspiration from the botanical highlights of the property. The Napoli-born Architect specialises in the design of luxury hotels and private residences, having created some unique designs in some of Italy’s most coveted real estate, including Capri. His style is described as both “eclectic and elegant”, characterised by the “unique elements of the property that give his designs their unique and exclusive nature”.

Luna Restaurant / Malcolm Abela Sciberras

Local architect and project management specialists Rebirth Design Studio were tasked with bringing the design to life. It acted as the engineering consultancy firm that designed, supervised and managed all electrical and mechanical works for the project.

Located in the heart of Naxxar, Palazzo Parisio is a Grade 2 scheduled property of great cultural and architectural heritage that has been in Baroness Justine Pergola’s family for generations, ever since it was acquired by the Marquis Giuseppe Scicluna. Rebirth state that the renovation was a dream that Baroness Pergola had shared with her mother, the late Baroness Ramsay Scicluna, and the two often discussed their ideas with the studio’s Founding Partner and Designer-Architect Paul Cuschieri.

“My mother and I had worked with Paul [Architect Cuschieri] and his team on various other projects prior to this one and came to rely on him so much that we wouldn’t dream of engaging anybody else to oversee this project that was so dear to us,” Baroness Pergola shared.

Luna Restaurant / Malcolm Abela Sciberras

The concept behind the refurbishment, driven by the involved parties’ desire to create a “warm and inviting atmosphere”, draws inspiration from the lush gardens surrounding the Palazzo. The new interiors feature a green colour palette, together with large indoor plants, and hand-painted wall murals, offering patrons what is described as a “botanical sanctuary” within the restaurant.

Rebirth Co-Founder Malcolm Abela Sciberras remarked: “One of the major challenges with a property of this calibre is to ensure the seamless integration of different services and functions.” Beyond aesthetic considerations, the renovation also brings improved functionality to the venue through an upgraded lighting system and an all-new conference room that contains a custom TV unit and electric pocket TV system.

Architect Cuschieri praised the synergy between the Maltese and Italian teams, revealing that it was “highly productive to bounce different designs back and forth, and exchange constructive feedback to ensure the best possible results for the Palazzo”.

Luna Restaurant / Malcolm Abela Sciberras

“Collaborating with international designers is a practice we always welcome at Rebirth because it challenges our standard perceptions of a project. It also gives us an opportunity to surpass boundaries imposed by our island’s size and limited availability of materials and expertise,” he added.

Baroness Pergola was delighted with the outcome, concluding: “I truly believe that the success of this project is a testament to the collaboration of two excellent firms coming together to create something wonderful. I could not have imagined a better result.”

The studio adds that through Luna Restaurant’s reopening, Palazzo Parisio has “reaffirmed its position as a rich historical icon with a modern flair”.

Founded in 2019, Rebirth is an interior design studio that aims to integrate interior design with architecture “at each stage of the creative process to generate a holistic experience”.