If you’re planning a yacht charter in Croatia, you might consider combining time at sea with several days at a restful hotel in a gorgeous seaside destination. Dubrovnik, for instance, with its Unesco-listed medieval-walled Old Town, is home to Croatia’s top luxury hotels.
Here, we look at five of our favorite special hotels in Dubrovnik.
Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik
Opened in 1897, the Hilton is the city’s oldest hotel. Its history, above all, makes it one of the most special hotels in Dubrovnik. Located immediately outside the city walls, it stands in gardens with palms and a magnolia tree. Renovated in 2018, its 149 rooms combine blues, grays and whites, inspired by sea and stone. Guests enjoy a generous buffet breakfast on the leafy restaurant terrace. After that, comes Mediterranean fare at dinner. Old-fashioned cocktails (harking back to the hotel’s early years) and English-style afternoon tea are also served. In addition, there’s a small spa with an indoor pool, and a gym.
Hotel Excelsior
The Excelsior stands by the sea, a 10-minute walk south of Dubrovnik’s Old Town. It comprises two blocks – Villa Odak from 1913, and the modern mirrored-glass Tower. Renovated in 2017, the 158 rooms have oak wood floors, grey walls, and retro-chic furnishing. Facilities include three restaurants, a swanky lounge-bar, and an impressive spa offering an indoor pool, sauna, Jacuzzi, and beauty treatments. Out front, a waterside terrace, lined with sun-beds and parasols, looks towards Lokrum islet. Francis Ford Coppola and Elizabeth Taylor have stayed here, giving the Excelsior added status among special hotels in Dubrovnik.
Villa Dubrovnik
This modern minimalist hotel, built into a seaward cliff, was reconstructed in 2010. All 56 rooms afford sweeping sea views, and some offer a glimpse of Dubrovnik’s medieval walls across the water. Expect lush spa treatments, an indoor pool, and (pricey) Mediterranean cuisine served on a terrace shaded by towering pine trees. Stone steps lead down to the sea, with several secluded bathing areas for sun-beds. It’s a 15-minute walk to the Old Town, also served by private boat. Effortlessly chic, this is another unforgettable special hotel in Dubrovnik.
St Joseph’s
In a narrow alley in Dubrovnik’s Old Town, this sumptuous B&B occupies a 16th-century building. From reception, stone stairs lead up to one apartment (sleeping four), two suites, and two rooms. Aristocratic interiors combine white Baroque-inspired wooden furnishing, crystal chandeliers, centuries-old stonework, and marble bathrooms. There’s no restaurant, but a delicious homemade breakfast will be delivered to your room by a maid, at the hour of your choice. Each unit also has a built-in kitchenette (cleverly hidden by sliding doors) for preparing snacks. In short, a special hotel in Dubrovnik, which is luxurious, romantic, and intimate.
Hotel Bellevue
The most recently refurbished special hotel in Dubrovnik reopened in 2019. It’s located above a sheltered bay with a beach, midway between the Old Town and the port. Interiors use glass, wood, and marble, plus fabrics in cream, grey, and beige (inspired by local stone), to reflect the contemporary Mediterranean style. In the same vein, the 91 rooms all have sea views and chic modern furnishing. Meals are served on a blissful restaurant terrace, shaded by white awnings, overlooking the bay. A welcome extra is wine tasting with a resident sommelier, who’ll introduce you to Croatian wines. There’s also a spa with an indoor pool.
