This stylish retreat looks toward the Island of Lokrum, and is a pleasant 15-minute walk east of Ploče Gate (also served by complimentary minibus and motorboat). All 56 rooms have stunning sea views, and the restaurant terrace and rooftop bar look onto the medieval town walls across the water. While it’s on the coast, Villa Dubrovnik is actually quite centrally located for those looking to experience everything that Dubrovnik has to offer, including one of the most romantic restaurants in the world, and the setting of many Game of Thrones scenes.

Style

Villa Dubrovnik is all about effortless luxury and indulging in the finer things in life without any fuss. The hotel feels secluded and like it is in a world of its own, and the gorgeous views of the Adriatic Sea will stay in your mind for the rest of your life.

Perched in a cliff, Villa Dubrovnik is an architectural marvel that features clean lines, quality materials and lots of glass, allowing the sea and beauty to enter in. Around the building are stone steps down to the water, perfect if you plan to boat anywhere.

Service

The service, from reception through to the bartenders and housekeeping, is impeccable. The hotel offers a choice of carefully-curated private excursions, such as a four-hour guided walking tour of Dubrovnik and a nine-hour motor-boat trip to Korčula island. We used the concierge extensively for restaurant reservations and that mostly resulted in great table locations.

The Villa Spa has an indoor pool with sliding glass doors opening onto a sea-view terrace, and offers beauty treatments (Sodashi products), sauna, massage treatments, and a gym. Below the hotel, stone steps lead down to the coast, where a series of rock-and-concrete bathing platforms are furnished with sunbeds and parasols, all of which are incredibly chic.

Rooms

There are 50 rooms and six suites, each with a sea-view terrace. Villa Dubrovnik rooms floor-to-ceiling sliding windows (leave them open to be lulled to sleep by the sound of gentle waves), teak wood floors and matching modern teak furniture, and fabrics in neutral tones of mushroom-grey and cream. The ensuite bathrooms have glass walls, so the shower and bathtub are visible from the bed, with under-floor heating and customised Villa Dubrovnik toiletries by La Bottega of Italy. All rooms have a Franck espresso coffee machine.

Spacious suites have the added luxury of an in-room whirlpool tub with room for two, while the Deluxe suites have vast terraces with an outdoor whirlpool tub and views of Dubrovnik’s Old Town.

Food

Obviously, guests will be wowed by sea views while dining. An indulgent cooked-to-order breakfast, with delights such as Norwegian omelette (smoked salmon, cream cheese and rocket) and oven-warm pain au chocolat, is served below the pines on the Restaurant Pjerin terrace.

In the evening, the menu switches to creative Mediterranean fare – the signature dish is red prawn carpaccio with avocado. At lunchtime, the Al Fresco Giardino conjures up light Mediterranean dishes outdoors in a wok. The spectacular rooftop Prosciutto & Wine Bar is perfect for savouring quality local wines.

Cathy and I adore this special hotel and look forward to returning soon.