From the moment we stepped into the glass lift and swept down to Villa Dubrovnik’s spotless white reception, we knew we were in for a treat. With its modernist rooms, chic spa and wonderfully atmospheric restaurant, this is the perfect romantic retreat. Each room comes with a private teak terrace facing the sea and sleek glass bathrooms; select suites have private whirlpool baths. Built into the rocky coastline just outside Europe’s best-preserved medieval walled cities, the hotel is blissfully peaceful and secluded.
Soak up some culture amongst the marble cobbles and open-air cafés of Dubrovnik Old Town, before returning to unwind on the hotel’s beach or in its world-class spa. As dusk falls, ascend to the cool rooftop bar for sunset cocktails overlooking the Adriatic and Lokrum Island. Our favourite moments were spent over dinner on the alfresco restaurant terrace; lights twinkled in the trees as we dined on exquisite Mediterranean cuisine, captivated by the moonlit sea and the distant glowing walls of the Old Town.
Highs
- Excellent service from the pleasant and knowledgeable staff - our dinner was accompanied by some exquisite local wine thanks to our waiter’s recommendations
- Cool, understated décor that perfectly complements the ocean views, a beach area and pretty garden for lounging and alfresco breakfasts
- An outstanding spa, with a huge range of treatments (massages, facials, mud therapies) and a sauna, steam room and large indoor pool
- Romantic rooms and private terraces; some also have Jacuzzis or private gardens - honeymoon heaven
Lows
- The hotel is tucked down some particularly narrow streets so drivers will need to have their wits about them, but there’s good private parking once you get there
- Though all rooms have their own balcony, some are more private than others (the Premium Room is the only one without sea views)
- The hotel’s beach is a rocky outcrop where guests can sunbathe and swim, but don’t expect sand or shallow water
- This kind of luxury doesn't come cheap
Best time to go
Dubrovnik gets very busy in summer (July-August), although the hotel offers a wonderfully calming retreat. With this in mind, it's a particularly good place to stay during the city's Summer Festival (book well in advance). Spring and autumn bring comfortable temperatures and quieter streets. If you visit in low season (November and April), you’ll find Dubrovnik more peaceful and romantic, but the weather may be chilly; the hotel closes from December until March annually.
Our top tips
Fans of Game of Thrones will be in their element here and the hotel can arrange private daily tours and have a King's Landing 2 night package which includes dinner and transfers. Dubrovnik has been used as the location for 'Kings Landing' since season 2, and the monastery on Lokrum Island is the site of 'Quarth'. The cast have even been known to dine in Villa Dubrovnik's restaurant.
- Boutique Hotel
- 56 rooms
- Restaurant and bar (open daily)
- All ages welcome
- Closed: November - March
- Indoor Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car not necessary
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Concierge Service
- Beach
Rooms
All 48 rooms, 6 suites and 2 Residences share the same simple styling and luxe finishes: flawless white bed linens, polished wood floors and glossy glass bathrooms with gleaming showers over angular tubs (and drapes for additional privacy), and signature own-brand toiletries. Soft lighting creates warmth in the evening, while natural light pours in during the day.
Each suite offers a different combination of view, outdoor space and size; all have at least 1 bedroom (double or twin), a living room and either a private terrace or garden. The Romance Suite and Duke’s Suite have Jacuzzis on the terrace. The showstopper Royal Suite has 2 bedrooms and a Jacuzzi on its truly enormous terrace, drawing panoramas of the Old Town and Lokrum Island. The Villa Kolin Residences also have 3 double bedrooms and 4 bathrooms each, and are located in a separate building making them particularly private; they have a private pool, plus views of the sea and the Old Town from the top floor living room.
All 4 room categories have kingsize beds, balconies and sea views apart from the Premium Rooms. Deluxe and Superior Rooms face verdant Lokrum Island and some look towards the Old Town. Having arrived in the evening, we awoke to the sun-dappled ocean glimmering before us and couldn’t resist a cup of tea on our Superior Room balcony before breakfast.
Features include:
- Bathrobes
- Fan
- Hairdryer
- Minibar
- Safe box
- WiFi
Eating
We arrived at Villa Dubrovnik just in time for a late dinner. Sitting on the still-balmy alfresco dining terrace of Michelin-recommended Restaurant Pjerin, delicious local wine in hand, we were instantly lulled into holiday mode. Masterful lighting set the surrounding trees aglow as we lazily gazed over inky moonlit waters towards the luminous walls of Old Town Dubrovnik.
An impeccable dining experience followed. Four courses, all accompanied by fantastic service, including monkfish carpaccio with blueberries, fennel, rocket and parmesan, then the hotel’s signature dish: angel hair pasta with prawns and deliciously fresh and juicy tomatoes. For our main there was pan-fried veal loin with green beans, braised cabbage, glazed apples, pickled onion, and béarnaise sauce. And to finish? Heavenly chocolate mousse cake with a cherry sorbet.
Al Fresco Bar Giardino is in a shady, secluded garden just above the beach, and is designed for enjoying light lunches - think Mediterranean cuisine - and your favourite coffee blends.
Equally enticing, the Prosciutto and Wine Bar is a rooftop wonder for sipping wine or cocktails on super-cool sofas overlooking the sea. With the best views in the hotel (no mean feat), it’s ideal for sunset drinks.
Many guests also lunch here, at the less formal tables in the cobbled garden. Dishes are similar to those on the 24-hour room service menu: Caesar salad, scampi and pesto risotto, goat’s cheese or prosciutto sarnies, and sweet cakes or fruit desserts.
The à la carte breakfast (included in the room rate) is heavenly. We still talk about the vanilla cream pastries, eggs Benedict and excellent strawberry and banana smoothies - though the fruit and savoury cheese and cold-cut plates would make a great brunch, too.
Features include:
- Bar
- Restaurant
- Room service
Activities
- Unwind in the excellent Villa Spa. Choose from the full menu of treatments using organic Sodashi products, covering everything from couples’ massages to facials and mud therapies. Beyond the treatment room there’s also a sauna, a steam room, a full-size indoor pool opening to a sea-facing terrace and a gym
- Amble down to the hotel’s beach or relax in the hotel gardens. There may not be any white sand, but beaches are limited in these parts and here you get discreetly placed loungers and full waiter service throughout the day
- Walk Dubrovnik's fortified city walls for great views over the terracotta rooftops, and stroll the pedestrianised streets, stopping off in the museums, churches and open-air cafés (the East Gate is 15 minutes' walk from the hotel
- The concierge can arrange a wide range of excursions and private tours, including boat trips (day and evening), horse riding, kayaking, mountain biking and day trips around the wider region and into neighbouring Montenegro
- Take in a classical concert or theatre performance during Dubrovnik's Summer Festival (July/August)
- Pop over on the ferry to the pretty island of Lokrum and have a bite to eat before a snooze in the sun
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Boat trips
- Cycling
- Historical sites
- Kayaking
- Mountain biking
- Museums / galleries
- Nightlife
- Private guided tours
- Sailing
- Shopping / markets
- Snorkelling
- Swimming
- Well being
- Yoga
Kids
All ages are welcome, but this is a calm, sophisticated retreat that's geared towards couples. All rooms except Superior can take an extra person on a sofabed and/or a baby cot.
Best for:
Babies (0-1 years)
Family friendly accommodation:
All of the rooms and suites have a sitting area with a single sofabed (except Superior Rooms); the suites are most suitable as they have considerably more space. In particular, the Royal Suite has 2 bedrooms and the Villa Kolin Residences each have 3 double or twin bedrooms and can sleep up to 7. The Deluxe and Duke's Suites can interconnect with neighbouring Deluxe Rooms.
Cots Available, Extra Beds Available
Babysitting:
Babysitting is available on request.
Families Should Know:
Children need to be accompanied when using the pool.
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
Villa Dubrovnik is built into the cliffside in a quiet suburb just outside Dubrovnik Old Town, in Croatia.
By Air:
Fly into Dubrovnik (18km), or alternatively to Split (241km). Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving these airports.
From the Airport
The hotel can arrange airport transfers or you could take a taxi. If you're planning to explore the wider area you may want to hire a car (see below).
By Sea:
If you are arriving from Italy, Jadrolinija operates ferries from Bari.
By Car:
If you rent a car, bear in mind that Dubrovnik is not the easiest city to drive around. Roads are narrow, parking is very limited, and the Old Town is pedestrianised. That said, the hotel has private parking for guests and a car is useful for exploring the surrounding area - see our car rental recommendations.
Detailed directions will be provided when you confirm a booking through i-escape.com. 
More on getting to Croatia
Airports:
- Dubrovnik 18.0 km DBV
- Split 241.0 km SPU
Other:
- Beach 0.1 km
- Shops 0.4 km
- Restaurant 0.1 km