• Art Hotel Kalelarga (Zadar): In the heart of Zadar’s historic center, on a car-free peninsula, this old stone building was carefully renovated to open as a chic boutique hotel in 2012. Rooms have wooden floors and are decorated in subtle earthy shades of cream, beige, and brown, but the highlight for most visitors is the ground-floor restaurant, which serves an indulgent cooked-to-order breakfast, and has sliding doors that open onto Zadar’s main pedestrian thoroughfare.  
  • Bevanda (Opatija): A sophisticated retreat overlooking the Kvarner Gulf, Bevanda started out as a gourmet seafood restaurant, then expanded to include this small luxury hotel in 2013. The rooms feature lotsof contemporary woodwork, reminiscent of Scandinavian design. All have sea views, spacious bathrooms with Jacuzzis, and well-stocked bars.  
  • Bračka Perla (Brač): Set in a garden with a pool and overlooking a small bay, this peaceful hotel is the perfect retreat for families. Apartments, which are color-themed and named after local plants, come with a double room plus a living roomwith a sofa bed that sleeps two. You also have your own kitchen and a stone terrace for eating out in the garden.  
  • Hotel Boškinac (Novalja, Pag Island): Boškinac is in the middle of nowhere even for Pag, but that’s part of its charm. This country-chic hotel is surrounded by gardens, olive groves, vineyards, and forest, far from the madding weekenders who descend on nearby Novalja all summer long. Boškinac’s restaurant is one of the most creative in Croatia, and the wines from its vineyards are prized all over the country.  
  • Hotel San Rocco (Brtonigla, near Poreč): San Rocco’s location deep in Istria adds to the romance of its lovingly restored stone buildings and grounds. Flowers, olive groves, and an assortment of ruins comprise the hotel’s sensual “curb appeal.” But it’s really the beautifully put together guestrooms, with their mélange of antique and modern touches, the inviting pool, and the magnificent gourmet restaurant that seal the deal.  
  • Hotel Vestibul Palace (Split): The Roman Empire meets the 21st century at the Palace, where most rooms share at least part of a wall built by Diocletian. Gourmet delights align with history to make this one of the best hotel experiences in Croatia. Each room has a personality of its own, complete with cleverly designed windows carved into the stone walls to reveal views of various aspects of Old Town.  
  • Lešič Dimitri Palace (Korčula): Each of the five pieds-à-terre in this lavishly renovated medieval stone palace has a personality of its own. Privacy, elegance, and whimsy are built into each unit, any of which would be a fitting home for royalty in Manhattan or Marrakesh. There’s also a gourmet restaurant, a small spa with Thai masseuses, and two hotel boats available for private excursions.  
  • Palmižana (Hvar): Not really a hotel, this is more a blissful back-to-nature escape, with bungalows and small villas set amid an overgrown botanical garden on a tiny car-free islet. The owner is an art collector, and each building is decorated with colorful paintings and quirky sculptures by contemporary Croatian artists. There’s a small beach, two excellent restaurants, and taxi-boat service to trendy Hvar Town.  

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.