Hotel Stari Grad

Hotel Stari Grad, whose name simply means Old Town, is a small boutique hotel on Od Sigurate, a lane a few steps from Stradun. With just eleven rooms and three suites, it feels more like a private house than a hotel, and it gives you the rare chance to stay inside the walls at a price below the city's grand palaces. It is a member of Heritage Hotels of Europe.

Each of the 14 rooms and suites is individually designed, and sizes vary, as is usual in an Old Town building. Downstairs, the Lobby Bar serves carefully made cocktails and a good selection of whiskies and gins. The highlight is Above 5, which the hotel describes as the only rooftop restaurant in Dubrovnik, with views over the Old Town and the Adriatic. Even if you are not staying, it is worth booking a table there for the setting; as a guest, you have it just a few flights of stairs away.

The location is excellent for sightseeing. The main entrance to the city walls, the Franciscan Monastery and the Pile Gate bus stop are all a short walk away, so you can be on the walls as soon as they open. In the evenings, Stradun and the Old Town's bars and restaurants are on your doorstep. The flip side is that summer nights can be lively and the streets are pedestrian only, so you will need to carry luggage the last stretch; ask the hotel about help with bags when you arrive.

The hotel suits couples and solo travellers who want character and convenience. Families should check room sizes before booking. Historic buildings like this one often involve stairs, so ask about access if mobility is a concern.

The homepage does not say whether the hotel opens year-round, so contact it directly for winter stays. The same owners also offer Villa Anamir, a separate villa built in 1920, for those who want more space. Book early for summer, when the small number of rooms sells out quickly. Non-residents can also book a table at Above 5, which makes it easy to try the hotel before committing to a stay here on a later trip.