Villa Dubrovnik

Villa Dubrovnik sits on a cliff in the Sveti Jakov area east of the Old Town, with uninterrupted views across the water to the city walls and the island of Lokrum. It is one of the most exclusive places to stay in Dubrovnik, and its quiet setting, away from the traffic of the Old Town but within sight of it, is the main reason guests choose it.

The building has an unusual history. It was designed in 1961 by the architect Mladen Frka as a residence for political elites, and in 1963 it became an annex of the nearby Hotel Argentina. Its clean, rational architecture is quite different from the pre-war villas and grand hotels elsewhere in the city. The hotel's website displays the MICHELIN Two Keys emblem.

Facilities focus on food, relaxation and the view. The hotel's restaurants use locally sourced ingredients. A rooftop bar is the setting for cocktails at sunset. The Villa Spa offers treatments that combine modern techniques with Mediterranean natural remedies. For the most privacy, the Villa Kolin Residence has its own private pool.

This is a hotel for couples, honeymooners and travellers who value calm and design over being in the thick of things. Because it is outside the walls, getting to the Old Town involves either a walk along the coastal road or a short taxi ride, so ask the hotel about transport options when you book.

Prices are among the highest in Dubrovnik. The hotel does not publish details of winter opening on its homepage, and many luxury properties on the coast close for part of the off-season, so contact reservations directly if you plan to travel between November and March. Request a room with an Old Town view; watching the walls light up at dusk from your room is the experience that defines a stay here. Because the hotel is small and secluded, it suits a slower kind of stay: a morning on the walls or in the museums, an afternoon at the spa, and an evening on the rooftop as the lights come on across the bay. For a special occasion, ask the reservations team about the Villa Kolin Residence and its private pool, which offers more space and privacy than a standard room. Let the hotel know about anniversaries or honeymoons when you book.