With a knock-out view of Miramare Bay from its glass-walled lobby and sea views from all of its 91 guest rooms, the Hotel Bellevue lives up to its name. Rooms are designed in a neutral color palette and are decorated with natural wood details (headboard and desk), giving them a sleek, urban feel with modern comforts like WiFi and satellite TV.  All rooms have amazing views of the sea, and most have balconies. Splurge on this cliffside spot’s master suite, which boasts breathtaking views over Miramare Bay from the chic and spacious bedroom and living rooms. The starting room category is larger than in most Croatian hotels (rooms tend to be very small throughout the country) as are the bathrooms. Five couples rooms are located in their own wing of the hotel, allowing some privacy for travelers looking for some quiet. Paintings by two well-known Croatian artists, Fedor Džamonja and Željko Senečić, hang in all of the rooms as well. In addition to an indoor pool and private beach area, the hotel has a number of on-site bars and restaurants including Vapor and Nevera. The property is located a five-minute drive from the Old Town.

A royal villa in the early 1900s, this regal property once welcomed such illustrious guests as Elizabeth Taylor and Queen Elizabeth II. Now an elegant hotel, the Excelsior has an idyllic location just a 10-minute walk from the city center, and boasts beautiful views of the Old Town and Adriatic. Among the hotel’s additional perks is its private platform beach, located just a short walk from the hotel.

The Excelsior is large but not impersonal. The hotel consists of two buildings, the newer Towers and the Classic Building, both of which have received full renovations. Of its 159 rooms and suites, the best are the deluxe and executive options, which boast private terraces. The presidential and penthouse suites provide stately bedrooms, oversized common spaces and stunning panoramas of the Adriatic. Thanks to recent refurbishments, the interior décor feels sophisticated and sleek with appropriate pops of color throughout, such as rose-pink bed throws or canary yellow lounge chairs. All rooms are spacious, well-appointed and receive plenty of natural light.

The property features three restaurants, each with large terraces, and all offer a range of cocktails and wines (the best are the Croatian varietals). The spa and indoor pool are located on the lowest level.

Dubrovnik’s first luxury boutique hotel—and the only one within the city walls—is the Pucic Palace, which occupies a 17th century Baroque palace on one of the city’s prettiest squares, Gundulic Square, only steps from the city’s walls. The square was named after the famous poet Ivan Gundulic, and the hotel owners have made a great effort to honor Dubrovnik’s history and tradition with antique furnishings and artwork, while providing a supremely comfortable perch right in the center of the Old Town. The elegant four-story building houses only seventeen rooms and two suites, all of which feature olive wood parquet floors and stone walls and such modern amenities as air conditioning and high-speed internet. There are three restaurants within the Palace, including the brasserie-style Café Royal, the Razonoda Wine Bar and Defne, which offers al fresco dining. Guests have access to East West Banje beach, and the concierge will also arrange boat excursions and other activities and cultural tours.

Perched on a cliff outside of the historic town of Dubrovnik, the Villa Dubrovnik has been declared the most luxurious small hotel in Croatia after undergoing a full renovation a few years ago. Though there was a hotel in its place for sixty years, the property was completely rebuilt so regulars will recognize little more than the stunning location and a few preserved walls. If you arrive by sea, you will be struck by the simple modern beauty of the cantilevered glass and steel villa that climbs down the cliff into the sea. If you come by car, you will arrive above the building itself to a sea-facing and wood and glass box—an elevator that whisks you down to a terrace. Behind you is a cliff that has been covered in stone mosaics and ahead of you is the first level of the four-story villa, which has glass walls for uninterrupted sea views.

The fifty-six guest rooms all feature sea views and delicious details like oak paneled walls, teak decks and Italian linens. The aesthetic is sleek-yacht-meets-chic-loft with natural materials emphasizing the stunning views and just-right details such as curvy leather chaises, Italian lighting and furniture, hand woven wool rugs and well-selected art books. The hotel’s owner approved every inch of the property with more attention than many lavish on their own homes. All rooms have balconies and suites have sweeping terraces with Jacuzzis.

There’s a serene spa and an indoor pool as well as two restaurants and private bathing platform, where loungers and umbrellas are set up daily. It’s possible, too, to rent a private beach for the day, where you can have a small cove to yourself.

Housed in a preserved building from the 1930s, the 13-room Villa Orsula beautifully fuses historic elements with contemporary design and modern conveniences. Accommodations feature a mix of furnishings including Gothic-style windows, surrealist artworks and immaculate marble bathrooms. The result is a chic eclecticism that is unmistakably Dalmatian.

Deluxe rooms offer small stone balconies with space to lounge and views of Lokrum and the Old City. The Royal Suite is one of the best accommodations, thanks to a spacious living area and an extra half bath.

The boutique property has few amenities (although breakfast can be enjoyed from the comfort of one’s room), so guests can take advantage of the neighboring Excelsior’s spa, pool and private beach. Indagare Note: We have received complaints about the property's lack of service, so those staying at Villa Orsula should be prepared for a more do-it-yourself than cosseting experience.

Villa Orsula’s well-manicured grounds invite lingering (especially with a book from the lending library), and its terrace is a picturesque spot for dinner or drinks overlooking the water. The bar, set beside massive white stone arches, is another comfortable spot for a cocktail. Victoria Restaurant, which serves delicious Peruvian Adriatic fusion, has stunning views of the old city.