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Hotel Supetar Cavtat Reopens Outside Dubrovnik, Croatia

Nestled between the quaint streets of the historic small town of Cavtat (akin to the charming port of Saint-Tropez before all the hordes of tourists these days) and the unbroken blue of the Adriatic Sea, Hotel Supetar has reopened its doors after a complete renovation. The picturesque town of Cavtat offers the best of both worlds: peaceful relaxation in a scenic seaside town, just minutes away from the attractions of Dubrovnik.

Housed in an original 1920s three-story private villa, Hotel Supetar re-emerges as a boutique retreat after being envisioned by Croatian designers STUDIO LACROMA in cooperation with Katarina Alamat Kusijanovic. The hotel features 16 spacious, stylish, and individually designed rooms with Mediterranean soul. Each of the rooms reveals a distinctive touch of style with luxury and indulgence in mind, reflecting elegance and grandeur. Carefully designed to offer rest and relaxation with a mix of stylish furniture, sophisticated fabrics that celebrate history and modernity, and pops of wallpaper, rooms feature garden or sea views just steps away from the charming waterfront promenade. Beautiful marble bathrooms with gold accents deserve special mention.

Food lovers savor Mediterranean fare in Restaurant, where authentic delicacies are carefully prepared. The menu was created to focus on products from the sea, seasonal specialties, and local fresh ingredients, including the oranges from the hotels’ garden. A few standouts include Swordfish Carpaccio marinated in emulsion of orange and lime; Vegetable Cream Soup, poached shrimp tail, aromatic dark bread croutons, olive oil; Saint Jacques roasted a la minute, served on domestic broccoli puree, spiced with oil of the Croatian sausage kulen; “Maturo” Beef Fillet, aged 24 days, blinis of potatoes from Konavle, glazed carrot and asparagus, demi-glace sauce, slices of truffle; and local cream caramel and flan, Dubrovačka Rozata. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served indoors with floor to ceiling window walls looking into the poolside oasis or in a romantic al fresco setting on the open terrace.

To please the palates of wine lovers, a new inviting Wine Bar offers just the right selection of the finest local and international wines. Comfortable loungers complement contemporary seating along a modern emerald tiled bar. The wine list includes the finest selection of Croatian wines with an emphasis on Dubrovacka Malvasija, the local indigenous white wine grape from the local Konavle region. Croatian wine tastings at the Wine Bar complement food and wine pairings at the hotel’s Restaurant.

To relish the leisurely end of the day, guests can enjoy the cool of the garden near the new light-flooded infinity edge pool. Wrought iron patio seating is accompanied by wicker chair sets among the citrus trees.

During the renovation of the hotel, remains of the ancient settlement of Epidaurum were discovered. Epidaurus was an ancient Greek colony founded sometime in the 6th century BC. It was renamed to its current name during Roman rule in 228 BC. During the civil war between Julius Caesar and Pompey, the city was besieged by M. Octavius but saved by the arrival of the consul Publius Vatinius. The city was destroyed by Avars and Slavic invaders in the 7th century. Refugees from Epidaurus fled to the nearby island Laas (meaning “stone” in Greek), from which Ragusa (through rhotacism) was founded, which over time evolved into Dubrovnik. Several Roman inscriptions are found amongst its ruins: the sepulchre of P. Cornelius Dolabella, who was the consul under Augustus and governor of Illyricum, and the remains of an aqueduct. Artifacts will be on display in a nearby museum.