Places to Stay: Monte Mulini, Croatia

Croatia has been on the radar for some time now, with its island-hopping, The Garden Festival and non-Euro exchange rate. But while most of the attention focuses on Dubrovnik and islands such as Hvar, the less well-known peninsular of Istria, just across the Adriatic from Venice, is having a bit of a moment. The ultra-modern Monte Mulini was built here a few years back, overlooking a pretty cove, with all its 113 rooms facing seawards. Each has custom-made furniture and warm colours, with bathrooms featuring natural materials and ‘tropical rain’ showers and manages to combine high-tech functionality and intimacy beautifully.

Renowned head chef, Tomislav Gretic, and internationally acknowledged sommelier, Emil Perdec, have created a highly regarded fine-dining experience at Restaurant Mediterraneo; inspired by Greek, Spanish, Lebanese and North African cooking. There's also a Lobby Bar with a stunning 20-metre high glass wall and amazing views, and a Wine Vault which features 550 labels from Croatia and across the world.

Monte Mulini is just outside the impossibly pretty town of Rovinj, all painted houses, little shops, cobbled lanes and lantern-lit cliff-side bars where you perch on rocks just above the waves for moonlit cocktails… Rent a bike to rattle along miles of narrow cycle tracks that wind along the coastline and pick any of the tiny secluded bays for a quick dip, or take the boat from Rovinj across to Red Island for lunch in an old monastery.

You can hop on a short three hour flight from most UK airports to Pula from, but to do it in proper style - you can sail from Rovinj to Venice and take the Orient Express back to London! 

 p r e v i o u s  p l a c e s  t o  s t a y  . . .

escape b&b, north wales  |  hotel missoni, edinburgh |  sanctum soho, london   

rachel xo