Villa Nai 3.3 Hotel

Croatia

Drop anchor by Žman, a fishing village in the south of Dugi Otok, and look closely – engraved into the hillside of a 500-year-old olive grove, Villa Nai 3.3 pays tribute to the island’s maritime heritage.

As with life on board, nature is ever present – five rooms and three suites with patios built to resemble the main deck of a boat, offer sophisticated comfort with textured walls and floors of Istrian limestone, and cleverly-placed skylights and floor-to-ceiling windows meaning sunshine is as ample as views of the stars. Private terraces open either on to the deep blue Adriatic or silvery-green olive groves, the latter framing a seawater infinity pool and fuelling olive-based treatments at the spa. Tastings of organic olive oils – pressed on-site that very day – enhance fine-dining at 3.3 Restaurant and fired feasts at outdoor Grotta 11,000, both serving authentic fare. Inspired by the fresh catch on the menu? Explore the archipelago by way of a fishing excursion.

Doubles from £723. 00 385 23 643520, villanai.com

Words by Jasmina Matulewicz.

This review featured in the June 2022 issue of Food and Travel. To subscribe today, click here.