Adriana Hvar Spa Hotel

Rooms and decor

Picture a hotel sitting right on the harbour promenade in the heart of the old town, where you pull the curtains in the morning and a line of yachts is moored out front — that's Adriana Hvar Spa Hotel, the 5-star spa hotel widely rated the best in Hvar Town and part of the Suncani Hvar group. Its roughly 59 rooms and suites are done in warm, modern tones that lean toward easy seaside comfort rather than heavy luxury — soft wood furniture against light colours, with big windows and balconies that let in the Adriatic light and breeze. Many rooms face the Riva harbour for full views of the boats and water, while inward-facing rooms run quieter. Beds are comfortable and the bathrooms clean and modern. If you want a seafront feel while staying central enough to walk everywhere, the rooms here deliver from the first step.

Food and amenities

What sets Adriana apart from other hotels in town is the rooftop infinity pool, where the edge seems to run straight into the horizon and the Pakleni Islands spread across the blue water in a panorama. Beside it sits the Top Bar, a rooftop terrace that reviewers rate one of Hvar's prettiest spots to soak and sip a cocktail at sunset. Downstairs is the other much-talked-about highlight — the Sensori spa, billed as the most complete on the island, with an indoor pool, jacuzzi, sauna and a Turkish bath (hammam), plus massage treatments, so you can fully unwind even when the sun doesn't cooperate. For food there's a hotel restaurant and bar, and the buffet breakfast comes up often in reviews as generous and served in an easy harbour-side setting. Put together, the place covers a scenic pool, a relaxing spa and a view-with-a-drink corner all in one.

Location and getting there

Adriana's location is the dream for anyone who wants both the old town and the sea at once. The hotel sits in the heart of Hvar Town on the Riva harbour promenade, lined with yachts and busy shops. A few steps out the door brings you to St Stephen's Square, the marble town square, the cathedral, cafes and old stone lanes you can wander all day. From the front of the hotel you can hail a boat taxi across to swim at the Pakleni Islands, with clear water and quiet beaches, or walk up to Fortica fortress for a high view over the town and sea. The ferry and catamaran pier linking to Split and other islands is close enough to reach on foot. If you like the kind of trip where you ditch the car, explore on foot, swap in a boat ride to swim, then come back to soak in the rooftop pool, this location is hard to fault.

Things to know before booking

Straight talk to help you decide. First, the price — as the island's best central 5-star spa hotel, rates run high, especially in the summer high season when Hvar is a hot draw and rooms fill fast, so book well ahead. Second, the night-time atmosphere: because it's in the middle of a lively harbour quarter, summer nights bring busy bars and crowds, and rooms facing the harbour or street can pick up some noise. If you're a light sleeper, request an inward-facing room to keep the night quieter. Third, understand from the start that this is an old-town hotel on the harbour with no private beach attached — to actually swim in the sea you take a boat over to the Pakleni Islands or walk to a nearby swimming spot. The water draw here is the rooftop pool and the spa more than swimming off the front of the hotel, so set expectations accordingly.

Our take

From reading through plenty of real reviews, Adriana Hvar Spa Hotel nails the combination of a harbour-front location in the heart of the old town, a rooftop infinity pool with Pakleni Islands views, and the most complete Sensori spa on the island — enough to earn its billing as the best spa hotel on Hvar. If your trip looks like wandering the old town all day, boating over to swim at the Pakleni Islands, then floating in the rooftop infinity pool with a cocktail at sunset before finishing with the spa, this is about as close to perfect as it gets. But if you came mainly to sunbathe on a private beach out front, or you're chasing friendlier prices and dead quiet, the rates and busy central location may give you pause. Overall we give it 9.2/10 — best for couples and relaxation-seekers who want both old-town charm and a seafront spa in one stay.