Berkeley Hotel & Day Spa
by the TopOfHotel team
The Berkeley is the one boutique spa that's close to the ferry yet clear of the crowds — homemade breakfast plus affordable Dermalogica treatments.
The Berkeley is the one boutique spa that's close to the ferry yet clear of the crowds — homemade breakfast plus affordable Dermalogica treatments.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
Rooms are clean and comfortable, done in a boutique style with an eye for detail — well-chosen furniture and bed linen better than you'd expect at this price. A recent review put it plainly: "very clean, very comfortable, nothing to complain about." The rooms are sensibly sized for the rate rather than large like a 5-star, but the layout uses the space well. The team earns special praise too — reviewers called them the friendliest of any hotel on their trip. With only 25 rooms, staff get to know guests by name and remember special requests without being asked twice.
Food and amenities
The day spa running professional Dermalogica products is the main draw, and a genuinely rare thing in Dubrovnik — a full menu of massages, facial treatments, body wraps and manicure/pedicure. Because the spa is small with only a few treatment rooms, book at least 2 weeks ahead in peak season (July to August). Breakfast is the other highlight reviewers rave about: the hotel's pastry chef bakes fresh pastries every morning. One review said it tastes genuinely homemade, not bought from a shop, with enough sweet and savory choices to cover every taste.
Location and getting there
The Gruz district sits about 2 km from the Old Town — a 15-to-20-minute walk along a fairly pretty harbour promenade, or just 2 to 3 stops on a public bus to the centre. The clear advantage is being right by the Gruz ferry port for travelers planning a day trip to Hvar, Korcula or Split by ferry. You're only 100 m from the dock, so boarding takes no real effort.
Things to know before booking
Gruz isn't a main tourist district, so you'll walk 15 to 20 minutes or hop a bus every time you want the Old Town. The spa is small — only 2 to 3 treatment rooms — and slots sell out roughly 2 weeks ahead in peak season, so reserve treatments when you book the room. And the rooms are right-sized for the price rather than spacious, which can disappoint anyone expecting 5-star square footage.
Our take
The Berkeley Hotel & Day Spa fits couples who want a private boutique spa, away from the crowds, at a sensible price — plus anyone arriving or leaving by boat through the Gruz ferry port, or planning to island-hop the Adriatic. If you'd rather skip the tourist rush but still want a professional spa, this is the best pick in its budget. It scores 8.6/10 on Booking.com and 8.5 on Agoda, and starts around $57 a night.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- The full Dermalogica day spa is the real reason to book — massages, facials, body treatments and manicure/pedicure at a 4-star standard, and a genuinely uncommon thing to find in Dubrovnik.
- Breakfast is baked fresh every morning by the hotel's own pastry chef. Reviewers single it out as a true homemade taste with both sweet and savory options, not bought-in supermarket pastry.
- With only 25 rooms it feels intimate — none of the big-hotel bustle. Reviewers called the team the friendliest they stayed with on the whole trip, and staff remember guests' names and special requests.
- You're 100 m from the Gruz ferry port, so ferries and cruises to Hvar, Korcula or Split start right outside the door with no long trek to the dock.
- Rooms start around $57 a night, which is solid value for spa quality at this level. Reviewers say the place passes every test in its price range.
- Gruz isn't one of Dubrovnik's main tourist districts. The Old Town is about 2 km away, so plan on a 15-to-20-minute walk along the harbour or a short public bus ride every time you head into the centre.
- The spa is small — only 2 to 3 treatment rooms — so slots fill fast. In peak season (July to August) book your treatments at least 2 weeks ahead, ideally at the same time you book the room.
- Rooms are sensibly sized for the price rather than large. If you're expecting the space of a 5-star, this isn't that — though reviewers say the rooms are very clean, very comfortable and nothing to complain about.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
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Insider Tips
- Book your day spa treatments at the same time you book the room. With just 2 to 3 treatment rooms, peak-season slots (June to August) sell out roughly 2 weeks ahead.
- The Gruz ferry port is 100 m away — if you're planning a day trip to Hvar or Korcula, you can board the ferry right in front of the hotel with no extra travel.
- Walk into the Old Town along the harbour promenade rather than taking the bus — it's a pleasant 15-to-20-minute stroll and a nicer way to arrive than from the bus stop.