Sun Gardens Dubrovnik

The Croatian Riviera hasn’t been a Riviera for all that long, and you could be forgiven for thinking the evolution of the Dubrovnik hospitality scene might take place a little less quickly. But Sun Gardens Dubrovnik ought to be all the proof you could want that things are moving along very nicely indeed. We’re not talking about some little villa with a pool on the terrace — this is a behemoth of a hotel, with four hundred rooms, suites and apartments, and no fewer than thirteen restaurants and bars.

By virtue of its sheer size Sun Gardens could be a bit faceless, but fine service makes it feel smaller, and its visual style is anything but bland — this is the group, after all, that first made its mark with the Arne Jacobsen–designed Royal in Copenhagen, a monument to modern design. Sun Gardens Dubrovnik might not be quite the icon, but its interiors are sharp and contemporary, with just enough bright Adriatic blue to make a point without belaboring it.

And of course the positives that come from the hotel’s large scale are welcome: the hotel’s spa is the region’s largest, the swimming options include three pools and a beach, and among the thirteen food and beverage offerings is a food market serving local products from pastries to fish to wine.

Please note: The operation and hours of the resort’s restaurants vary seasonally, and are subject to weather.