This month, Dubrovnik’s historical waterfront sees the much-awaited re-opening of its celebrated property, Hotel Excelsior, following the completion of an extensive refurbishment.
Overseen by a team of talented Croatian architects and designers, the iconic property has finally unveiled its outstanding transformation just in time for summer and is welcoming back guests to Croatia’s Adriatic pearl.
The look
Adriatic Luxury Hotels’ flagship property has been meticulously revamped with fresh, modern and elegant design that embodies Hotel Excelsior’s sophisticated yet welcoming feel. Local architectural studio BF, and interiors by Franić-Šekoranja’s design studio have reimagined the new spaces that include the hotel’s rooms, lobby, restaurants and terrace bar. Earthy tones of grey and walnut have been flawlessly combined with shades of blue and green – colours inspired by the hotel’s magnificent surroundings and spectacular vistas; the verdant peninsula, vibrant sea and the warm stone of the medieval Old Town offset by the sun.
The rooms
With its reopening for the season, Hotel Excelsior unveils 158 beautifully redecorated rooms and suites featuring wooden floors, custom-made furniture, and a collection of carefully curated details in neutral hues alongside colourful dashes of Excelsior’s signature shades of vivid yellow, blue and touches of subtle metallics. These rooms – spread across both the original 1913 residential part ‘Villa Odak’ and the hotel’s more recent extension ‘The Tower’ – have been completely transformed to offer guests a luxurious, stylish and comfortable hideaway in this picturesque and historic location.
The lobby
Impressive floor-to-ceiling windows flood the newly-refurbished lobby with natural daylight, where warm wooden floors and bespoke furniture will welcome its guests daily. New works of art and sculpture, created especially for Hotel Excelsior, are the finishing touch to the new lobby and public areas.
The restaurants
The re-opening includes an exciting new addition to the property’s incredible gourmet offering – fine-dining restaurant Sensus – run by executive Chef Petar Obad. With a focus on seafood, Petar creates innovative dishes and elevates traditional Mediterranean cuisine with the freshest local produce and delicacies, paired with the finest Croatian wines. His signature dishes are guaranteed to delight with a choice of three mouth-watering white fish filets and delicious garden vegetables, or a succulent truffle ravioli main. Boasting a superb outdoor space, guest can dine under the patio’s charming cobbled archways looking out onto the crystal blue sea.
The hotel’s centrepiece, the Abakus Piano Bar, has also been given a lift and is set to be the city’s summer hotspot. As the heart and soul of Hotel Excelsior with an expansive outdoor lounge terrace that takes in the unparalleled views, the Abakus Piano Bar is the perfect hangout place for refreshing beverages throughout the day and sundowners as the late afternoon light ignites the Old Town’s distinctive fortifications.
