Design Hotel Navis
Opatija
Ship on the cliffs of the Adriatic
Design Hotel Navis is a modern luxury hotel situated on a cliff overlooking the sea in Opatija, Croatia. Opatija is a small seaside town at the eastern end of the Istrian peninsula, which became famous as a resort overlooking the Adriatic Sea during the Austrian Empire in the 19th century. There are still many 19th-century villas in the town of Opatija.
A long coastal promenade runs north from the town of Opatija, where you can walk along the beach overlooking the crystal blue Adriatic Sea. At the end of this road, on a vertical cliff, is a building that looks like a stack of long, square boxes. This is the Navis Design Hotel. The name 'Navis' means ship in Latin, so from a distance it looks like the side view of a large cruise liner, with stepped railings and windows.
Nearby is a small fishing village called Bolosko, where you can find small restaurants with street tables. The fish had been caught that morning by fishermen in the sea off the coast, according to the owner. The seafood dishes I chose here were never disappointing.
Mussel stew (Dagnje na Buzara)
Grilled cuttlefish (Lignje na zaru)
Grilled anchovies (Przene srdele)
Grilled scorpion fish
Everything is even better with a glass of Istrian Malvasia wine.
Another feature of this place is the restaurant on the first floor. Every morning, a feast of local Istrian dishes is served in the restaurant. The restaurant is surrounded by glass walls that offer a clear view of the Adriatic Sea. The honey fresh from the beehive, the Croatian prosciutto sliced on the spot and the poached egg with black truffle, which you can order as you like, were unforgettable breakfasts. This was not just a fancy buffet served in a luxury hotel, but a carefully prepared breakfast table, small in size but with great attention to detail.
Navis is a modern, recently built accommodation, unlike the accommodation in the town of Opatija, which consists mainly of old villas and old seaside hotels. It is said that the Kapetanovic family, who already ran an accommodation called 'Villa Kapetanovic' on a hill in a small fishing village nearby, decided to build a completely new Croatian design hotel, different from the old villa-style accommodation in Opatija.
What makes this place unique is that it is built on a cliff overlooking the sea. All the rooms have a view of the deep blue Adriatic. All rooms have a view of the sea, and from the terrace you can see the sun rise over the sea in the morning. In front of the hotel there is a small triangular outdoor swimming pool with sunbeds, and you can actually walk straight into the sea. You can also see people rowing paddle boards. You can also see local men fishing on the rocky beach. Thanks to its location a bit away from the centre of Opatija, it is not crowded and you can enjoy the sea in peace and quiet. If you want to go into town, you can easily get there by shuttle bus.
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