On the blissfully quiet side of Hvar, the ancient town of Stari Grad centres on a pretty fishing harbour, filled with painted wooden boats. Just one block back from the water's edge, in a traditionally cobbled alley, you'll find this stylish and intimate 300-year-old Dalmatian stone townhouse, which has three individually designed self-contained suites.
Each occupying its own floor, every suite has an open-plan living space, a well-equipped kitchen, a kingsize bedroom and snazzy ensuite bathroom. Top floor Amanda Suite comes with a roll-top bath and its own roof terrace with sensational views. Lina Suite has a double sofabed in its lounge.
Your English hosts, cocktail guru Chris and interior designer Amanda, have a well-established background in hospitality, with former ventures including Blanch House in Brighton and Hidden Bar on Ibiza. Hidden House, lovingly restored from its once semi-derelict state, first to a boutique B&B and now a stylish suite retreat, has been their labour of love for well over a decade. They offer an excellent concierge service, arranging transfers, interesting island adventures and bespoke culinary experiences which includes their cocktail school and wine tasting venue on the ground floor of Hidden House.
Highs
- Just three private boutique suites - each on its own floor - all with eclectic decor, combining antiques and retro design pieces
- Stari Grad itself - unspoilt and peaceful, with excellent restaurants
- Chris and Amanda have created an oasis which is both elegant and intimate
- Fantastic value
- Tons to do on Hvar - hiking, cycling, sea swimming and wine tasting
Lows
- Full pre-payment prior to stay, by bank transfer; no credit cards accepted
- Outdoor space only available with the top-floor Amanda Suite
- Occasional low-level street sounds from the local restaurants nearby
- For glitzy nightlife, you'll have to drive over to Hvar Town (20 mins taxi)
Best time to go
If you want an active holiday, hiking and cycling, come in spring or autumn, when the weather should be pleasantly warm and sunny, and all the main attractions open, but without the crowds. The sea is ideal for swimming from June through September. The best months for open-air cultural events are July and August, but this is peak season in Dalmatia, so it does get hot and crowded too. Hidden House is closed from November through March each year.
Our top tips
Stari Grad (meaning Old Town) was first settled by the Ancient Greeks in 384BC. They started cultivating the fertile Stari Grad Plain, dividing it into rectangular plots bordered by dry stone walls. These 'land parcels' remain beautifully preserved and are still used for growing olives and grapes, and Stari Grad Plain is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. However, it's not easy to decipher – ask about guided tours at the Tourist Office.
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 3 independent reviews from i-escape guests
I have wanted to stay here for years and I am SO glad I had the chance this summer. Amanda and Chris are such wonderful hosts. I am usually a socially awkward turtle so the thought of staying somewhere where the owners were on hand would usually alarm me…but not these two. Amanda helped plan the visit in the week or so leading up to our stay, arranging taxi’s, water taxi’s, suggesting and booking dinners and activities for us across Stari Grad and further afield. She gave such helpful suggestions that it really did make our whole trip. We stayed in Lina on the first floor and it was beautiful. The bed and linens were super comfy, the touches blended so nicely with the old stone walls and shutters of the property that we seriously wanted to claim squatters rights and stay there. The bathroom and toiletries were luxuries and the living area and kitchen super well equipped. The day at the beach club nearby was a highlight and one that Amanda had arranged for us. It was very well priced and had the tastiest food for lunch. It was our favourite day of the whole trip.
Stari Grad is beautiful and we loved being in the centre of this authentic town. We will be returning and wished we had been able to stay longer. Thank you to Amanda and Chris for this gem of a place and their hospitality. It made our holiday in Croatia.
Hidden House is very aptly described and the owners, Amanda and Chris are delightful and very helpful…the info sheet you receive after booking is very comprehensive and full of recommendations. The room(s) are beautifully decorated and the kitchen very well equipped for cooking. Underneath is a great restaurant and the best place to eat in Stari Grad is definitely Nook - the food was amazing and absolutely delicious! We also did a half day trip with No Bullshit tours which was excellent and extremely interesting
I couldn’t recommend Hidden House highly enough. Even before you get there, Amanda takes great trouble to ensure that your outward travel will be efficient and that everything will be well set up for your stay. Thanks to her, we saved hours on our journey there and we had our chosen restaurants booked for our arrival and for the main nights of our holiday. She also helped us with our return journey. On our arrival, Chris met us in the town and escorted us to Hidden House which is ideally situated in a historic area and just one block from the harbour. The room was clean, chic, and comfortable while retaining the character of the old building. The kitchen was well-equipped, the bed large and comfortable and there were high quality toiletries in the splendid bathroom. It was all much better than a regular hotel. Almost everything we wanted to do was within walking distance and when it wasn’t, Amanda and Chris recommended Dario to take us in his taxi to our destination. He, as well as many of the restaurateurs we spoke to, were great fans of Amanda and Chris and I’m sure we got better service when we mentioned their names. Before you arrive, Amanda sends a long and very detailed guide, written in her inimitable style, to all the best places to go and it made us feel like insiders even before we arrived. So, if you want a truly memorable holiday with wonderful hosts for whom nothing is too much trouble, choose Hidden House.
Feedback is only from guests who have booked and stayed through i-escape