St Joseph's

Rooms

St Joseph’s has 5 suites and 1 apartment in the main building, spread over 3 floors and connected by a handsome stone staircase with a wrought-iron balustrade. There are also a few smaller rooms in a second townhouse across the street called St Joseph's Cottage. Expect restored wooden floors, beautiful beamed ceilings and whitewashed walls with exposed stonework, plus furnishing that combines historic references with modern comforts: ornate glass chandeliers, sumptuously upholstered armchairs, and big mirrors with elaborately carved frames.

The overall effect recalls Dubrovnik’s golden age during the Baroque period, while being brought up to date by 21st-century amenities. So in the suites you get a big comfy bed, a sofa, a dining table and a kitchenette, and a spanking clean marble bathroom with a rain shower (Deluxe King Suites also have bathtubs and twin washbasins).

We stayed in one of the Deluxe Queen Suites on our last visit, which lie directly below the eaves and have sloping ceilings, making them a little less formal and extra cosy. The Deluxe One-Bedroom Apartment has a living area with a sofabed that can sleep another 2 guests.

The Deluxe Standard Rooms and Deluxe Attic Room in the cottage are just as stylish but lack the living space of the suites. They're more compact and contemporary, offering a sleek city stay for a couple.

Features include:

• Air conditioning
• Bathrobes
• Central heating
• Cots available
• Hairdryer
• Safe box
• Toiletries
• TV
• WiFi

Eating

In the main hotel, breakfast is delivered to your room at your time of choice, so you’re treated to a relaxed awakening. Expect an invigorating smoothie (made from seasonal organic fruit and vegetables, with a hint of ginger), a lavish selection of oven-warm pastries and squares of tasty pita (filo-pastry pies), and a pot of freshly brewed real coffee. Each suite has a dining table and chairs, if lounging in bed sounds too decadent. You also get a slick in-room kitchenette (a full kitchen in the apartment) for preparing snacks and light meals.

For those staying in St Joseph's Cottage, the rooms don't have kitchenettes and breakfast is served family-style in the informal restaurant on the ground floor. It's tiny, seating 4 around a communal table. We ate here for dinner and had to preorder our meal before arrival as each dish is made fresh. The food was delicious and cooked beautifully, the menu a blend of traditional Croatian dishes and recognisable Mediterranean staples. I really enjoyed my sporki marakuli, a type of fresh pasta with slow-cooked beef ragu and goats cheese. My only complaint is that there wasn't more of it! It was just the two of us so it felt quite intimate, almost like private dining, but sharing the table with other guests would no doubt create a sociable buzz.

For dining out, great nearby restaurants include the informal Taj Mahal serving Bosnian specialities and barbecued meats; Bota Sare Oyster & Sushi Bar, and old-fashioned Proto, Dubrovnik’s longest-running and most respected fish restaurant.

Features include:

• Breakfast
• Fridge
• Hob or stove
• Kitchenette
• Microwave
• Restaurants nearby
• Room service

Activities

• Walk a complete circuit of Dubrovnik’s medieval walls (the setting for King's Landing in Game of Thrones)
  
• Catch the cable car to the top of Mt Srd for stunning views
  
• Watch the sun set over the Adriatic with a glass of wine at Buza bar, on the rocks just outside the seaward-facing walls
  
• Go sea kayaking and sailing or sunbathe and swim at EastWest beach club on Banje beach
  
• Catch a local ferry to one of the pretty nearby Elaphiti islets - Kolocep, Lopud or Sipan
  
• Hire a private guide for a day trip to Mostar in Bosnia-Herzegovina or Kotor in Montenegro (St Joseph’s can recommend someone reliable)

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Boat trips
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Kayaking
• Museums / galleries
• Nightlife
• Private guided tours
• Sailing
• Shopping / markets
• Swimming
• Theatre
• Windsurfing

Kids

St Joseph’s is aimed at couples, though younger children are welcome.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years)

Family friendly accommodation:

Deluxe King Suites can fit a baby cot. The apartment has a sofabed which can sleep 2 extra guests, and can fit a rollaway bed for a 2-4 year old.

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

St Joseph’s is in the heart of Dubrovnik's pedestrian-only Old Town, in southern Croatia.

By Air:
Fly into Dubrovnik (21km), or alternatively to Split (242km). Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving these airports.

From the Airport
The hotel can arrange airport transfers or you could take a taxi. If you're planning to explore the wider area you may want to hire a car, though bear in mind that Dubrovnik is not the easiest city to drive around. Roads are narrow, parking is very limited, and the Old Town is pedestrianised. See our car rental recommendations.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

More on getting to Croatia