On the water's edge in Zrnovska Banja bay, an 8-minute drive from medieval Korcula Town, sits a small boutique hotel overlooking a sheltered turquoise bay. The hotel hosts an upscale restaurant with a waterside terrace serving Mediterranean cuisine, an outdoor pool with views across the bay, and 17 rooms and suites built into the hillside.
A natural stone path serpentines its way through lush green gardens and down onto the seafront. Here, Mimi's Bistro and Bar has tables arranged on a covered wooden deck, looking onto a strip of pebble beach lined with loungers and parasols, with waiters serving cocktails and snacks. Paddleboards and bicycles are available for hire, plus tailored boating and snorkelling trips can be arranged. The setting is blissfully tranquil, with views across the sea channel to Peljesac. A perfect place to unwind in the sun for a week or more.
Highs
- The hotel is just steps from a small beach, so you can swim before breakfast or take a sunset dip
- Well-priced rooms that feel fresh and modern
- Mimi's Bistro and Bar, serving gourmet cuisine and fine wines in an informal but romantic setting
- Away from the bustle of Korcula Town, but close enough to nip in for sightseeing or dinner - and far from the crowds
- Great for couples, friends, and families with outdoorsy kids (book a two-bedroomed Sea View Suite)
Lows
- We felt hotel food and drinks were on the pricey side when we visited
- The small beach is pebbly and can get crowded - not ideal for children
- You'll need to travel by road and boat to get to Korcula
Best time to go
We think the best times for the Dalmatian islands are May-June or Sept-Oct. During these periods, local attractions are open but not overcrowded, the weather is sunny but not too hot, and the sea warm enough to swim (in June and Sept for all; in May and Oct for hardy types only). During peak season (Jul-Aug), Korcula is overrun with tourists and prices escalate. In low season (Nov-April), most tourist facilities close completely for winter.
Our top tips
Korcula is renowned for its quality white wines (Grk and Posip), while the nearby Peljesac peninsula is noted for excellent full-bodied reds (Dingac, Plavac and Mali Plavac). Try a day in each location visiting local vineyards and wine cellars, to get a better understanding of Dalmatia's little-known family-run wineries. You can buy bottles to take home.
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 12 independent reviews from i-escape guests
A beautiful property on a lovely bay near Korcula town. The beach is so peaceful and happy hour at Mimi’s Bistro was great. Breakfast was included in the rate and was delicious and varied. The lunches were slightly pricey for what they were, but tasty nonetheless. Dinner was equally delicious but the menu could have been bigger. The room was spotless and functional. The bed was large but the bedding and pillows did not feel very luxury. Bathroom toiletries were great but could have been larger or restocked daily. Balcony was brilliant, comfy chairs and nice and spacious. The pool was beautiful and we got a great amount of sunshine on it, however there are many parts of the pool area where you could grab shade and large umbrellas should you wish.
The small hotel has stunning surroundings and the way it is designed is beautiful. Highly recommend staying. One final note, every single staff member is so welcoming, helpful and kind. They all went out of their way to ensure a wonderful stay. On our last day we had an early check out to catch the ferry, they arranged taxi’s and a lovely breakfast to go that we collected from the restaurant the night before. Thank you.
Amazing location, excellent breakfasts (although loud music in the beach bar throughout the day was pointless in such a tranquil spot) and room very comfortable. Would love to return!
Our four night stay at Tara’s Lodge worked really well as part of a 10 day trip to Croatia and provided the perfect beach-side relaxation we were hoping for.
We had a sea view suite which was frankly luxurious in terms of space; double-bedroom for us, twin-bedroom for children, large living area/kitchenette, plus terrace with chairs and sun loungers. Everything was spotless. Staff are very sweet and kind and manage to be attentive whilst maintaining the laid back, low key vibe of the place. Beach area is small (pebbles) with beanbag style sun-loungers laid out in necessarily close proximity - didn't bother us but may others. Sea was divine - warm, clear, calm and lots to look at with a snorkel. Long swims across the bay possible. Mimi’s Restaurant serves decent food (salads, burgers, pasta, fish) but is on the pricey side (although we’ve found all meals in Croatia more expensive than London). Korcula Old Town is a 10 min taxi drive away but not easily walkable unfortunately (heat/roads). It’s stunning and we were lucky enough to hear a couple of live concerts in the main church one evening.
Had a great day island hopping using one of the taxi boat services. Our guy had a small boat and would collect/drop off when we WhatsApped him so we could stay as long as we liked in one place and when we were ready to go, he’d be there in 10 mins. Other services run on a timetable. Shop around. All-in-all a great stay and would love to return: definitely recommend both Tara’s Lodge and lovely Korcula.
Liked that there was shade on the beach and that people didn't reserve the beanbag sunloungers.
Wow! What a place. We loved our stay at Tara's Lodge. It was the perfect place to stop and recharge for a few nights. Being able to walk down to the beach each morning and have a swim before breakfast was heavenly.
We had a garden view room and this was just right. It's a shame that there was a wall right in front of the room (feels like the perfect opportunity for a 'living wall' but the big Eucalyptus trees distracted)
Beds were comfy (very soft!), rooms were spotless, bathrooms great. Beach towels were a welcome bonus. We ate breakfast each morning (included), lunch and 2 dinners. Could get a little 'same samey' if you ate there more than that - some daily specials would be a welcome addition.
Staff were amazing couldn't fault them and we were made to feel like we were the only people there. Actually felt a bit sad leaving!
The only slightly negative thing is the reception, felt a little underwhelming compared to the rest of the hotel (it's just a 'shipping container' in the car park). But we would still go back in a heartbeat!
The resort is stylish and the staff are friendly and helpful, especially in the restaurant. The view is beautiful, and the sea is great for swimming and paddle boarding. We were staying with our son and the room was a tad too small for three and we were overlooked if anyone used the pool. We found that the breakfast wasn’t very good quality but the food in the evening was good and there is a nice atmosphere in the restaurant. The resort is a 45 min walk out of town along roads so we ended up spending a lot on taxis - probably better to have a car. We had a nice stay overall, but for the price, I expected a bit more.
Feedback is only from guests who have booked and stayed through i-escape
More Feedback