.jpg)
Hotel Lone, a member of Design Hotels, is a masterpiece of architecture and service – sitting along the shores of the Adriatic Sea near the picturesque town of Rovinj. Its exterior walls, paper white and rippling like waves through the dense pine forest, house a hotel concept that fuses the best in luxury and hospitality innovation. As a recent guest of the hotel, I couldn’t help but be completely blown away by the speed in which I fell in love with this property, after only a matter of my first minutes stepping foot inside.
Hotel Lone is a riddle, as it sits within easy walking distance of a medieval town, Rovinj, which looks like it was plucked straight from a fairytale. Its stark juxtaposition with the centuries-old villages in the area, make for an interesting and unique experience that cannot be replicated. The hotel was designed by firm 3LHD and created using stone, wood and warm fabrics. All 236 rooms and 12 suites are large, many with views of the sea and rolling hills covered in deep green forest and parklands. Rooms are done in muted beige, brown and earth tones – utilizing mirror and glass, which adds an element of unexpected sexiness. The suites are seductive and comfortable, featuring everything from furniture by the Croatian design firm, Numen Group, to well-appointed bathrooms. In fact, the oversized marble bathrooms feel more like a spa than a place to merely bathe and get dressed.
The property, owned by the Maistra Group, offers three incredible restaurants, including “L”, which features stunning indoor and outdoor seating, as well as cuisine conceptualized and curated by Chef Priska Thuring. The menu is seasonal and draws its inspiration from the sea at the front door. All efforts have been made to incorporate only local ingredients, utilizing olive oil from farms up the road and an amazing Croatian wine list from the area’s vineyards. You will also run into plenty of dishes with truffles, a specialty of Istria not many know about.
Hotel Lone also offers guests a Mediterranean and Adriatic-influenced wellness center with a beautiful pool, spa and gym. This is, in my head, a way to encourage you to stay in your best shape possible after indulging in too many local pasta dishes with rich truffle cream sauce. Whether you use the facilities is completely up to you, but, it made me feel better after my days spent eating myself into oblivion here.
This hotel is one of my absolute favorites in Croatia. Aside from being the best on the Istrian peninsula, it is one of the best in Europe, in my opinion. I am in love with the commitment of a theme and message, theirs being beauty, design and uniqueness. You can feel these attributes in every moment of your stay. That, in itself, is quite impressive.
