Review: Maslina Resort

Why book: A slice of beachside bliss with a mindful touch. Wellbeing takes centre stage, the seafront organic garden supplies the spa and restaurant, and the results engage all your senses.

Set the scene: A cluster of six interconnected pavilions and three seafront villas exuding breezy beachfront coolness. This island hideaway hits the sweet spot for couples, families and solo wellness seekers. Most people visiting the island head to Hvar town; Stari Grad remains for those in the know – and so Maslina feels like a find.

The backstory :This is a love letter to the Mediterranean by the hotel’s French financier owners. Inspired by their long-time romance with Hvar island, they purchased land in pristine Maslinica bay and banded together with an ace hospitality team from Croatia who had some phenomenal projects under their belt. Together they whipped up a creative spot that marks a clear departure from its big-name Croatian counterparts.

The rooms: With the feel of a slick pied-à-terre made for unwinding, this is a place you could spend days staring at the azure Adriatic from bed. Dreamy, thoughtful and soft, rooms are dotted with natural accents such as local wood and stone sinks. For unbroken sea views book the premium bay or premium panoramic rooms. Families should snag the two-bedroom suite in pavilion two; there are also five pet-friendly garden suites.

Food and drink: You can order tasty bites all day at A-Bay Beach Bar, while the restaurant focuses firmly on seasonal and local ingredients in plates such as pasta aglio olio with shrimp and cherry tomatoes from the garden and duck schnitzel with orange-hazelnut brown butter. For a Dalmatian mainstay order the gregada fish stew, a tribute to Croatia’s coast. The lemon-soufflé pancake with orange-honey butter and whipped ricotta is a breakfast standout.

The spa: Surrounded by native pines and olive trees, the seafront Pharomatiq Spa calls on Croatia’s bounty of botanicals for inspiration. Stroll to the organic garden to pick herbs, from lavender (which Hvar is famous for) to thyme, rosemary and sweet wormwood; these are used in tonics, oils and aromas. Choose from a menu of morning activities such as mat Pilates and ashtanga yoga, realign with reiki sessions and rejuvenate with facials using products by Primitivance, the skincare brand of Croatian actor Marija Tadić – her local-to-the-last-drop Belle de Jour skin serum with Dalmatian herbs is divine.

The area: Away from the glitz and party scene of Hvar town, Maslina is a more serene base from which to explore the island. Grab one of the handcrafted wooden bikes for a 10-minute seaside ride to explore Stari Grad’s narrow cobblestoned lanes. Don’t miss the fairy-tale Tvrdalj palace, once home to Renaissance poet Petar Hektorović. Check out the lavender fields around Velo Grablje village; 50 years ago eight per cent of the world’s total lavender production came from Hvar island. Hop on an e-bike to roam the UNESCO-protected Stari Grad Plain with its fertile fields and dry-stone walls almost intact since the fourth century BC. Or take to the sea by speedboat to explore the secret coves and pine forests of the Pakleni archipelago, or further afield, the islands of Brač and Vis.

The service: In stylish uniforms by local designer Sara Lončarić and Croatian-made Startas trainers, staff are discreet but quick to act with spot-on service and advice. The head sommelier can arrange visits to Hvar’s premium winemakers – the island has a 2,400-year-old tradition of viticulture. The experience manager can make anything happen, from visiting donkey farms in nearby hills to tours of the old shepherd’s village of Humac and home-cooked meals in a local tavern, made with ingredients harvested straight from the plain.

For families: There is a thoughtfully curated list of activities designed with families in mind. The colourful climbing wall in the outside area of the kids’ playroom is heaps of fun, as is the tree planting in the garden. But nothing beats splashing around in the pool and making your own pizza for lunch.

Eco effort: Set in a former olive grove on the bay where trees have been repotted and native species protected, the low-impact architecture and natural materials blend in with the landscape. Both the restaurant and spa spotlight seasonal and hyper-local ingredients on their menus.

Accessibility: For a cascading hotel on sloping terrain, it’s done a stellar job. The panoramic elevator from street level whisks you straight up to the reception and public areas; eight of the rooms are on the same level, and one of these is wheelchair friendly. The spa is also a draw, with all its treatments and thermal wet areas fully accessible.

Anything left to mention? Check out the oversized desk in the lobby made of stone from neighbouring Brač island and enhanced using the ancient Japanese art of kintsugi, repairing broken ceramics with powdered gold. The 15-ton slab is so hefty it had to be transported by a special boat.