Besides the spectacular location/views, gorgeous design and sense of blissful serenity & romance that many have already commented on... it is the high level of service and management's focus on ensuring that every guest's experience is memorable that really shines for me. You have to expect that this property will attract some serious egos (euphemism for difficult guests with 'entitlement issues') and I have to say that the few tantrums we witnessed were handled discretely and impeccably by management.

I agree with some of the other comments - this should remain a child-free hotel. No offence, but I think that parents understand the need for 'escape', so leave the kids at home for this one (or do the right thing and choose a 'family hotel'). It's just not fair on the vast majority of the guests who choose this premium property as a relaxing and quiet escape.

Breakfasts on the terrace are a highlight - the food is fantastic and, quite frankly, I think you'll be hard-pressed to find a better place to sit in the whole of Dubrovnik to enjoy your morning espresso.

That said, I was disappointed by the dinner menu - but I think this is a cultural issue rather than a fault of the hotel. The menu is a concoction of over-engineered dishes with too many complicated tastes, textures and flavours (in the one dish) ... to me a hangover from the 80s. Premium food, to me, is simple food with the best ingredients, cooked perfectly. While presentation is important, everything's just a little OTT on the dinner menu (in order to justify the price premium, I think). That said, I saw some very happy diners enjoying their meals that evening, so take this as a subjective point of view.

If we return to Dubrovnik, I will definitely place this hotel at the top of my list... you simply can't beat it :-)

The rooms are beautifully appointed, large terraces and very, very confortable. Enormous bed, huge towels and robes. Great Bvlgari toiletries. The views to the old city are lovely from the room terrace. The staff is attentive and helpful. Opposed to some reviewers, im happy its not really suitable for children, at $500- $600 a night one wants peace. The breakfast is great and in a terrace overlooking the water and the old town.The only issue was dinner at the hotel restaurant, even here service was wanting, we were just left the server disappeared for stretches of time, all three tables abandoned, disappointing when service was good in every other area. The location is a bit further from the old town walls but still walking distance which is great since I can only imagine how insane the old town area gets in high season. It was the best hotel we stayed in Croatia.

The location is perfect for visiting the old town, especially when the magical boat is operating.
The views back to the old town are perfect from the breakfast terrace.
The food is wonderful at dinner and pretty good at breakfast. Room service and lunch are average.
The shaded pool is wonderful.
The 'family' rooms were not suitable at all. The only rooms that you had to climb stairs to get to -not easy with a buggy. The internal layout was poor; very steep stairs with glass and no handlebars, pokey and dark rooms with no view. A verranda overlooking the toilet ( no blind!) bizzarely only 2 coffee cups provided for 6 guests. Loved the wendyhouse in the garden though.
These rooms are not worth the premium and should not be sold to families with small children.

The first glimpse of the hotel from street level is the futuristic cube housing the lift which gives but a taste of what awaits below: a highly modern, recently refurbished, luxury hotel. The lift doors open onto a dazzlingly white courtyard overlooked by stone walls, inset with the hotel logo (which suspiciously resembles Versace’s) and the glass-walled reception area manned by smiling, efficient staff. After check-in, another glass fronted lift whisks most guests to their various floors, into which soothing music and freezing air-conditioning is continually piped.

All rooms come with sea views, though the swimming pool/reception wing rooms don't have a view over Dubrovnik. Our deluxe room was spacious, modern and well laid out, with wood floors and fine linen. The bathrooms have a glass partition, so you can watch the sea (and the numerous cruise ships at anchor) while shaving or having a bath and come with either a walk-in shower or bath, a bidet, one or two sinks and Bulgari bath products. The flatscreen TV stands at the end of the bed and can be rotated 360° (not that we were here to watch TV) and room lighting is discrete with good beside lights for reading. There’s also an in-room safe, wifi (you need to apply for the password) and a coffee/tea maker. Additional touches were the sweets left on the pillow each night and the slippers/dressing gowns we could have made use of (but didn’t, it being 30°C).

The airy rooftop bar is a superb place from which to watch the sun set over Dubrovnik’s old walls. By contrast (and if you opt for the bed and breakfast option) breakfast is taken on the ground floor under shady, old pine trees with a choice of outside or inside tables. The rugged coast surrounding the hotel has been levelled out with individual platforms and provided with sun beds and parasols and the sea is crystal clear. The swimming pool is disappointingly housed inside on the ground floor and it isn’t big, though I suppose it is perfect for off-season stays. There are a couple of other beaches (with sand, sun beds and kayak rentals) a short walk from the hotel.

Villa Dubrovnik lies to the South of the old town, along a shady, narrow, walled street (which contrary to appearances isn’t one way), but a Venetian vaporetto and various hotel cars/minibuses ensure a safe and speedy transfer into town (75 Kuna return, at least for the boat if I remember well) although the castle walls (which are visible from the hotel) are in any case but a short 10 minute walk away.

There were a couple of niggles, namely that the beside light switch was located too far from the bed, the air conditioning had to be reset if the door was left open (which necessitated a call to reception), the wood floor could have been better cleaned, the bath was deep and required an athletic step out (OK for us but not for anyone older or with disabilities) and the service at breakfast was slow (getting coffee or tea both originally and as refills was almost impossible, clearing away the tables was laborious and the fresh fruit went fast and wasn’t always replenished).

The atmosphere here (at least during our stay) was refined, relaxed and soothing. Sleep quality was excellent and the staff were polite, smiley and eager to please. We would recommend Villa Dubrovnik unconditionally and would most definitely stay there again.