With 37 days to go until final voting for the Best European Destination on the European Best Destinations website, day six of our look at Croatian nominee Stari Grad in pictures.
I will never forget the first time I visited one of the best projects on Hvar in recent years, Apolon, overlooking the new waterfront in Stari Grad. A journalist from The Independent in London was visiting to do a feature on Andro Tomic the winemaker. We started with a photo shoot in the semi-submarine in Hvar Town before a tasting par excellence at the Tomic winery in Jelsa. Andro was in his usual ebullient form.
“Let’s eat. There is a great new restaurant there, just opened.”
As Mr. Total Hvar, who prided himself on knowing what went on on the island, I was shocked. How could I not know about this new restaurant? Not only that, but what a project when I got there! So much more than an (excellent) restaurant, Apolon was a project of love and style, from a local made good, and I came to really admire the efforts of Tonci Tadic, who personally oversaw the renovation of a stunning historic building, despite working in Singapore, Tokyo and Israel, to name but three. I remember one time him arriving at 16:20 on the afternoon ferry and leaving for Japan on the 17:30, using those precious minutes to scrutinise, advise and give instructions. It was impressive to watch.
Stari Grad as a destination is on the rise, of that there is no question, and when the history books are written, there will be a chapter called The Apolon Influence. A wonderful terrace, service, food, wine, everything. And if you are looking for a high quality boutique experience in Dalmatia, you will struggle to do better than the seven gorgeous rooms above the restaurant.
Learn more about Apolon on the official website.
