It all started one day with a little fish restaurant at the end of the riva…
The Gariful story is taking its latest twist on Hvar. Easily the best-known restaurant on the island, Restaurant Gariful has been serving the rich and famous for many years now, with movie stars, footballers and celebrity businessmen among the regular clientele.
It was not long before the Gariful team expanded out into other areas of hospitality. Always keen to support local community initiatives, such as Kids Day and the now-defunct Gariful Tennis Open, Gariful has expanded in a variety of directions in recent years.
First came Vintage, a luxury wine bar in the old town, which tapped into the growing interest in Croatian wines and the desire for the older generation to have somewhere quiet and discerning to retreat to after dinner. Backed by the legendary Garfiul wine list, Vintage soon became a hit.
And then something for the younger crowd, as nightclub SEVEN opened just off the main square, providing some strong competition for Carpe Diem and Pink Champagne.
Meanwhile, about 1km out of town, a very different Gariful experience – a farm. What started as a small plot of land with a few animals has mushroomed into an impressive tourist attraction and source or organic vegetables for the restaurant. It is a while since I have been, but the range of exotic animals was pretty impressive. Check out the latest at Farma Hvar.
And so it was perhaps only a matter of time before the Gariful brand entered the accommodation market. And where else, but at the top? A stunning new addition to the Hvar accommodation scene will be available to rent from July.
The Gariful villa is superbly located behind the restaurant in the heart of the old town and just off the fabled Hvar waterfront. And I am sure the owners will be able to give you a good suggestion for lunch…
Unusually for Hvar, the property can be rented by floor or its entirety. There are four floors connected by lift, two with private jacuzzi, four units in all offering the finest Hvar luxury. If you are looking to rent the whole property, the capacity is 14 people.
For more information, photos and to book, check out the Gariful blog announcing the new villa.
