LAJFSTAJL / LIFESTYLE
cal on balmy evenings. Next, tre- at yourself to a romantic dinner at Fish Restaurant Proto, where you can enjoy lobster risotto and grilled sea bass. End the evening with a nightcap at M’arden, whi- ch serves high-quality Croatian wi- nes in a secluded garden. Start your next day with a vi- sit to the 13 th -century Fort Lovri- jenac. Located beyond the confi- nes of the Old Town and providing great views of the city walls, it is a favourite spot for taking photos. Climb the 175 steps to the upper level, where you’ll find cannons and a small chapel. Then head back to town to buy presents. Located im- mediately in front of Ploča Gate is the Life According to Kawa concept store, offering unusual items ma- de by Croatian designers. Close by, inside Ploča Gate, Dubrovačka Ku- ća offers paintings and ceramics by renowned Croatian artists. Enjoy lunch at Barba, which offers street food based on fresh, local seafo- od – try the octopus burger in a bun with salad and mayonnaise. Pick up an ice cream at the ne- arby Gianni ice cream shop, then spend the afternoon on Banje Be- ach, located just beyond the city walls. It has a bar serving chilled drinks – bring your own towel and lounge on the pebbles, or pay extra for a sun lounger and umbrella. There is also a lounge bar on a wo- oden terrace above the beach, ser- ving cocktails and snacks. Launch your evening in the Old Town, with interesting and infor- mative tasting of Dalmatian wines (three reds or three whites) at D’Vi- no Wine Bar – with its pleasant and relaxed ambiance, at a few outdoor tables in a narrow alley. Then head to Azur for dinner, offering unusu- al yet incredibly tasty “Cro-Asian” dishes devised by the owner-chef, combining Dalmatian ingredients with Thai spices and fragrant her- bs. Try the fantastic swordfish filet in black curry sauce. End the eve- ning at Fratello’s Prosecco Bar, just outside the Old Town, sipping Cro- atian sparkling wine on a beautiful terrace with sea views.
BELLEVUE
HUNDREDSOFTHOUSANDS OF VISITORS HEAD HERE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD , including celebrities like Kate Winslet, John Malkovich, Victoria and David Beck- ham. So it’s no wonder that these jet-setters have had an impact on the hospitality offer, so you should expect sleek wine bars, restaurants with creative seafood specialities and five-star hotels. We recommend you opt for the Hotel Bellevue, located halfway between Dubrovnik Old Town and the Lapad Peninsula, perc- hed on a clifftop above a seclu- ded bay with a sand and pebble beach. Renovated in 2019, it bo- asts summery Mediterranean in- teriors created by Portuguese de- signer Tereza Prego. There are two excellent restaurants (one with a terrace providing sea views in the shade of an awning, the other on the beach), a wine bar with wine tasting and a spa complete with a small indoor pool. Of course, every first visit to Dubrovnik should begin with a walk along the 13 th century city walls, which takes more than an hour and offers ever-shifting per- spectives on the Old Town’s red ro- ofs and the sea. Next comes a stroll along Stradun, the city’s main pe- destrian street. Check out the out- door Gundulićeva Poljana Market (mornings only). The stalls once so- ld local seasonal fruits and vegeta-
bles, but today you’ll find mostly gifts intended for tourists – be- autiful handmade lavender bags, candied orange peel, sugared al- monds and dried figs. Grab a san- dwich for lunch at Buffet Škola, located in a narrow alley off Stra- dun – this sandwich shop makes fresh bread and stuffs it with lo- cal cheese and prosciutto, while they also offer delicious homema- de apple strudel. For liquid gold, visit the Uje shop in Stradun, which specia- lises in Croatian olive oil. The owners have their own olive gro- ves on the island of Brač, and you can ask to taste their oils before buying. Spend the evening in the Old Town. For starters, head for sunset drinks at Buža Bar, which is entered via a small door in the city walls. Tables are arranged at various levels on rocks overlooking the sea – informal, but truly magi-
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