Design Hotel Astoria

Class: First

Style: Modern design

Rooms: 51

Back in the good old days, around the turn of the twentieth century, this was the Villa Louise, a classic grand hotel in the then-current Belle Époque style; Opatija, the Croatian seaside town it calls home, was at the time one of eastern Europe’s top resort destinations. Now a hundred years later Opatija is on the upswing again, and the old Villa Louise is back in shape as well, under a new name: the Astoria Design Hotel. The building has been subtly modernized, some of the ornament smoothed over, a new rooftop level quietly erected, and the interiors leave no doubt as to what century this is — the Belle Époque is long gone, and everything here is modern minimal, though perhaps warmer than the norm, in woods, creams and earth tones rather than icy whites. Many of the rooms come with small balconies looking out to sea, and the executive suites on the top floor come with terraces and even more spectacular views. Meals are served in a chic modern space or out on the terrace, and the indoor-outdoor lobby bar is the center of the nightlife action — the perfect place from which to watch the rebirth of the Croatian riviera.