7 Best Hotels in Istria, Croatia

In a tiny village just below Grožnjan, you'll find Bolara 60, a lovingly restored 18th-century stone farmhouse surrounded by peaceful rolling hills, vineyards, and olive groves. Anna and Matthew thoughtfully attend to every cozy detail with a high creative standard— from the vintage doorknobs to the wisteria-covered pergola, outdoor pizza oven, cozy open kitchen, antique beds with fine linens, bikes and boots to ramble with, and produce picked fresh from the garden. Anna's a chef, cooking teacher, food writer, and culinary anthropologist with many years working with Alice Waters to draw on, so anything she makes is amazing. But her breakfasts are truly fantastic, especially when eaten in the warmth of her open kitchen, with almost everything on the table made from ingredients grown right on the farm. And if they don't grow it, they know the best farmer, grower, or producer who does. This is a special culinary adventure not to be missed.

Located in the countryside near the village of Žminj, La Casa di Matiki may not be a fully working farm, but you’ll find donkeys, chickens, and three dogs here—you can even opt to sleep on hay in the converted barn, or in the more traditional apartments and cottage. While the apartments can be booked as accommodation only, it's strongly recommended to include breakfast: Sonja, the owner, is well-known across the area for her sumptuous breakfast feasts, which include homemade bread, jam, honey, and farm-egg omelets, not to mention her tasty crepes. People who stay here repeatedly claim it was an experience of a lifetime.

This boutique hotel is in a converted three-story town house just two minutes from the Roman Arena and one block from the seafront and has rooms with smart minimalist furniture, free Wi–Fi, and spacious modern bathrooms. In addition to its amazing location, a generous continental breakfast is included, and the hotel restaurant serves creative vegan-friendly Mediterranean cuisine for lunch and dinner.

Ideally situated close to the Roman Arena, this small family-run boutique hotel occupies a tastefully refurbished old town house decorated in cheerful yellows and greens with simple modern furniture. Rooms are air-conditioned and comfy, small pets are welcome, the staff is very friendly, and there is good strong (and free) Wi-Fi.

This lovingly restored turn-of-the-century villa 30 minutes east of Rovinj is an excellent place to stay—and a good example of what you're likely to find if you venture into the agritourism section of the Istria lodging scene. A stay here gets you in tune with the countryside, breathing fresh air and seeing the stars at night. The agri part of the tourism here is a highlight; plenty of what you eat comes from the garden. The grounds are laced with stone walkways, and leafy trees provide shady corners to grab a lawn chair and doze in. Quiet it is—and in that sense, you are a world away from the crowds back on the coast. There are three immaculately furnished apartments, each with a private terrace, plus a full-fledged two-story house for rent. A generous breakfast is included in the price of the rental. The owner's meticulous attention to every detail of your surroundings ensures that no doorknob is left with grease or dirt. The farm is in the tiny village of Smoljanci, just beyond the picturesque Renaissance-era town of Svetvinčenat (5 km [3 miles] from Kanfanar, which is near Dvigrad).

For those desiring an apartment-like stay but with maid service and a shared lounge, dining room, and garden, the sophisticated Terra Residence is for you. Located just a one-minute walk from the main square in Old Town Labin, Terra's beautifully designed luxury apartments combine apartment living with boutique hotel services. Although children are welcome, Terra is highly regarded by couples for romantic getaways. Next door, you'll find the always filled-to-the-max Pizzeria Napoli for casual eats and wood-fired pizzas.