“Nai” means snow in Croatian and “3.3” refers to the average number of snow days per year on Dugi Otok: ideal climatic conditions for olive growing on this long island off the coast of Zadar. The local organic olive oil, which is rich in antioxidants and known under the brand name Nai 3.3, has won numerous international awards. Earlier this summer, the owners of this prestigious estate diversified their business by opening a luxury boutique hotel on a cliff top, surrounded by fields of olive trees planted for five centuries.

Literally carved out of the rock, invisible from the surroundings, Villa Nai 3.3 impresses with its rural chic and raw beauty. The high, blond stone walls surrounding the indoor swimming pool, the two restaurants, and the lobby bar give it an incredible cachet. The five rooms and three suites, huge, bathed in light, open onto a vast terrace overlooking the Adriatic or the olive groves, and are designed like the bow of an ocean liner: a brilliant idea by Croatian architect Nikola Bašić that reinforces the impression of fusion with the environment, while giving the whole an astonishing geometric perfection. Intramuros, Giorgetti’s signature furniture and Frette’s linen bedding remain in tone, with natural colors in harmony. Reserved for adults, this Leading Hotels of the World member establishment is as spectacular as it is soothing.

By Céline Baussay