Stari Grad does not do flash, and neither does Villa Apolon. What it does instead is patina: a 19th-century captain’s house on the waterfront, restored with the kind of restraint that keeps the stone walls and terrazzo floors doing the talking.
The Setting
You are on the Riva itself — fishing boats in front, the old town’s alleys behind. Hvar Town’s evening glamour is a 25-minute drive away, which is precisely why you stay here: Stari Grad after the day-trippers leave is candlelit, quiet, and feels privately owned.
The Rooms
Ask for a front room on the first floor. The bay-facing windows are the property’s entire argument — morning light off the water, shutters you will actually use, and the slap of halyards as an alarm clock. Rooms at the rear are darker but cooler in August and noticeably cheaper.
The Table
Breakfast under the fig tree in the walled garden is the best hour of the day: local figs, sheep’s cheese from Pag, and coffee that arrives without being asked for. Dinner is a short walk in any direction — the Riva’s konobas do grilled fish that needs no menu.
Featured Stay
Heritage Villa Apolon
Stari Grad, Hvar
Front rooms book out months ahead for June–September. Check dates early, and favour the first floor for the harbor view.
The Verdict
Book it if: you want heritage, quiet, and the north side’s slower rhythm — and you’re arriving on the Stari Grad car ferry (route guide here).
Skip it if: you’re on Hvar for the cocktail hour — in that case take a harbor-view boutique in Hvar Town and spend the difference on a boat day.