A view from The Top.
Adriana Hvar Marina Hotel

Every May, Conde Nast Traveler releases its Hot List, a collection of the best new hotels, spas, restaurants, and nightspots. Check the Daily Traveler every day for a new post from this year's list.

This stunning harborfront hotel marks a new level of style for Hvar, providing the city's sleekest lodgings, its cushiest day spa, and a slick roof-level bar, The Top, that is the place to be seen for the new Riviera's beau monde. Part of the Adriana's appeal is the array of facilities: The rooftop lounge has cabanas for massages as well as an indoor-outdoor seawater pool for dips between sessions in the sun. The 59 rooms (which include nine spa suites) are done in earth tones, polished woods, and natural fabrics delicately embellished with lavender accents; most look out on the harbor and Old Town, allowing guests to take in the daily arrival of ever-larger yachts, the colorful evening promenade, and the spectacular sunsets. With such amenities, it's easy to overlook the staff: While Croatia's appeal has always relied upon spectacular natural beauty rather than stellar service, if there were more hotels like Adriana, the Dalmatian Coast might be known as much for its hospitality as for its delicate Venetian architecture and the sparkling Adriatic Sea.

When to go: June through August for the action; to avoid the crowds, try late May or early September.

Which room to book: Though No. 118 has only a "partial" harbor view, it has access to the spacious waterfront patio, like pricier suites do.

Further reading:
* Hot List 2008
* Check out our June story on Montenegro, Croatia's western sister