Croatian design team Gharani Strok designed the interiors for the recently opened five-star Hotel Bellevue.

The hotel itself is like something from an old James Bond film with its lift to the private beach below built into the rock face.

The cocktails served in Vapor's bar are something quite special. The terrace is split in two with Vapor on one side and the other side being home to one of the best restaurants in Dubrovnik. The terrace has a wonderful view out over the Adriatic where you can sip your cocktail while watching a whole variety of craft from tall Pirates of The Caribbean ships to little island-hopping taxis moving in and out of Dubrovnik harbour framed by a glorious sunset.

The Adriatic's most friendly barman made us the perfect Vodka Martinis and told us tales of having to fight in the Balkan war and then finding work on a cruise ship where he learned the art of perfect mixing. My boyfriend and I spent a magical evening sipping amazing cocktails and watching the moonlight dance over the Adriatic. Bliss!

Hotel Bellevue - Pera Cingrije 7, 20000 Dubrovnik, Croatia
T +385 20 330 000 F +385 20 330 100
www.hotel-bellevue.hr

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You don't have to be a resident to visit the terrace bar at the Hotel Excelsior, which has a fantastic view of the Old Town and is blessed with afternoon sunshine.

hotel-excelsior.hr

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Walk through a small doorway in the city walls and you come out onto an amazing bar set into the rocks on mutliple levels, overlooking the sea. You get waves crashing in front of you, and the city wall rises behind you. Stay for a glass of wine or local beer at sunset, and the only noise you'll hear is some quiet chatter, the waves crashing below, birds squawking as they play above your head, and some Sinatra or similar playing quietly in the background. When it gets dark, the waitress brings out candles for all the tables.

It's all very basic, with plastic cups and chemical toilets, but it's so worth it for the view and the atmosphere.

There's two Buzas (the name means 'hole in the wall', I think) but Buza 1 seemed to be closed when we were there.

Follow the city walls around at the very south of the old town on Od Margarite. Look out for a doorway in the wall, with a wooden sign saying 'Cold Drinks'.

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Caffe Bar Rio is a great place to spend your evenings. It has great music, prices are cheaper than any other bar in the town and there is a great mix of people from all over the world. And the service is quick, unlike some other bars.

From the Pile Gate it is the third street on the left off the Stradun.

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Head to Caffe Bar Talir, a few streets west for drinks with Dubrovnik's young and beautiful. It's an artists' hang-out and the walls are covered with pictures of rowdy nights gone by, as well as some Croatian C-listers and Goran Ivanisevic. Drinks are well priced and everyone spills outside to sit on the steep steps leading up towards the town walls.

Caffe Bar Talir prides itself on the fact it was one of three places that remained open throughout the Serbs' 1991 siege of the city and is nowhere near as commercial as the Troubadour Jazz Cafe now (sponsored by T-Mobile!)

Caffe Bar Talir - Antuninska, 00 385 20 323 293 open till 3am weekends

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A large cafe/bar/restaurant with a great atmosphere, cheap food and good service. It’s a lovely place to sit and watch people. I highly recommend their unique hot chocolate, it tastes like hot chocolate mousse. They have vanilla and hazelnut flavour as well. It gets very busy after concerts as all the performers go there. There’s frequent live music as well.

Prid Dvorom, by the clock tower at the end of the Stradum;
tel: 020 321 414

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