Riva Marina Hvar Hotel
by the TopOfHotel team
Riva is as close to Hvar's yacht harbour as you can sleep — open the curtains and the superyachts are right there, paired with a MICHELIN Guide seafood restaurant and a chic waterfront bar; it wins on setting, design, and energy more than on room size.
Riva is as close to Hvar's yacht harbour as you can sleep — open the curtains and the superyachts are right there, paired with a MICHELIN Guide seafood restaurant and a chic waterfront bar; it wins on setting, design, and energy more than on room size.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
Picture a hotel that sits right on the yacht harbour in the middle of town — you pull the curtains in the morning and a row of superyachts is parked straight ahead. That is the draw of Riva Marina Hvar Hotel, a 4-star boutique known as one of the sharpest, most modern stays on the Riva, Hvar's busy seafront promenade. The rooms run contemporary, with clean, understated tones cut by tidy boutique detailing that never feels cluttered. Many have a large window or a small balcony that opens straight onto the harbour and the moored yachts, so you can catch the Adriatic breeze and watch the boats come and go all day. The overall feel is of staying right in the middle of Hvar's waterfront life rather than tucked away somewhere quiet — if you like a stay with energy and want to be in the thick of it, this lands from the first step.
Food and amenities
The heart of a stay here is the seafood restaurant, picked for the MICHELIN Guide — fresh fish and contemporary Dalmatian seafood, much of it straight off the Adriatic boats, with reviews praising both the flavor and the careful plating. A harbourside dinner here is a trip highlight in itself. Out front is the waterfront bar and terrace, which becomes a stylish evening meeting spot: a cold cocktail while you watch the yachts and the people strolling the Riva, the kind of lively setting that is hard to find elsewhere. The rooms cover the basics for a seaside break, with air-con that earns its keep in the Hvar summer heat and free Wi-Fi. What guests rate just as highly is the service — staff come up repeatedly as warm and easygoing, glad to recommend good restaurants, sort out a boat trip to the Pakleni Islands, or point you to quieter corners of town until it feels like you have a local friend looking out for you.
Location and getting there
Location is Riva's strongest card by far. The hotel sits right on the Riva harbour in the heart of Hvar Town, about as close to the water as anywhere in town — step out the door and you are on the seafront walk lined with yachts, cafes, and the busiest waterfront restaurants on the island. St Stephen's Cathedral and the central square are only a few steps away, and the old stone lanes and small shops are tucked into every corner around it. Best of all, the boat-taxi point across to the Pakleni Islands is right out front — walk out and step onto a boat to the beaches. The ferries and catamarans linking to Split and other islands dock close by, and it is an easy climb up to the Fortica fortress for views over town and sea. In short, if you want to wake up in the middle of Hvar's seafront and walk to everything without a car, this location is a ten out of ten.
Things to know before booking
To help you decide, here is the honest part. The first thing to weigh is noise and nightlife — the hotel sits in the middle of the Riva, a strip of bars and waterfront restaurants, and on summer nights the area runs late with music, chatter, and crowds. Rooms facing the street or harbour can pick up some of it, so if you sleep lightly, ask for a room set back from the front even if it means trading away the harbour view. Second is price and availability: Hvar is a popular high-season destination, prices climb in summer, and the harbour-view rooms book out fast, so reserve well ahead to get both the room you want and a fair rate. Third is room size and type — as a boutique in an old-town building, room types vary quite a bit in size and outlook, and not every room is large or has a harbour view, so read the details and pick the right type when you book.
Our take
After reading through plenty of real guest reviews, Riva Marina Hvar Hotel sells one thing with real character: a heart-of-town harbour setting paired with sharp modern design and a genuinely lively atmosphere, plus a MICHELIN Guide seafood restaurant and a waterfront bar that stand out on their own. If your trip looks like waking up to superyachts filling the window, a few steps down for coffee on the harbour, a boat across to swim at the Pakleni Islands by day, then back for a seafood dinner and a cocktail by the water at sunset, this is about as perfect a fit as Hvar offers. If you are mainly after quiet, large rooms, or a budget rate, the harbour buzz and high-season pricing here may give you pause. Overall we give it 9.0/10 — best for couples and travelers who want to be right in the middle of Hvar's seafront buzz and yacht-harbour lifestyle.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- About as close to Hvar's yacht harbour as any hotel in town — a few steps gets you to St Stephen's Cathedral, the central square, restaurants, and the boat point out to the Pakleni Islands.
- The hotel's seafood restaurant is picked for the MICHELIN Guide, serving fresh fish and Dalmatian-style seafood that reviews bring up again and again.
- Contemporary, clean-lined rooms, with many offering a window or balcony that looks straight out over the harbour and the moored yachts.
- The waterfront bar and terrace out front is a stylish evening meeting spot — sit with a drink and watch the boats come and go for a setting that feels genuinely alive.
- Staff get steady praise for being warm and easygoing, happy to point you to good restaurants, boat trips, and corners of town until it feels like you have a local friend on call.
- It sits in the middle of the Riva harbour buzz, and on summer nights the area fills with bars, music, and crowds. Rooms facing the Riva can pick up noise late into the night.
- High-season summer prices climb with Hvar's popularity, and the harbour-view rooms book out fast — reserve well ahead if you want one.
- As a boutique in an old-town building, not every room is large or has a harbour view; room types vary, so choose carefully when you book.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Things to do near Hvar
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Insider Tips
- Ask for a room facing the Riva harbour first — the superyacht and promenade views are the whole point of staying here. If you are a light sleeper, swap to a quieter room set back from the front.
- Book a table at the hotel's MICHELIN Guide seafood restaurant around sunset, so you get the meal and the golden-hour harbour view at the same time.
- Make the most of the location: the boat-taxi point across to the Pakleni Islands is right out front — head over early to reach the beaches before the crowds.