The Best New Beach Hotels in the World: 2024 Hot List

"Gulls wheel above the worn stone of an island monastery, and the Dinaric Alps rise from crystal-clear waters by a thin coastal strip of red-roofed fishermen’s cottages, Venetian merchants’ palaces, and Orthodox churches. Here, where the last narrow spit of the Croatian coast plunges into the Adriatic and meets Montenegro’s Bay of Kotor, the massive, pale limestone walls and central tower of Mamula Island hotel dominate a rocky islet. Reimagined from a 19th-century fort—and preserving its martial grandeur—the property contains 32 rooms and suites, spread through the dramatic, barrel-vaulted spaces of former cannon rooms and officers’ quarters, their interiors softened with natural fabrics, warm brass, solid oak, and smooth curves. Outside, the view links the sea, mountains, and sky. This connection resonates throughout: menus at the three restaurants featuring local oysters and freshly caught lobster, cocktails at the rampart bar infused with Mediterranean pine and olives, and holistic rituals using sea sponges and local limestone in the spa’s serene stone rooms. Guests can unwind with dawn yoga or recline on the island’s small beach. A few hundred feet across the water lie the sea caves, beaches, abandoned forts, and submarine tunnels of the unspoiled Luštica peninsula, with medieval-walled Kotor, the cascading old town of Herceg Novi, and the glorious marinas of Porto Montenegro and Portonovi a short boat ride away. From $540. —Jonathan Wiggin" - CNT Editors