“Mediterranean flower” is a nickname frequently used to describe the city of Split in Croatia. With its temperate climate and vibrant old town centre, it has been steadily drawing discerning tourists to the destination. The same nickname can be used to describe one of the top hotels in Split, Hotel Ambasador. The design-forward, elegant hotel has elevated the city’s five-star accommodation offering to a whole new level.
My First Impression: Location, Location, Location
Nestled on the West Coast promenade, it offers unbeatable views of the old town of Split, including the iconic Saint Domnius Bell Tower. The marina next to the hotel is constantly lined with high-end superyachts, including Sunseekers and Lürssens aplenty. Their owners frequently stay at the Ambasador, before embarking on their Adriatic adventure.
The view from the top of the hotel is so dramatic that it was recently used by Ed Sheeran for his latest music video. It is currently a private events space, with rumoured plans of a rooftop bar happening in the not-too-distant future.
The original Ambasador was built in 1937 and was the beating heart of the city. The new version of the hotel was completely rebuilt in 2022. The update has embraced floor-to-ceiling windows, bringing the alluring Adriatic into the interiors. They have also embraced the charming history of Split with a series of black and white photographs captured by photographer Feđa Klarić displayed throughout the lobby and in the rooms. The images captured everyday street life through the decades, including picigin, a traditional ball game that is specific to Split.
Discovering Five-Star Accommodation on the Adriatic Coast
Hotel Ambasador represents the pinnacle of Mediterranean hospitality, seamlessly blending contemporary design with Croatia’s rich cultural heritage. Positioned along Split’s West Coast promenade, this property delivers breathtaking vistas of the old town and its iconic landmarks. The hotel’s complete 2022 renovation introduced floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the Adriatic Sea, creating an immersive experience where natural daylight enhances every space. From the moment guests arrive, they encounter an atmosphere where historical charm meets modern sophistication.
Elevated Experiences Through Fine Dining and Wellness
Restaurant Méditerranée showcases exceptional local cuisine through meticulously crafted dishes that celebrate Dalmatian flavors. Their commitment to wine pairing dinners highlights regional varietals alongside innovative culinary techniques that may soon earn Michelin recognition. Beyond gastronomy, the hotel’s dedicated team arranges enriching experiences including cookery classes at local markets and wine tasting sessions at boutique wineries. The Hacelia Spa completes the offering with treatments incorporating olive oil and traditional ingredients, providing the ultimate urban retreat for travelers seeking relaxation alongside cultural immersion.
Hotel Ambasador Rooms: High-tech modernity on offer
It’s a no-expense-spared affair, having only opened in 2022. They have an in-room tablet with the hotel app. The bathroom floors are heated and you are provided with high-end amenities from Bvlgari. Their modern luxury also incorporates a pillow menu to guarantee the perfect night’s sleep as well as USB ports and a connectivity panel.
The rooms make great use of natural daylight. The design is on the sleek, minimalist spectrum with neutral tones that do not distract from the incredible views. The star attraction is the Ambasador suite with 110 m² of space that includes one bedroom, a bathroom, a toilet, and a living and dining area.
Hotel Ambasador’s Food & Drink: Delivering Dalmatian fine dining
Restaurant Méditerranée is their flagship restaurant that serves up elegant, refined local cuisine. Attention to detail is everything. Their roasted tuna belly starter is accompanied by six different types of tomatoes, which are served up in the form of green tomato salsa, roasted tomatoes, and tomato dashi. Likewise, the umami flavours are accentuated in their poached hake with clam sauce and pickled clams. Look out for their monthly wine pairing dinners, when they celebrate local wines with a tasting menu that truly shows off the flair of their kitchen team. It would not be a surprise if they attain Michelin recognition in the near future.
The guest experience team, known as “diplomats,” is dedicated to ensuring your stay is seamless, offering personalised recommendations for local restaurants and activities. For example, they might suggest restaurant Makarun and Bokamorra Pizzaurant. Makarun is perfect for seafood lovers, serving dishes like flambeed salt-crusted dentex and makaruni, a regional pasta specialty. Bokamorra is a gourmet pizza restaurant of dreams, with its freshly made dough aged for 48 hours to improve the flavour and texture of the base. Subsequently, their pizzas are lighter and more refined.
Cookery classes and wine-tasting present unique opportunities
There is no better way of getting under the skin of local culture than taking part in a cookery class. The Split Cooking Class even starts its course at the local fish market, where you help to purchase the ingredients for the day. Dishes tend to have a local slant, so you might be preparing a traditional Dalmatian bread, or you might be filleting the fish that goes into making a gregada — a fish stew from the island of Hvar.
The Croats are incredibly proud of their wine heritage. When you visit the famous Kastel Sikuli, they will explain that the world-famous Californian Zinfandel actually originated from Croatia and is known locally as Crljenak Kaštelanski. They are a boutique family-run winery focusing on the purity of single varietals from the Dalmatian region. At the winery, they’ve come out with an exceptional food menu to pair with their wines, whilst admiring the breathtaking Adriatic coastline. Dishes like shrimp tartare and prawn carpaccio are served up with their Sikuli Pošip. The diplomats at Ambasador can easily arrange both experiences for you.
Visit Highlight: The Hacelia Spa
If gazing into the turquoise Adriatic waters isn’t relaxing enough for you, the hotel’s spa has a dazzling array of treatments that will guarantee to transcend you into a zen-like state post-treatment. Their signature rituals focus on local ingredients, such as the Olive Queen spa ritual, which involves using exfoliating soap based on olive pits and finishing with a gentle massage using olive oil. The spa itself is furnished with everything from a traditional Finnish sauna to a Nuvola zero-gravity dry flotation bed.
Final Thoughts: An urban retreat that delivers on elegance and history
Hotel Ambasador works equally well whether you want to simply relax and enjoy gourmet local cuisine or if you want to soak in the rich history of the city. They can arrange for knowledgeable tour guides from the likes of Lagida to take you on a private tour of the Diocletian’s Palace. My personal recommendation would be to stay longer in Split and experience all that this amazing city has to offer.
To book your stay at Hotel Ambasador Split, visit: https://ambasadorsplit.com/
Looking for more luxury hotel content? Why not check out my review of the Fairmont Monte Carlo.
