Style: Modern Mediterranean style
Scene: City Chic
Seen in the Lobby: Stylish artwork that celebrates Split’s past.

Getting to Hotel Ambasador  is easy as there are a number of ways to reach the hotel. Split airport is 25 km away, there is on-site parking if you are driving and also a local train station … or you can just step off your yacht for a sojourn on dry land. Such convenient transport links makes the hotel an ideal location for a short city break, or as the starting point before heading off to explore the rest of beautiful Croatia.

Without a doubt, Hotel Ambasador has one of the best locations in Split. It is rather difficult to beat a hotel that sits proudly on the waterfront while also offering the very best of the city within easy walking distance.


Local beaches, shops, cafés, bars and restaurants are all close by, as is the utterly fascinating UNESCO World Heritage Site of Diocletian’s Palace. The Riva and the atmospheric winding streets of Split’s Old Town are also just a leisurely stroll away.

And this is where Hotel Ambasador really gets it right. You can spend the morning exploring the ancient streets, and then wander back to the hotel for a leisurely lunch accommodated by some serious Adriatic gazing, then an afternoon spent by the pool. Despite being so close to the action, the hotel itself feels wonderfully removed from the busiest parts of the city.

Hotel Ambasador occupies the site of one of Split’s original luxury hotels. The original hotel opened its doors in 1937 and quickly became a glamorous fixture of Split’s social scene. Following the Second World War the building took on a number of different lives. It became home to the Yugoslav Navy, while parts of the building were opened up to the people of Split, as a popular café, restaurant and terrace and at one point there was even a cinema. In other words, this was never simply a building, it is a part of the fabric of Split.


The original building was eventually demolished in October 2017, making way for a new chapter. Five-star Hotel Ambasador  opened its doors in 2022, taking pride of place on Split’s waterfront. Its strikingly modern white façade quickly became our own personal beacon, guiding us home after a day spent exploring the city, or having enjoyed a post-dinner walk along the water edge.

While its enviable location may get you through the doors (which are open year-round), Hotel Ambasador offers plenty to tempt you into staying right where you are.

Hotel Ambasador  embraces the Dalmatian concept of fjaka, which is the art of slowing down and doing nothing. It is said that fjaka can’t be taught, so instead Hotel Ambassador gives you the tools to disconnect from reality and take your time on holiday.  Slowing down and doing nothing in a beautiful location is something that The Luxury Travel Bible wholeheartedly approves of!

To help with achieving ‘flaka’, the in-house guest experience team (known as ‘Diplomats’) are on-hand to provide information about the area, offer local recommendations and assist you during your stay.

The hotel’s minimalist style, feels distinctly contemporary Croatian luxury. It’s elegant, polished and sophisticated, with just the right amount of yacht-club chic.

The Adriatic, just yards from the hotel, is a key part of the Hotel Ambassador’s identity and the hotel doesn’t try to compete with it. Instead, it honours it with huge expanses of glass windows, natural materials, and clean, stylish interiors that ensure that the stunning Croatian views take centre stage. Gazing out at the view at meals is compulsory, from breakfast in the early morning light and watching as the city wakes up to admiring the glittering lights of the yachts bobbing in the water as you enjoy dinner. 

A charming homage to local history is presented via large black and white photographs by local street photographer Feđa Klarić. Images of local scenes such as celebrations at a football match or fishermen returning home are proudly displayed in both the lobby and the bedrooms.

The hotel offers 98 rooms and two suites. My stylish bedroom was bright and airy and the perfect base for my stay. It was a very good size, well-designed and equipped with all I needed. But the ultimate feature of my room was my balcony. Mine had views over the waterfront and the terraces of the old town and watching the lights of the town at night was truly magical.



In Croatia good food, excellent wine, great company and long leisurely lunches that have a habit of stretching into golden-hour drinks and unhurried dinners are not just encouraged, they are practically compulsory.

The hotel’s flagship restaurant, Restaurant Méditerranée serves an exciting and complex menu of authentic Croatian dishes that champion locally grown ingredients and wines, while the Bar Split served coffee, drinks and a bar menu of light bites. 

During my stay, more than a few hours disappeared at both locations, when over coffee or cocktails, people watching the locals and the tourists wandering along the waterfront and then casually choosing my favourite superyacht bobbing in the harbour, and of course, everyone had a favourite.

For the best views over Croatia’s second largest city, you need to view it from above sea level. 

The rooftop pool and bar sit on the third-floor terrace, with views stretching across the harbour, city and Adriatic. It is the kind of place where a quick swim mysteriously turns into three hours of sunbathing, followed by a cocktail, followed by another cocktail, followed by the realisation that the hours had gone by as the sun was now starting to set.

For the ultimate luxury (and even better views of Split), a rooftop bar is exclusively available for private events such as private dining, cocktail events or even the most romantic of proposals (even music videos have been shot here). 
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.Should the heady combination of sightseeing, swimming, and long lunches accompanied by excellent wine begin to take its toll, Hacelia Spa offers a welcome invitation to slow the pace. A tranquil retreat within the hotel, the spa pairs indulgent treatments with sauna and steam facilities and a fitness area, providing ample opportunity to restore both body and mind.

Drawing inspiration from its Mediterranean surroundings, treatments are tailored to individual needs and harness the natural properties of regional botanicals and minerals. Local lavender, mineral-rich clay, shells and olive oil lend a distinctly Adriatic character to the experience, bringing a sense of place to the spa’s restorative rituals.

It is perhaps fitting, given the proximity of the sea, that salt takes centre stage in a number of treatments. Incorporating the principles of halotherapy to support relaxation, detox, respiratory and skin health, these treatments add another layer of coastal influence to the spa’s offering.

The Luxury Travel Bible loves how Hotel Ambasador effortlessly combines the energy of vibrant Split with the escapism of a coastal resort. You can easily spend the morning wandering the ancient streets before returning to the hotel for a leisurely lunch on the waterfront and then an afternoon by the pool.
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There is something wonderfully appealing about a hotel that makes a city break feel like a beach holiday. Hotel Ambassador gives guests the best of both worlds, with Split’s vibrant energy on one side and waterfront serenity on the other. Ultimately, that duality is what makes Hotel Ambasador such an appealing place to stay.

Sarah Bryans, 01/10/2026