Heritage Hotel Fermai Split MGallery review: an ultra-chic stay in bustling Split

Split, Croatia’s second biggest city, offers a beautiful coastal location on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea and is surrounded by a dramatic mountain backdrop. A popular tourist destination, the largest city in the Dalmatia region features a historic old town, the Unesco World Heritage-listed Diocletian’s Palace and the popular Riva Promenade.

Having bussed it down to Split from the capital Zagreb, on arrival at the bus station in the port area you are welcomed by ships, boats and yachts of all sizes, as well as busy bars, restaurants and markets.

Just ten minutes’ walk from the bustling promenade you will find calm and relaxation in the form of the Heritage Hotel Fermai Split MGallery, a boutique property which is part of Accor’s MGallery Hotel Collection.

Why stay here?

There’s style aplenty at this Art Nouveau beauty. Constructed in 1914, the building was previously used by the University of Split before reopening as a hotel in 2020. Fully renovated with modern furnishings and striking designs that complement the older architecture, the boutique hotel’s ground floor houses the lobby area and restaurant while upstairs there’s 31 rooms, two junior suites and two premium suites.

Like the rest of the rooms, ours was designed with an ultra-chic theme featuring a clean colour scheme – whites, creams, blacks and browns. The bed was comfy, the bathroom was sleek and the parquet flooring, wood furnishings, coffee machine and Molton Brown toiletries added some extra slick touches to the overall style.

As well as being an easy stroll from the old town, getting to the Heritage Hotel Fermai from Split Airport is less than a 30-minute taxi ride.

Eating and drinking

The hotel’s light and snazzy restaurant is where guests will take breakfast. Ahead of a busy day exploring the old town, indulge with a tasty mix of pastries, breads, fruits and cooked options. In the Cafe Fermai bar you can enjoy local wines and light snacks. Dinner is not served at the hotel, but with the old town and promenade so close by, you won’t be short of restaurants to choose from.

One place that is widely recommended in Split is Teraca Vidilica bar and restaurant, which is located on Marjan Hill. Definitely book a table though, especially for sunset, as the views from here are spectacular.

What to do in Split

If you are to visit Split it’s almost impossible not to find yourself wandering around the streets of the old town. Located off the Riva Promenade, the old town has hundreds of shops, restaurants and bars to explore as well as museums and squares. The enormous Diocletian’s Palace, one of the best preserved Roman monuments in Europe, is Split’s most famous attraction and is a must-visit.

If the outdoors is more your thing then there’s plenty of beaches for swimming, sunbathing or a spot of cliff-jumping. For walkers, it’s also worth heading up Marjan Hill for the amazing views of the city. At the Marjan park-forest you’ll also find the aforementioned Teraca Vidilica. This is a great spot for a break from walking at which you can enjoy a sundowner cocktail, food or take some pictures.

One of the most popular things for visitors is to book a boat trip to the nearby islands such as Brač, Šolta, Hvar, Vis and Korčula. For a night or two away, Dubrovnik is a four-hour-15-minute ferry ride with daily departures from the port at 7.40am.

The verdict

We were pleasantly surprised with how good both the hotel and the city were. With thousands of tourists, many of whom arrive via cruise ship, Split can be a very busy place, especially in the summer. But a stay at the Heritage Hotel Fermai allowed us to relax in comfort and enjoy a boutique setting in what is a bustling coastal destination.

Prices at the Heritage Hotel Fermai Split MGallery start from £164 per night, based on two people sharing a loft room in non-peak season; accor.com