The Best Boutique Hotels in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Slightly away from the main drag, and all the more peaceful for it, Hotel Eden lives up to its name: a dreamy aquamarine pool has sweeping views of the city, a huge Finnish sauna and Turkish hammam help you sweat out the small stuff and your every whim can be taken care of, from airport transfers to wine-pairing dinners. Large rooms have generous city-facing balconies and smart TVs stocked with Netflix – this is the cosseted base for luxury lovers on tour.

Located just 200m (656ft) from Stari Most, Old Town mixes the traditional with the luxurious. Natural materials such as stone and wood, combined with antique furniture, create a welcoming, cosy atmosphere with a splash of old-world glamour. Choose between a twin, a double or a suite – which we recommend splurging on when you book as it comes with an optional balcony. The restaurant has both indoor seating and outdoor tables in the lush garden, perfect on a warm summer day.

The Bijavica family, whose ancestry in Mostar dates back to the 16th century, runs the eight-roomed Villa Fortuna. In order to preserve the heritage of their Herzegovinian forefathers, the family created a hotel with decor that pays homage to their traditions. That’s not to say it’s antiquated. Just 500m (1,640ft) from Stari Most, the twin, double and triple rooms on offer (as well as a one-bedroom apartment with a balcony) have flat-screen TVs, air conditioning and a fridge.

Hotel Bevanda is a short walk from Stari Most and the Cathedral of Mother Mary, nestled inside a quiet, leafy neighbourhood with a backdrop of mountains. The 33 rooms, ranging from doubles and twins to family suites, are individually styled. Each room has a balcony, safe and minibar, while the on-site restaurant, with an outdoor terraced seating area, has a selection of both local and international dishes. Couples like Hotel Bevanda because of its romantic atmosphere.

It’s the generously proportioned, tastefully decorated rooms that make this small hilltop hotel stand out. The liberal splashing of local colour in the form of traditional rugs, carved wooden furniture and antique objects, adds bags of personality, while the two outdoor terraces offer city-beating views of Stari Most and Mehmed Pasha Mosque. The hotel also has an excellent restaurant, serving up traditional dishes in bright, airy surroundings. Want to explore? Chat to the front desk – staff will be able to arrange tours and offer suggestions on the best things to do in Mostar.

What do you get when you cross a Bosnian national monument and museum with a boutique hotel? Muslibegović House is the answer. Despite this historic credentials of the hotel (the museum contains an extensive collection of Ottoman relics and centuries-old calligraphy), guest rooms are surprisingly modern, with slick ensuites and complimentary wifi. Want a breath of fresh air? Spend an hour or two with a book in the fragrant rose garden.

Blending beautifully with the Unesco-listed old town, this chocolate-and-cream mansion is a short stroll from the reconstructed 16th-century Ottoman bridge – perfect for camera-toting sightseers. The highlight is the sultry roof terrace, where you can sit back on squishy cream seating with an aperitif among the palm plants, or look out over the city rooftops; rooms are simply but tastefully furnished, some with equally lovely views.

Set among the fairytale cobbled lanes and historic architecture of the old town, this light, bright guesthouse is built around one of the best restaurants in the city, ideal for globetrotting foodies. The speciality is meat cooked in a sač, a shallow metal lid thrust into a charcoal oven, but grilled fish, pizzas and pastas are also on hand. Spacious rooms have exposed stone walls and lovely views of the town, and there’s a truly warm welcome from your hosts, as well as a fabulous Bosnian breakfast.