The Croatian coast has a striking new address. Mövenpick Hotel & Residences Kvarner Bay opened its doors today at Novi Vinodolski, marking the arrival of Mövenpick’s signature blend of generous hospitality, culinary excellence and joyful reconnection on the Adriatic for the very first time.
Set directly on the shoreline at Novi Vinodolski, on Kvarner Bay, the resort has been conceived as a destination for every season, bringing together hotel guests, residence owners and the surrounding community through generous hospitality, convivial dining and shared experiences. Guided by the philosophy that has shaped Mövenpick since 1948 – that ordinary things should be done in an extraordinary way – it celebrates the simple pleasures that bring people back to each other, from a morning coffee and a leisurely lunch to an evening swim overlooking the Adriatic.
From morning coffee to moments shared around the table
At the heart of the resort stands 180, a terrace lounge that opens onto a sweeping view of the Adriatic and moves gracefully through the day, from the first coffee of the morning to cocktails at dusk, equally at home for a quiet conversation or a long evening among friends. At Mövenpick, food has always been at the heart of the experience, and the dining here celebrates generous Mediterranean flavours designed to be shared. At Affamata, the resort’s à la carte restaurant, Italian classics are prepared with the freshest local produce and served in the kind of unhurried atmosphere that invites guests to stay a while, while all day dining keeps the kitchens open from morning until late. Beyond them lie the adults only Alba Signature Pool, a tranquil retreat for those in search of stillness; the Sea Breeze Food and Fun zone, alive with the energy of family life; and the
Eight Lounge, a versatile space with a terrace all its own.
A warm welcome for younger guests
Designed for joyful reconnection across generations, the resort offers spaces where families can slow down, spend time together and create lasting memories. The Little Birds Club offers younger guests a world of their own, with indoor play and activity spaces and a dedicated room for older children who prefer a measure of independence. The club extends its welcome beyond the hotel too, opening to local families for birthdays, celebrations and seasonal programmes throughout the year, so that it belongs as much to the community as to the resort.
A spa inspired by the sea, opening later this year
The resort’s next chapter arrives later this year with the opening of Salterra Wellness and Spa, a place for rest, reconnection and wellbeing, that will rank among the largest of its kind in the region. Drawing inspiration from the meeting of sea and Kvarner landscape, Salterra will bring together an outdoor pool and a heated indoor seawater pool, a suite of ten distinct saunas, dedicated spaces for relaxation, yoga and pilates, and a panoramic fitness studio equipped to the highest standard, with views to match. Its philosophy is quietly serious and grounded in science, built around rest, movement, nourishment and the natural benefits of the Adriatic climate.
Two hours from Zagreb, a world away
Location is central to the appeal. The resort lies around two hours from Zagreb and just half an hour from Rijeka, near enough for a spontaneous weekend yet far enough to feel like a genuine escape, and open in every season rather than the brief weeks of high summer.
“From the very beginning, we wanted Mövenpick Kvarner Bay to be far more than a place to spend a week in summer,” said Igor Nekić, General Manager of Mövenpick Hotel & Residences Kvarner Bay. “We wanted to create somewhere people come together – families, friends, colleagues and our local community – to reconnect over great food, generous hospitality and memorable experiences in every season. Whether you come for a romantic escape, a family celebration, a conference, or simply a quiet weekend by the sea, our ambition is to make every ordinary moment feel extraordinary. We are just two hours from Zagreb, half an hour from Rijeka, and a world away from the everyday.”
The opening carries significance well beyond tourism. It brings around 200 new jobs to the region, many of them permanent, year-round positions offering the chance to build a career within an international hospitality group. The project is led by ECM Partners of Slovenia, with the completed development expected to exceed 250 million euros in value, placing it among the most ambitious coastal developments in the region in recent years.
“Kvarner Bay is one of the most beautiful and, until now, quietly overlooked stretches of the Adriatic, and we have long believed it deserved something of this calibre,” said Nader Bawany, who leads the Kvarner Bay project for ECM Partners. “Bringing the first Mövenpick to the Croatian coast is a considered, long-term investment, and a statement of confidence in this region and in the future of Croatian tourism. Today is an important milestone, yet in many ways it is only the beginning of what we intend to build here.”
A place to call your own: the residences now on sale
Alongside the hotel, the resort is home to 304 Mövenpick branded residences, offering a rare opportunity to live by the sea with the ease of a full-service resort on the doorstep. The first phase, comprising the homes closest to the water and the finest views in the resort, is on sale now from 345,000 euros, and once they are taken, that front line will not return to the market. Ownership here is designed to be effortless. Each residence is cared for and managed by the resort’s professional hospitality team to the international standards of Mövenpick and Accor, giving owners the same generous hospitality and thoughtful care enjoyed by hotel guests, whether they are in residence or away. Residence owners can also place their home into a managed rental programme, earning an income during the periods when it is not in use. With the hotel now open, prospective buyers are warmly invited to come and experience the resort for themselves, and to stay a while if they wish, which remains the surest way to understand all that life here has to offer.
Rooms are open and taking reservations now, with introductory opening rates available to early guests. Members of ALL Accor, Accor’s booking platform and loyalty programme, can also enjoy exclusive benefits and rewards. To book a stay, visit kvarnerbay.com, or to arrange a private viewing of the residences, visit movenpickresidenceskvarnerbay.com.
