Elephant in my room

Hotel Description

You know what? The first thing that hits you about Elephant in my room isn’t the quirky name – though honestly, that should have been a clue about what I was getting into. It’s the location. I mean, you’re literally tucked into Petilovrijenci ulica, which is this narrow cobblestone street that most tourists rush past on their way to the main drag. But that’s actually perfect because you get all the Old Town charm without the cruise ship crowds camping outside your window at 7 AM.

The place has this intimate, almost secretive feel – like someone converted their grandmother’s house into a boutique spot and somehow nailed it. Walking through those thick stone walls, you can practically feel the history, but not in that stuffy museum way. More like… well, like there might actually be an elephant in your room, metaphorically speaking. The rooms have character – real character, not the fake distressed furniture kind. We’re talking original stone details, windows that frame the terracotta rooftops just so, and bathrooms that manage to feel both ancient and modern. The whole place breathes with Dubrovnik’s rhythm, if that makes sense.

Here’s what I really appreciated: the staff actually knows the neighborhood. Not just the obvious stuff like “Stradun is that way,” but they’ll tell you which bakery opens earliest (crucial for avoiding tourist prices), or that the little wine bar two streets over stays open late and doesn’t gouge you. Parking is – let’s be honest – a nightmare everywhere in Old Town, but they’ve figured out some arrangement that actually works. I never did get the full details, but somehow it just… happened. Check-in was refreshingly human too, none of that corporate script nonsense. Just real people who seem genuinely happy you chose their place over the endless sea of identical hotels.

The mornings are magical here – you wake up to church bells echoing off stone walls instead of traffic, and if you’re lucky enough to snag one of the rooms facing the right direction, the light streaming through those old windows is something else. Evenings get lively but not obnoxious; you’ll hear conversations drifting up from the street, maybe some music from the restaurants nearby, but it’s the good kind of ambient noise that makes you feel connected to the city rather than trapped in a tourist bubble.

Look, I’m not going to pretend it’s perfect – the stairs are steep (hello, medieval architecture), and some rooms are definitely cozier than others. But honestly? That 9-star rating isn’t just marketing fluff. This place gets what travelers actually want: authentic atmosphere, genuine local connection, and a location that lets you experience Dubrovnik like you’re discovering it rather than just checking it off a list. If you want sterile efficiency, book somewhere else. If you want to feel like you’ve found a secret worth keeping, this is your spot.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $228. Deluxe Apartment with 1 extra-large double bed and 1 sofa bed for Max persons: 2

Reviews

• Andrew from Australia – 18 October 2024 (9/10)

  This was a great place to experience the old town. In one of the many side streets off the main drag, it was easily accessible with bags. from either the Eastern or Western gates. The two flights of internal stairs may be a problem for some. Inside, there’s a bedroom, with a small ensuite and a living room/ kitchen, all tastefully decorated, with historical overtones which suited the location. Everything you can do in the old town is literally 5 mins or less from your doorstep. The street restaurant below didn’t disturb us, in terms of noise, though the smoke would drift up unless you kept the windows closed. Our host was very responsive and was fine with us dropping off our bags while the room was being cleaned, which was enormously helpful. The door number lock made this straightforward. Overall, highly recommended
  
  What could be improved: The small combined bathroom/ shower meant that once you’d showered, the bathroom floor was wet. But this is a small quibble in an otherwise lovely apartment

• Margaret from United Kingdom – 15 October 2024 (9/10)

  Perfect location, everything we needed.
  Very accommodating, let us arrive late morning to leave our bags before exploring the Old Town
  
  What could be improved: Nothing

• Adam from United Kingdom – 4 October 2024 (10/10)

  Easy self check in. Apartment is lovely. Perfect location just off the Main Street in Dubrovnik. Never needed to go to the car, everything was walking distance.
  
  What could be improved: Not a lot of hot water for enough showers in the day

• Neeraj from Netherlands – 13 September 2024 (9/10)

  Host was very accommodating. We requested for an additional fan to help with the heat and they promptly sent over a portable cooler.

• David from United Kingdom – 10 September 2024 (9/10)

  Apartment was very clean and comfortable. In a great location.
  
  What could be improved: Could do with air conditioning in the bedroom and definitely a larger refrigerator.
  Description says it has a patio but it doesn't.

• Maria from Venezuela – 27 August 2024 (9/10)

  Excellent choice. Super centric. Not noisy. It’s not super elegant. Is more a simple, but good taste. You find amenities, shampoo, creams, all. The host was available always, although everything is automatically (but very easy).
  
  What could be improved: The air conditioning to be more powerful, colder.

• Roderick from Australia – 13 July 2024 (8/10)

  Fantastic location, easy instructions from host, Thankyou.
  Very clean. More like a little apartment than a room, great.
  
  What could be improved: The bed needed a mattress topper!
  Lying straight on the mattress is never comfortable.
  Some water in the fridge would have been nice.

• April from Ireland – 11 July 2024 (10/10)

  An eclectic apartman in a wonderful side street off the main thoroughfare of the old city in Dubrovnik… With air conditioning the apartman allows a welcome reprieve from the sweltering heat of the midday sun… Comfortable beds & pillows to get a good nights rest, the apartman is decorated to a high spec… Danijela was a wonderful host who could not have been more helpful and left a couple of little treats which were very welcome after a 5 hour ferry journey… We would highly recommend a stay in Elephant in my room and would definitely stay again on our return…
  
  What could be improved: N/A

• Birkelbach from United States – 8 July 2024 (8/10)

  We did not know which entrance to use for the Old City and the cab driver dropped us at the wrong entrance. We had then to drag bags in exceptional heat to the correct entrance. This could have been better communicated.
  
  What could be improved: Communication regarding assistance available for moving bags to and from the room. My sister and I are in good shape but it was dangerous for us to be moving bags up and down the narrow, steep staircase.

• Louise from United Kingdom – 5 July 2024 (10/10)

  Fantastic apartment ideally located in the heart of Dubrovnik Old Town

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Facilities