Ella la Bella II Dubrovnik Old town

Hotel Description

You know what caught me off guard about Ella la Bella II? The name makes it sound like some grand palazzo, but honestly, it’s more like staying in someone’s beautifully restored family home tucked into one of Dubrovnik’s quieter Old Town corners. I mean, Gradićeva ulica isn’t exactly where the tour groups congregate – it’s this narrow stone street that feels properly medieval, where you can actually hear your footsteps echo off the limestone walls instead of fighting through crowds.

The building itself has that weathered Dalmatian stone look that screams authentic (because it actually is), and inside they’ve done this clever thing where they’ve kept all the character – thick walls, small windows, that slightly uneven feel old buildings have – but made it work for modern travelers. The rooms are smaller than what you’d get in some chain hotel, sure, but there’s something satisfying about the proportions, like they make sense for the space. Plus, those stone walls keep things surprisingly cool even in July, which… trust me, you’ll appreciate when Dubrovnik hits 35°C and the Stradun feels like a marble oven. The 8.9 rating makes sense once you settle in – it’s not trying to be fancy, just genuinely comfortable and well-thought-out.

What I really appreciated was the location without the chaos. You’re maybe a three-minute walk from Stradun, but far enough up the hill that you escape the worst of the cruise ship crowds. There’s this little bakery practically next door where locals actually go for their morning coffee – I watched the same elderly Croatian man buy his daily newspaper and pastry every morning around 8 AM. And here’s the thing about being on Gradićeva: you’re perfectly positioned for those early morning or late evening walks when the Old Town transforms from tourist attraction back into, well, an actual place where people live and work. The lighting on those stones during golden hour is… honestly, it’s pretty spectacular. The only minor downside is that luggage situation – like most Old Town accommodations, you’ll be doing some walking with your bags since cars can’t reach the door, but the staff seemed pretty helpful with directions and logistics. It’s the kind of place that feels like a genuine discovery rather than just another booking, which in Dubrovnik’s increasingly crowded landscape, is actually pretty rare.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $373. Studio Apartment with 1 large double bed for Max persons: 2

Reviews

• Kerryn from Australia – 5 September 2024 (9/10)

  We loved the location do close to restaurants and right in the heart of this beautiful old city. Our wonderful host was so helpful in all respects!
  
  What could be improved: Nothing

• İdris from Turkey – 1 September 2024 (9/10)

  Great location and a super clean place. Landlady is very kind and helpful.

• Wendy from Australia – 12 July 2024 (9/10)

  This apartment is right in the heart of Dubrovnik Old Town, prime location. The host is amazing and everything was provided on arrival. The room was quaint and comfortable with a great bed. The stone internals we liked. The fridge stocked with wine, beer, juice eggs & bacon, fruit etc on arrival…very homely. Walking straight out the front door you are amongst all the restaurant and in the heart of all attractions. The host helped us with transport and all communication via WhatsApp was great, would definitely stay again for sure!!

• Lenka from Sweden – 1 July 2024 (9/10)

  Location, the cleanliness, the facilities and above all, Maya, who was very helpful and kind to us throughout our whole stay.
  
  What could be improved: There was nothing we didn’t like.

• Dustin from United States – 23 June 2024 (9/10)

  The location was perfect! The host was amazing, helped with suggestions regarding our car, stayed up late to ensure no issues with checkin, and had put out fruit for us as a welcome gift. The room was well equipped and Maya went out of her way to ensure we were comfortable – even as far as doing our laundry for us! The AC worked very well, the unit was very quiet and had a well working fridge and kitchen. The bed was very comfortable, the shower high pressure, and there was plenty of toiletries, and first aid kits in case of any scrapes!
  
  What could be improved: Nothing at all!

• Tracey from Australia – 24 October 2023 (9/10)

  Location was right in Old city. Great place and very clean. A few steps to get to room but doable.

• Mike from United States – 13 October 2023 (9/10)

  The room was light and well decorated. The host made sure we had coffee in the room. The location was perfect for enjoying Dubrovnik before and after the crowds. The windows looked out on a garden area that made the apartment bright and gave the sensation of having space around you in the middle of the old town.
  
  What could be improved: Nothing

• Tom-luca from Germany – 21 September 2023 (9/10)

  Nice location, easy check-in, modern equipment and a comfy bed!

• Dannie from Germany – 13 September 2023 (9/10)

  This was a very comfortable and nice stay – within the city walls but not in a noisy area, much more spacious than I anticipated, and had a decent sized kitchen if you wanted to do any cooking at home. The host was very kind and allowed us to keep our bags in the building longer after checkout (and let us have a late check out) since we had an evening flight and still wanted to enjoy the city but not have to lug around our heavy backpacks
  
  What could be improved: The fridge could have been a little bit cleaner, but we didn't use it for much other than water, so it wasn't really a problem. Not a big deal for us because we are active and carried backpacks instead of rolling luggage, we did not mind the steps within the city or to the apartment, but if you are trying to avoid steps, this is not the place or city for you 🙂

• Samantha from New Zealand – 24 August 2023 (9/10)

  Loved our stay. The host was so accomodating for a late check out making things very easy

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities