The story of wellness on Hvar Island begins long before spa menus and signature massages. It begins with the air, crisp with sea salt and the scent of wild herbs. With the pine forests that fringe the Adriatic, and the sunlight that glitters over the Adriatic Sea.
On a secluded stretch of Hvar’s coast near the 2400-year-old town of Stari Grad stands Maslina Resort, a proud member of Relais & Châteaux. Resting lightly between forest and sea, nothing about it feels forced or fabricated. Instead, it feels as though the land had been waiting for something this quiet to arrive.
Mindful Luxury drives everything
Maslina calls its philosophy Mindful Luxury. The phrase might sound simple, but in practice it’s a deliberate balance: non-intrusive architecture that listens to the land, service that feels human rather than rehearsed, and a design language inspired by the four elements of nature. It’s not about abundance, but awareness. And every element is guided by intention.
The resort’s low pavilions are designed to dissolve into the landscape, their wooden ventilated façades echoing the textures of the pines on Hvar itself. Interiors mirror the four natural elements: the cerulean shimmer of the Adriatic, the white of island stone, the warmth of terracotta, and the calm of the surrounding forest. Locally sourced materials such as limestone from the neighbouring Brač Island and Iroko wood give each space an organic depth, while handpicked vintage pieces lend it soul.
Even the smallest details carry the same sense of care, including biodegradable spa amenities, sustainable sourcing, and cuisine that celebrates seasonal ingredients from the island’s farmers and fishermen. It’s a philosophy that extends into the very core of the guest experience. Because true wellness begins not with treatments but with the way things are made, gathered, and shared.
Healing rooted in Hvar heritage at Pharomatiq Wellness
Wellness on Hvar isn’t a new invention. Long before the concept became fashionable, travellers came here to breathe in the island’s air, rich in sea minerals and wild herbs, said to heal the lungs and soothe the spirit. Actually, in 1868, the Hvar Health Society established that nowhere was better than Hvar for chest illnesses. The island provided everything needed for visitors to have a pleasant stay, ‘so that their sufferings are eased, and their diseased lungs can benefit from our mild climate and health-giving air.’ That legacy continues at Pharomatiq Wellness, Maslina’s homage to Hvar’s health-giving past.
The name itself carries history: Pharos, the ancient name of Stari Grad, and aromatic, a nod to the fragrant botanicals that blanket the island – because there are over 600 wild medicinal, aromatic, and honey plant species in Croatia, 120 of which are traditionally used in folk medicine, food, oils, and spirits!
The rituals at Pharomatiq Wellness are simple but potent. In a standalone building framed by the pines, the treatments draw from the land, including garden-grown herbs, locally distilled essential oils, and the almighty olive to which Maslina owes its name. Every element connects back to Hvar’s ecosystem, translating its natural abundance into moments made to enhance your wellbeing.
Guests can also surrender to Biologique Recherche facials, traditional massage techniques, and mindfulness sessions that anchor the mind as much as they relax the body. The Aquathermal area offers heat and cool, too.
Your place to breathe
Maslina’s true wellness lies in its quiet. In the morning light caught between the trees. In the unhurried ritual of sea swims and Mediterranean meals. In the silence that stretches across Maslinica Bay. Because wellness, on this island, is not something you find. It is everywhere you go.
To find out more about Maslina Resort, visit the links below:
MASLINA RESORT
Uvala Maslinica 11, 21460
Stari Grad
Croatia
Tel: +385 (0) 21 214 880
Email: relax@maslinaresort.com
Instagram: @maslinaresort