Review: The Chedi Luštica Bay, Tivat, Montenegro

Perched on the Luštica peninsula, The Chedi Luštica Bay is part boutique retreat, part thoughtful marine village — low-slung, limestone-touched buildings that frame a sheltered marina and a private beach. With 111 rooms and suites, an Asian-rooted spa with indoor and outdoor pools, multiple dining venues, and a sustainability programme that is unusually robust for a new coastal resort, it’s a place where you can choose to do very little, yet also exquisitely set up to help you do everything you want to do — rest, wander, eat well, and be well.

The welcome

My arrival was later than planned — a cancelled flight and a two-hour transfer from Dubrovnik conspired to make the day longer than intended — but the team smoothed every edge.

Rade met me with a warm, calm welcome and personally accompanied me to Room 3010, passing Milena Živković’s sea-themed artwork that adorns the corridors. It was only when I explored the hotel more later that I realised that her paintings mirror the ocean depths, transitioning from sun-drenched shallows at the top of the building to the mysterious deep on the lower floors.

The room

I stayed in Room 3010, a Grand Deluxe sea-view apartment, with a king-size Simmons “Sweet Sleeper” bed (crisp white linen, of course) anchoring a large space that’s designed with a quiet, deliberate precision.

At the entrance a compact kitchenette offers tea/coffee facilities, a two-ring hob, a microwave, dishwasher and a fridge/minibar — useful for light cooking or for pacing meals after a long day of travel.

There’s a small table by the window and a balcony with table and chairs that look out over the marina and the distant lighthouse; mornings on that balcony are quietly restorative.

Everything from the luggage racks and 55” interactive TV to the work/dressing table, multiple plugs/USB points, and reliable, fast Wi-Fi collectively made the room feel like a serviced apartment with the polish of a five-star hotel.

The bathroom

The en-suite is something of a private retreat: a freestanding Laufen bath placed to make the most of the view; a powerful Hansgrohe rain shower; twin basins and WC, plus a separate guest WC at the entrance to the suite.

The hotel supplies Acqua di Parma toiletries and a small tray of other amenities (bamboo comb, vanity set, shower cap, shaving kit), and the thoughtful presence of soft robes and slippers make trips to the spa easier and more indulgent.

The facilities

There’s a lot to unpack here, because the Chedi’s facilities are the reason many people come. The main restaurant serves breakfast and dinner with a contemporary Mediterranean bent, and even a healthy ‘shot of the day’ with combinations such as a celery, spinach and kale, or lime, ginger and broccoli. The Spot sits on the marina as a breezy, all-day option with a well-worked à la carte menu and prix fixe options.

My dinner there began with an amuse bouche of tomato soup, topped with a goats cheese mousse.

This was followed by a succulent starter of seared Adriatic scallops, crispy chicken skin, rooster reduction and purée trio (celery, broadbeans and peas, beetroot), a main of grilled monkfish served with smoked mussels, kale and proscuitto, a herb and root blend sauce, and leek crisps, and a dessert – it would have been rude not to – of Black Forest cake, consisting of vegan chocolate, coconut ganache, cherry compote, and vegan chocolate sponge.

The Rok Beach Bar & Lounge is hewn into rock for sunsets and lighter, Asian-tinged plates; and a destination Japanese restaurant rounds out the choices.

The hotel’s spa follows The Chedi’s Asian-rooted wellness philosophy and works with VOYA seaweed-based products.

There are both indoor and outdoor pools, a steam room and an experience shower.

Independent of The Chedi is the marina, with over 100 berths and catering for yachts up to 45 metres long, and The Peaks, home to Montenegro’s first 18-hole Gary Player-designed golf course, as well as courts for tennis, padel, and basketball.

The location

The Chedi sits within Luštica Bay on Montenegro’s Adriatic coast — a sheltered location that is just 15–20 minutes from Tivat Airport, with Podgorica and Dubrovnik (Croatia) airports both within a 90-minute drive.

The architecture is strictly designed to mimic traditional Montenegrin fishing villages, using local stone and terracotta and, in a commitment to sustainability, only 10% of the 690-hectare site is being developed, leaving the vast majority of the land as untouched natural greenery and olive groves.

Since the bay enjoys a classic Mediterranean climate and over 240 days of sunshine per year, it is inviting for swimmers from May through October. It is also the closest luxury base for exploring the famous Blue Cave (Plava Špilja), which is just a 15-minute speedboat ride away.

Other nice touches

Arrival goodies included bowls of local olives, satsumas and dried fruit, a small selection of chocolates and a printed copy of Lustica Bay Life plus the hotel’s seasonal magazine.

And at turndown each evening, the staff share legends and stories of Montenegro, along with a small gift, offering glimpses into Montenegro’s fascinating history and vibrant culture.

The cost

Rates by season, board basis and room type, and the room described here sits in the Grand Deluxe (sea view) category. The hotel runs advance-purchase packages and seasonal offers, with rates currently starting from 157 euros per night. Check the hotel’s website for up-to-date availability and the best rates for your chosen dates.

The best bit

It’s difficult to single out one defining highlight at The Chedi Luštica Bay, so I’ll be deliberately broad: the true luxury here lies in the hotel’s obsessive attention to detail. The service is warm without being intrusive, the small touches are impeccably judged, and the entire experience is executed with such precision that it feels effortlessly luxurious.

The final verdict

The Chedi Luštica Bay is a well-crafted luxury hotel that balances design, dining and genuine environmental thinking with the small human kindnesses that make a stay matter. Service is warm (with a calm professionalism rather than anything theatrical), the rooms are thoughtfully furnished and very comfortable, the dining is attentive to local produce and flavour, and the spa is quietly serious. If you want a Montenegrin escape that prizes atmosphere over ostentation, you need look no further.

Dislcosure: Our stay was sponsored by The Chedi Lustica Bay.