Lesic Dimitri Palace

Lešić Dimitri Palace is a former 18th-century Bishop's Palace set inside the stone walls of Korčula's Old Town. The building was restored over five years, its rooms reworked by an Asian-Croatian design team who drew on Marco Polo and the trade routes he is said to have followed from this island. It is a small stay. Just six suites occupy the palace, arranged across one-to-three-bedroom residences, each finished with a hand from both Croatian and Asian craft traditions. A Michelin-starred restaurant sits under chef Marko Gajski, serving Dalmatian ingredients with a seasonal, wine-paired menu, while LD Garden offers looser, shared-plate dining by the sea in the evenings. The spa draws on local materials, including a body ritual built around Plavac Mali grape skins and oil. Guests can also take out Kata, a restored wooden motor boat once used in Korčula's shipbuilding trade, for half- or full-day trips to nearby islets and swimming coves. On board, a private skipper and, on request, a three-course meal from the Michelin kitchen turn the outing into something closer to a private cruise than a tour. Service throughout stays close to the island itself, led by a team drawn largely from Korčula. The palace sits within walking distance of the town's old squares and narrow lanes, close enough that history and daily life run together outside its door.