It was another relaxing day in Sveti Stefan. All I had to do was some work on this website, a swim or two and perhaps update my wardrobe for dinner at Aman Sveti Stefan.
It had been 3 months since I had left Istanbul, and at the time I was thinking it would be about halfway through my travels, so I had arranged a booking for dinner at the Aman Sveti Stefan Hotel. I had confirmed shorts would be fine, although I could tell a daggy T-shirt or well worn polo wouldn't be acceptable.
I headed to Budva to see what shops were there and if a stylish, casual, versatile and stuff able shirt might exist. After realising the selection was very limited I managed to find a white, linen shirt to see me through - at least it wouldn't be too creased for dinner tonight.
I got back to my room in the villa and was able to relax throughout the afternoon with another swim and some time on this website. I was looking forward to a splurge for dinner and had high expectations.
The experience of dinner at Aman's Sveti Stefan Hotel was wonderful from the start.
I was greeted by one of the staff before being guided across the isthmus towards the hotel being given a run down on the history and development of the hotel and an insight into some of the guests.
Aman Sveti Stefan Church
There are disparate views/opinions on the historic small island community being turned into an exclusive hotel. Some justification for the most recent restoration works and conversion into a hotel comes from modifications that were made during the 1960's-80's that have resulted in the resulting site being unable to be listed as a heritage site of significance. without such a listing funds and restoration are considered impossible.
Works continue restoring the buildings to bring them up to a 5star hotel standard.
I was led to a terrace overlooking the Mediterranean with tables and chairs set for dinner. after a little discussion and negotiation amongst the staff I was directed to a seat away from the best views - they were for the hotel's paying guests.
Aman Sveti Stefan
The hotel has created a wonderful atmosphere with the setting, the staff, their service and the exclusivity. I wondered if they have become too exclusive since there were only two other tables being used. One table with guests staying at the hotel on the island where we were while the other table were visiting from one of the other nearby Aman hotels on the mainland.
I imagine at the right times the hotel is discreetly busy with wealthy guests.
Overall the experience was rather enjoyable (expectedly pricey) with the only let-down being the regionally consistent typically poor lamb - I still wonder what they do with the good cuts of lamb….?
Aman Sveti Stefan - view back to the mainland
Aman Sveti Stefan - arches were earlier modification connecting upper floors.
Aman Sveti Stefan - perhaps it is too exclusive (where are the people?)
As a one-off to celebrate 3months in, and perhaps halfway, my dinner at Aman's Sveti Stefan was a pretty good treat. I would be heading away from the busy coast tomorrow and I imagined a long way from 5star hotels.