It’s hard to imagine what Lord Byron would have made of Montenegro’s high octane boutique hotel, Nikki Beach Resort and Spa. The esteemed peer and poet visited in the 1800s and described the tiny Balkan country as the ‘most beautiful encounter between the land and the sea’.
So what would he have mused as he took in the poolside DJ, the beautiful couples on daybeds draped in designer clothes and the branded rosé magnums lit up by red smoke and sparklers that now offset the dramatic mountain backdrop?
I don’t want to put words in Byron’s mouth but, given his reputation I suspect he might have approved, and I particularly enjoyed people-watching as yachts regularly delivered new groups of revellers from the Adriatic Sea.
A restless energy characterises the Bay of Tivat, where this branch of the Nikki Beach chain is situated. The resort lies on a former naval base and is viewed as an upstart on Montenegro’s blossoming luxury scene. While the formerly communist country is itself still in nascent stages of a tourist boom compared to more well-trodden destinations in Italy and Croatia, Tivat is billed as a ‘showy newcomer’ on a sunny peninsula.
Do come here if you want to escape the slumber of old town Kotor and throw yourself into beautiful encounters of a less predictable nature, but perhaps not if sleep or losing yourself in a book of poems is your main objective. If my experience is anything to go by, you will be having way too much fun.
Hotel
A 50-metre-long swimming pool acts as a centre point at Nikki Beach and its gravitational pull is hard to resist. Almost everything happens in an area overlooking the shimmering, chlorinated blue, from breakfast in the morning to spritzes in the afternoon.
We found ourselves helplessly drawn there even as an unseasonal June downpour soaked the sun loungers, causing revellers to run for cover. There was then a collective shrugging of shoulders before the thudding base resumed and the party restarted. Some of the 54 suites and rooms are in a separate area next to the Nikki Spa and Tone Gym and elevated high up a hill, so if you want to escape the resort’s beating heart, you would be better off picking one of those.
There is also the option of walking just a few steps down to the waterfront to find a quiet spot on a sun lounger, or take a dip in the ocean, which spreads out magnificently just like Byron bore witness to all those years previously.
Room and suites
One highlight for me was the ease with which I could walk from the pool to my Luux Room, which boasted incredible sea views and a balcony where I could enjoy a quieter moment and a glass of wine while gazing out at Mount Vrmac and St. Marko Island. At 62sqm, the room was spacious and luxurious and the perfect place to decompress after a long day enjoying the facilities.
No two rooms are the same apparently, and some also include a fully equipped kitchen, dedicated workspace, and in-room dining area. Three Signature Rooms are even home to a jacuzzi and garden, while the Ultimate Suite has an indoor sauna and hot tub and panoramic views of Boka Bay.
Food and drink
If you are dining poolside, there is a carefully curated beach club menu that focuses on light, fresh and creative presentations. Lunch revolves around signature seafood platters, oversized sushi boats, colourful salads, and international dishes representing the brand’s locations around the world.
The main restaurant, Sirocco, is run by Michelin star chef Aleksandar Kerekes and features a seafood-centric menu that is updated seasonally. Expect novelties such as king crab with almond milk foam and blood orange meringue and lobster carpaccio covered with Thai sauce and avocado-cilantro cream. Many of the dishes are shareable, designed to be enjoyed with family and friends.
Spa
There’s nothing much better than a relaxing full-body massage to make you forget all about the previous evening’s excess – except perhaps a full-body massage at Nikki Spa. Open from 9am until 9pm, its plush white interiors make for the perfect place to enjoy the likes of signature massages, therapies and facials designed to help you relax, unwind and reconnect. For a true grounding experience, be sure to enjoy yours in the outdoor cabana as the soft breeze blows gently through the soft linen curtains and the lapping sound of the waves threatens to lull you into a gentle slumber.
For more active types there’s a fully-equipped gym on-site too, plus a hot tub, Hammam and Turkish bath.
In a nutshell
The perfect place for escape for a magnum sized weekend of indulgence and free-spirited partying – or longer if you can handle it. Nikki Beach in Tivat Bay is also a great base to explore Montenegro’s historic sights and outstanding natural beauty, which will simply blow you away.
Factbox
Rooms at Nikki Beach Resort and Spa Montenegro start at €330 per night for a covet room land view.
Address: Radovići, Tivat Bay, Montenegro
Phone: +382 69 101 014
Website: montenegro.nikkibeach.com
All imagery supplied by Nikki Beach Resort and Spa Montenegro
