Hotel Meneghetti

Beautiful hotel in southern Istria. We were in a very comfortable “Residence” on two floors with a large bedroom, sitting room and bathroom. The estate is surrounded by vineyards and olive groves. Food in the restaurant was very good and the staff were all delightful and very helpful. Excellent selection of own estate local wines and olive oils - delicious. A short drive to Pula and Rovinj and so nice to be away from the hustle and bustle.

Meneghetti Wine Hotel was the last stop on a 10 day trip through Croatia. We spent 4 nights in here in mid-September in a one bedroom pool residence. My views and the experience shared below are meant to be objective and help inform those looking to stay at Meneghetti. The one bedroom residence with a pool was lovely. It is decorated in neutral tones and is well appointed. The bed was so comfortable and the shower and local products were delightful. The mini fridge was stocked with a variety of beverages. Everything is very comfortable. Housekeeping was great - so sweet. There is a comfortable furnished patio leading to a large pool (large for a hotel private pool) at the good temperature - refreshing, not freezing cold. The grounds of the hotel are well cared for and lovely. The vineyards and olive groves are just outside your door and so nice to walk through. The restaurant deserves special mention - absolutely delicious and a wonderful ambience. Everything we ordered was fresh and perfectly prepared. The cocktail and wine list will not disappoint. (Don’t overlook the breakfast salad!) Here’s where Meneghetti falls short: The hospitality is not entirely there. When we arrived (by taxi), no one greeted us and no one assisted with our bags. We carried our bags over the pebble stones, through the restaurant and to the front desk. While we checked in, our bags were then taken and placed on a golf cart (which was helpful). A representative showed us to our residence and briefly explained the temperature, lighting and locks. No other information was shared. (Our experience is generally that the restaurant, hours, spa, and pool at minimum are explained.) I returned to the front desk and asked for a map of the property, how to get to the beach, and to ask about the location of the spa. (Download the app if you go and prepare to be a bit self sufficient.). We also noticed a lot of the public signs are all famed in the “do not” language. This can set a certain tone. One night after dinner it was pouring rain. No one was offering assistance to help guests get back to their residence. (We ended up asking if someone could give us a lift on a golf cart and they did accommodate the request.) On our last day, we planned to do a wine tasting and then make our way to dinner. We showered, dressed and walked to the tasting room at 4pm (knowing it closed at 6pm). Upon arrival, we were turned away stating that the tasting room closed early to host an external party. No alternatives were offered, even when I explained that we were guests of the hotel. We were really bummed! I asked about shipping wine to the US and the response was “google wine and more Croatia, it’ll come right up”. No card, no further insight. I inquired about the situation with the app messaging and got a response about 2 hours later stating that they could do a tasting at the bar for us. It was very odd that there was no notice that the tasting room was closed given this is a big part of staying on a vineyard. Earlier in our stay, we received a paper notice stating that one of the entry gates would be closed the following day, so notices do go out. In addition, the poolside cafe was closed during our entire stay. While the weather was not ideal (cloudy and cooler than normal), it didn’t seem enough of a reason to close down. If you plan to stay here, check and recheck hours and openings. Lastly, upgrade and maintain the bicycles! And perhaps even offer an electric or peddle assist bike. ‘Indifferent" is the best word to describe the overall attitude of the staff and tone of the environment. Something felt very off. Perhaps their attention was on the group tour, perhaps it was a long, busy summer. Overall, it felt like they were looking to hastily reach November and shut down for renovation. Regardless, at this price point, R&C designation, and “5 stars”, improvement is required. Also a note on transportation: If you do not have your own car, taxis are very expensive. They originally quoted me 100 Euros each way to Rovinj. The taxi ended up costing 77 Euros each way, but the driver took 70 in cash. I was quoted 30-40 Euros each way to Bale. I’d suggest you simply bike there. Anyone in relatively good shape can manage the trip on the hotel bikes. There is a gradual uphill on the way there and the return trip is easy. The road is very safe and cars are very respectful of cyclists. Both places were so enjoyable and very much worth the trip!

Beautiful property centrally located in Istria. We loved the vineyards and olive grove on the property and the beautiful outdoor dining at breakfast and dinner. Our room was very comfortable. Only improvement would be better lighting in the bathroom. I also had a fantastic massage and went to a complimentary yoga class.