In February 2026, the Jadran Heritage Hotel 5* opens on the Poreč waterfront: a restored city symbol and a new gastro address signed by Ana Roš

Poreč enters 2026 with a project that combines heritage restoration, high-category tourism, and the ambition to further profile the city as a year-round destination. On one of the most attractive city locations – right by the waterfront and a step away from the old town core – the opening of the Jadran Heritage Hotel 5* (Valamar Collection) is planned for February 2026. This boutique hotel is being created through the complete renovation of the historic building of the former Hotel Jadran. A small capacity is announced, with only 12 designer rooms and suites, but also a strong content emphasis: within the hotel, JAZ by Ana Roš is expected to open its doors, a bistro concept by the chef whose work has been part of the world's gastronomic elite for years.

As 2026 approaches, visitor interest in staying in the very center of the city grows, especially along the waterfront and in the old town zone. Due to limited capacities in the historic core and the rapid occupancy of smaller hotels, it is no surprise that some guests are already checking accommodation near the Poreč waterfront or alternatives in the pedestrian zone around the center, where promenades, restaurants, and city events can be reached without a car.

Historic building from 1913 gets a new function

Jadran Heritage Hotel builds its identity on "heritage": a recognizable building on the waterfront that has been part of the Poreč skyline for decades is being restored. Announcements highlight that the facility was built in 1913 as an annex to the first Poreč hotel, and is now undergoing thorough reconstruction meant to preserve the character of the space and adapt it to contemporary standards of the highest category. Such interventions – restoring the existing rather than building new – are increasingly important in cities where the historic core and coast constitute the most sensitive part of the urban identity.

In recent years, a strong focus on arranging the old town core, preserving the coastal skyline, and raising the quality of public areas has been visible in Poreč. The new hotel on the waterfront is therefore not viewed only as an investment in tourism, but also as a valorization of heritage: the building gets a new, modern role, and the city center gets content that can live even outside the summer peak.

For guests coming to Poreč for the atmosphere of the old core, walks by the sea, and the city's cultural scene, it makes sense to look at accommodation offers in Poreč in advance. Boutique formats, especially in the very center, often sell out early because part of the audience travels specifically for gastronomy, events, and experiencing the city "on foot".

Design and concept: 12 rooms with a story about the city

The announced interior concept is based on a combination of original architecture and contemporary design, with artistic details emphasizing the individual character of the object. A special feature is the idea that each of the 12 rooms and suites bears a name inspired by the history of Poreč, thereby connecting the stay experience with the local identity. The design is signed by the Poreč architectural studio Tissa, which has been collaborating with Valamar on projects in the destination for years.

In practice, such a "few rooms, plenty of story" approach is typical for boutique hotels in historic cores. Instead of mass capacities, the emphasis is on details, service, and a sense of place. In Poreč, a city with a long tourist tradition dominated by larger capacities and resort logic, a hotel on the waterfront with 12 rooms opens space for further expanding the offer towards guests seeking a more intimate, personalized experience and who are ready to invest more in restaurants, wine programs, and content beyond classic "swimming".

The proximity of the waterfront and the old town makes this concept particularly interesting for short stays in the pre-season and post-season, when Poreč has a calmer rhythm, and the city's authenticity comes to the fore without summer crowds. For such arrivals, some visitors are already exploring accommodation in the old town core of Poreč or in a zone allowing quick pedestrian access to the waterfront.

Gastronomy as key: JAZ by Ana Roš on the Poreč waterfront

The most resounding element of the project is the arrival of JAZ by Ana Roš, a bistro concept by one of today's most influential chefs. Ana Roš is globally known for a cuisine starting from seasonality, local ingredients, and creative interpretation of tradition. Her restaurant Hiša Franko in Slovenia holds three stars according to the Michelin guide – the highest level of recognition in that system – and Roš is also distinguished through international culinary scene awards.

In announcements, JAZ is described as "young dining": a more relaxed, livelier format of high cuisine, with an emphasis on freshness, seasonal menus, and merging global influences with Istrian authenticity. For Poreč, this means a strong step forward in a segment where gastronomy is not just a supporting accommodation service, but a reason for arrival. In Istria, this trend has been increasingly clear in recent years: more and more guests plan trips around restaurants, wines, and local producers, and a quality gastro offer often extends the season to spring and autumn.

• Location: waterfront and city center, with pedestrian access to main city points


• Hotel format: boutique, 12 rooms and suites, high category 5*


• Gastro focus: bistro JAZ by Ana Roš as an integral part of the hotel experience


• Design: blend of historic architecture and contemporary solutions, with a story related to Poreč

Precisely due to gastro interest, increased demand is expected in terms outside the classic summer peak – weekends in spring, early start of the season, and autumn months. For visitors, this has a practical consequence: if coming to Poreč for restaurants and the atmosphere of the old town, it is often simplest to secure accommodation for visitors in the center of Poreč in advance, so the city can be experienced on foot, without worrying about parking and crowds.

Tour of works: messages on heritage and core revitalization

The project was presented through a tour of the future hotel, attended by the Mayor of Poreč Loris Peršurić and the President of the Management Board of Valamar Željko Kukurin. Communication around the project emphasizes two key messages: on one hand, it is an investment in tourism and offer quality, and on the other, the valorization of a historic building and preservation of the recognizable Poreč waterfront skyline. It is especially highlighted that such interventions contribute to the revitalization of the old town core, development of year-round tourism, and strengthening of the city's gastronomic scene.

Jadran is thereby announced as a space that "returns to the city" through a gourmet offer and the idea of a meeting place, rather than solely as an object closed for hotel guests. Such emphasis is becoming increasingly important in destinations with developed tourism, where the question is increasingly raised on how to balance the tourist offer with the needs of residents. A boutique hotel with strong gastronomy can, in the best scenario, become a point that also benefits the city: it attracts guests of higher spending power, and their spending spills over to cafes, shops, cultural programs, and local services.

Broader investment framework: Poreč and year-round tourism

The opening of the Jadran Heritage Hotel comes in a period of intensive investments in Poreč tourism and accompanying infrastructure. The development of the Pical zone is particularly highlighted, which the City of Poreč describes as one of the most significant tourism projects in Croatia. According to the City's announcement from March 2025, investment in the Pical zone is estimated at around 200 million euros, with plans including public infrastructure like promenades, bicycle paths, beach arrangements, and pool facilities. That announcement also states the ambition of creating a high-quality year-round product, with direct economic effect for the city and local community.

The Jadran Heritage Hotel on the waterfront can be read in this context as a complementary project: while large complexes bring breadth of content and capacity, small boutique hotels in the center bring symbolism, story, and a strong destination identity. The combination of these two directions – resort infrastructure and urban boutique luxury – is an increasingly common model in destinations wanting to extend the season and diversify the offer.

For guests planning to visit Poreč precisely because of new contents during 2026, it is useful to look at accommodation near the event venue in time, especially if the plan is to combine the city core, waterfront, gastro offer, and excursions around Istria in a few days. In practice, the best location is often one allowing pedestrian access to the center, yet at the same time a quieter rest away from the busiest city streets.

Deadlines and investment value: what is confirmed, and what remains a framework

The opening of the Jadran Heritage Hotel is announced for February 2026, and according to information from promotional materials, the object is presented as a novelty in 2026. Regarding the investment value, amounts around 10 million euros appeared earlier in the public, but this data is not consistently stated in all currently available online posts, so it should be viewed as a framework from earlier announcements. What is clearly defined is the programmatic focus: small capacity, high category, strong design identity, and gastronomy as key differentiation.

Such a business model usually targets guests who choose destinations based on experience, rather than the quantity of content within a complex. For Poreč, this means additional consolidation in the short stay segment – trips increasingly planned in colder months too, when the historic core and waterfront are experienced without summer crowds, with a higher chance for gastronomy and local events to come to the fore.

What this project brings to Poreč

The restoration of a historic building on the waterfront is always more than a hotel investment: it is an intervention affecting the skyline, movement flows, city everyday life, and destination image. If the announced concept is realized in practice, Jadran Heritage Hotel could be a new point connecting Poreč with modern luxury trends – one not based only on stars, but on the story of space, design, and food. In combination with other investments, the city continues to build the profile of a destination wishing to rely on quality, content, and experiences outside the strictly seasonal framework.

For visitors, the message is clear: Poreč 2026 will not be interesting only in July and August. The arrival of a boutique hotel on the waterfront and a bistro signed by Ana Roš opens space for new trips in the pre-season and post-season, while larger projects in the city further expand the activity offer. If you plan an arrival due to gastronomy, walks by the sea, and old town atmosphere, it is worth checking accommodation for Poreč visitors now and choosing a location enabling you to experience the city lightly, without rushing and with maximum use of the center and waterfront.

Sources:
- City of Poreč – announcement on the tour of the hotel and Pical zone construction site and investment plans and year-round tourism ( link )
- Michelin Guide – Hiša Franko restaurant page (Ana Roš) and Michelin stars ( link )
- Valamar – announcement/page of Jadran Heritage Hotel (opening 2026, concept description and gastronomic offer) ( link )
- Wikipedia – overview of Ana Roš's biography and international awards ( link )