In September 2022 we broke ground on the site in Vrbnik. The site had olive trees on limestone bedrock and a view across the Kvarner channel to the mainland. We opened in 2024, and the same year we received the Luxury Lifestyle Award.
Why Vrbnik?
We already had Villa Marim in Stara Baška — built on a rock above the sea, remote, wild. Vrbnik is the counterpoint: a wine village on a cliff, 8 minutes from the beach, 5 minutes from one of the island's best restaurants. The character of the two places is completely different.
That was the point. We did not want to build a second version of Villa Marim. We wanted to build something that belongs to its place just as specifically — and Vrbnik, with its medieval tower, its Žlahtina wine, and its streets so narrow a person must turn sideways to pass, has a character entirely its own.
The Construction
The villas were designed by Lotus Architects in Zagreb as a pair: Villa Manatis light, Villa Moana dark.
A construction project is a negotiation between the plan and the reality of the ground, the light, and what you see when you stand in the space with the walls half up.
The Olive Trees
The architecture follows the grove. The main terrace of Villa Moana is open on three sides so you are in the grove, not beside it.
Sitting beneath the olive trees is part of what makes a stay here: shade, silver leaves and the sound of the wind in the branches.
The Furniture — Austrian Workshop
Our family has a furniture workshop in Carinthia, Austria, where Hans works — it was not originally connected to the villa project. But once construction was underway, it became obvious that the right furniture did not exist in any catalogue. Every piece that existed was either too generic or too obviously from a supplier's range.
So we made it. The dining tables, beds, terrace furniture, and shelving in both villas were designed and built specifically for each room. None of it was produced for general sale. When a guest opens a drawer in Villa Moana, they open a drawer that was made for that room in a workshop in Austria by people who knew which villa it was going into.
The Sand Court
The sand court at Villa Manatis is filled with fine sand, suitable for volleyball, bocce and badminton, and lets children play freely in a way that stone or grass terracing does not allow.
It is rare among villas on Krk.
The Whirlpool
The whirlpool at Villa Moana has sea views and faces Vrbnik old town and its medieval tower. In the last half hour before dark, the old town turns amber.
Opening — 2024
Villa Moana and Villa Manatis opened to guests in 2024.
The Vespa is included with every Villa Moana booking, at no extra charge.
The Luxury Lifestyle Award 2024
In 2024 we received the Luxury Lifestyle Award, a global programme that recognises excellence across the luxury industry; its selection committee assesses candidates by category.
It felt like the right kind of validation for what the villas are on an ordinary day.
"Everything was perfect. You can tell the care and attention to detail that went into designing this home."
— Djordje, guest at Villa Moana, July 2026
The Estate — Both Villas Together
Villa Moana and Villa Manatis can be booked together as the Estate for up to 14 guests: two separate villas 50 m apart, with two pools, two saunas and one sand court. We offer a 5% discount when both are booked together.
This works particularly well for two families travelling together, or a larger group that wants independent living spaces close to each other. Each villa has its own entrance, pool, kitchen and sauna; book both and the sand court at Villa Manatis is shared by the whole group.
See the Estate page: The Estate — Villa Moana + Villa Manatis
What Comes Next
We continue to operate Villa Marim in Stara Baška — our first villa, on a rock above the Adriatic, which opened in 2022. Three villas now, and the same family behind all three: small enough that we still answer your messages ourselves and know who is staying in which villa.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns Villa Moana and Villa Manatis?
Villa Moana belongs to Marim d.o.o. and Villa Manatis to MANATIS d.o.o., both Haller family companies. Marim d.o.o. also owns Villa Marim in Stara Baška, which opened in 2022, and runs all three villas directly, not through a rental agency.
How long did the construction of Villa Moana and Villa Manatis take?
Ground was broken in September 2022, and both villas opened to guests in 2024.
What is special about the design of the Vrbnik villas?
Both villas were designed by Lotus Architects in Zagreb as a pair, one light (Villa Manatis) and one dark (Villa Moana), set among olive trees. The furniture in both villas was made in the family’s workshop in Carinthia, Austria, designed specifically for each room.
Can Villa Moana and Villa Manatis be booked together?
Yes. Both villas can be booked together as the Estate for up to 14 guests. A 5% discount applies when both are booked simultaneously. The Estate is two separate villas 50 m apart, with two private pools, two saunas and one sand court. See the Estate page.
What is the Luxury Lifestyle Award?
The Luxury Lifestyle Awards are a global programme recognising excellence across the luxury industry; candidates are assessed by its selection committee. Marim Luxury Villas received the award in 2024.
