Sant'Efis Hotel 4 Stelle Superior — Hotel in Pula

Lots to say about this wonderful hotel that pleasantly surprised us. It is a stunning small resort right on the beach that is very well run and very well kept. It was our second hotel on this trip and the minute we walked through the grounds, we looked at each other and said we're not going anywhere and spending all of our time at the hotel. I mean it was just everything we dreamed for our Sardinian holiday. Firstly we must discuss the hotel grounds. The gardens are stunning. It's obvious they were created by a talented landscaper and they are also beautifully maintained. So many gorgeous spots to enjoy with a wide variety of vegetation that blend together to create the most beautiful outdoor spaces to enjoy all your days in. The grounds are so well maintained, and attendants were constantly tidying up after guests through rotations of lounge chair use, etc. throughout the day. There are TWO gorgeous pools. I don't quite understand why there are two pools, but there are, and they are both amazing and have their own feel. And both exceptionally well maintained and clean! I really appreciated that. We simply could not decide which one was best and enjoyed time at both. The vibe of the hotel is very chill. No loud music, just wonderfully relaxed and serene. At the end of the second pool you come to the hotel's restaurant, Don Carlo. We ate four delicious and varied meals there. I cannot tell you how wonderful the food was, all so good and a good variety for many meals. And the setting is absolutely stunning right on the beach, perfectly shaded at lunch and gorgeous ombre hues over the water for dinner! It does not get any better. Stepping off the back of the restaurant you land right on the gorgeous beach with a private strip of loungers and umbrellas just for the hotel guests. The beach is lovely and the water, well it's Sardinia, so it's basically perfect. Never did we have to race to get a lounge chair on the beach or either pool and this was July. Such a relaxed, well maintained, high quality and easy atmosphere. Breakfast by the first pool each morning was delightful. The assortment was very good and fresh. Especially loved the fresh orange juice, eggs and fruit. All so good. The hotel manager was visible and eager to please. She greeted us personally and inquired about any of our concerns. The lobby and other indoor/outdoor sitting spaces are just so lovely, and so plentiful. Absolutely spoilt for choice. The only downside to this hotel might be some aspects of the rooms, but you will not be spending much time in your room here! Our suite (the one on the the website listed as "Queen Suite with Pool View") is directly over the bar area and over lobby toilets. We could hear clanking, soft voices and doors shutting below us very easily. I will absolutely stay at this hotel again, but I will not stay in this room again. It might work for you if you're a heavy sleeper. The doors (behind the bar and the lobby toilets) are very loud through the floor up to this room and I was at the mercy of anyone who might be using these spaces as to how early I could fall asleep or how early I'd be woken up! The other suites would not suffer from this issue based on their position in the building. Most of the regular rooms appear to overlook parking areas only, so the views from the rooms are not why you stay here. But the rooms themselves are very nice. This hotel was everything we hoped for our Sardinian...

The main attraction of this hotel is the stunning gardens. The gardeners do a fantastic job of maintaining such beautiful garden spaces. The area around the rear pool is particularly impressive. It was a pleasure to sit by the pool surrounded by incredible plants and fragrant flowers.||There are two pools which were both just warm enough to swim in for the first week of June. They were both clean and well maintained. There were sufficient loungers and umbrellas available around the pool for everyone due to the quiet time of year.||We stayed in a standard room for 2 nights which overlooked the car park although thanks to the gardens the view is softened by plants and hedges. Both the room and balcony were small. The balcony in particular was so small that the chairs and table could not be moved. There is no privacy on the balconies so you have to find a time when no one else is out on their balcony if you want to enjoy it.||The room was nicely furnished and decorated mainly in white with a decent spacious shower. The reason we could not give a top rating was the air-conditioning. Although it could be turned on it did not cool the room which remained at 24 degrees and above which meant we had to keep the window open during the night. It appears that it is being centrally controlled and is either not in cooling mode in early June or is being turned off.||We didn’t eat at the hotel’s restaurant due to the poor reviews we had read but had cocktails at the bar one night which were ok (not mixed with standard ingredients) but expensive by Italian standards at €15.||Breakfast offered a good selection and coffee was quickly served which we appreciated. As we had an early check-out, the hotel even provided a breakfast bag to go with fruit, yoghurt, juice and a piece of cake.||We found the staff at the hotel very professional and check-in and out was efficient. We liked the extra touches like the free flip flops and bag provided in the room, welcome drink and breakfast to go. We would certainly return if ever...

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Stunning Setting, Disappointing Service

Sant Efis is, without a doubt, a visually stunning hotel. The setting is gorgeous, the grounds are beautifully maintained, and the food was genuinely delicious. However, our experience was significantly let down by the attitude and professionalism of several staff members.

From the moment we arrived, the general vibe was one of disinterest—as if our presence was an inconvenience rather than a valued part of their business. Hospitality felt like an afterthought. It’s incredibly disappointing to feel unwelcome in a place of this calibre, especially given its reputation and price point.

We also encountered an issue with the air conditioning in our room. The initial response from reception was almost laughable: we were told the AC wasn’t working properly because we had “booked the wrong room type” for two adults and a 5-year-old child. It turns out the real issue was that the filters were simply dirty. While someone did eventually come to clean them, the unit stopped working again shortly after. At that point, we gave up trying to have it resolved—something that should never happen at a hotel of this standard.

As for the staff, there were clear contrasts. One woman stood out for her warmth and professionalism—she should absolutely be recognised and promoted for her exceptional guest service. In stark contrast, one male staff member seemed more interested in strutting around than assisting guests. His attitude was dismissive at best, and unprofessional at worst. First impressions also matter, and unfortunately, the heavily tattooed male receptionist, our first point of contact, set the wrong tone with his aloof manner and lack of basic courtesy. Front desk staff should make guests feel welcome—not like they’re interrupting their day.

It’s a shame that such a beautiful place is let down by poor service. With proper staff training and a serious reassessment of frontline personnel, this hotel could truly offer the luxury experience it...