About
Our background
In 2017 when we moved from the beautiful mountains of North Carolina, we started to build this unique vacation experience based on our skills and hobbies. Joe is a chef and a teacher, born and raised in Chicago. At the age of 16, he began to cook professionally, falling in love with edible art. Since living in Tisno he found passion in connecting cultures by cooking international comfort food and Croatian food with a twist. He offers weekly menus to our guests and friends and teaches cooking classes in his kitchen. Laura is a Doctor of Anthropology, teacher, gardener and upcycler. She grew up in Croatia and lived in the US for 2 decades, before returning back home. Her passions lie in creating a sustainable lifestyle and unique guest stays by growing our own food, making our own body care products from locally collected medicinal plants, decorating our apartments, and hiking with our guests.
We chose to settle down on the Dalmatian coast for the richness of its islands and inlets, its healthy cuisine based on fish and vegetables, and numerous pristine beach coves, walking, and biking routes. Tisno attracted us with its slow lifestyle and small-town feeling; its amenities being within walking distance from our house; and plenty of nature trails near us.
It turns out that building a unique stay is easier than maintaining a life partnership. We each have our own home on the same property and still do what we always did. Laura is in charge of booking and guest communication. Joe retired from apartment management and continues to give his most delicious part - his food. We both serve meals and hang out with our guests, most of the time. We are a lot better neighbors than we were life partners.
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"Lilly's Cozy Cove is a place where you can recharge your batteries and rejuvenate your spirit"
We believe in creating a care-free and comfortable home away from home for our guests; a place where anyone can recharge their batteries and rejuvenate their spirit away from the hectic life and bustling cities. Our guests who choose to come here enjoy long walks through olive groves to the hidden coves; appreciate our eclectically furnished apartments with intentionally placed details to make them feel more like home; and love to cook, eat good food and share their life stories over a delicious meal prepared by chef Joe. We look forward to hosting you.
Our place
At Lilly’s Cozy Cove apartment rental, we open our door and welcome all walks of life into our comfortable and eclectically decorated apartments. Step into our garden, for all senses' enjoyment.
In the morning, wake up to the lively chirping of the birds. Start your day with a cup of freshly brewed coffee, sipped slowly while sitting outside, looking out to the sea or to our garden filled with birds' song.
If you prefer a more active vacation, during any time of the year join us for a hike or rent a bike to explore the nearby magic coves and other hidden treasures of Nature.
At night, after a full day of exploration and rejuvenation, come back home for a full taste buds treat – a homemade dinner, prepared by chef Joe. After dinner, take a stroll downtown and get lost around the narrow, cobblestone streets of Tisno, walk up to one of the churches on the hill and enjoy the full panoramic view of the village at night. Close your day by crawling under the soft bed covers and let the lullaby of the cicadas sing you to sleep.
After the easy-going morning coffee and breakfast, take a short walk to a pebble beach for a refreshing swim in crystal clear water. Let your spirit be calmed by the smell of salty water mixed with pine tree sap and the sound of the cicadas. During off-season months, explore and enjoy numerous nature walks right outside of our door, or a short driving distance away.
"At Lilly’s Cozy Cove rental apartments, we open our door to welcome all walks of life into one of our three comfortable and eclectically decorated apartments"
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