On April 25, Club Mareva officially unveiled JB Lounge by Club Mareva, Split’s first dedicated public cigar lounge, created in partnership with the iconic Marmont Heritage Hotel. Located just steps away from the original Club Mareva, the opening marks an important new chapter for the club and a tribute to one of its earliest supporters and closest friends.
The project honors the legacy of the late Juroslav Buljubašić — owner of the Marmont Heritage Hotel, one of Croatia’s most respected businessmen and visionaries, and a passionate cigar aficionado. Long before Club Mareva and the Cigar Smoking World Championship became internationally recognized, Juroslav was among those who believed in and supported the project from its earliest days. The lounge bears his initials, JB, as a quiet yet powerful tribute to his lifestyle, character, and legacy.
The space that now houses JB Lounge by Club Mareva was once a discreet lounge within the hotel, where guests, friends, and cigar enthusiasts would occasionally gather in an intimate atmosphere. Carefully redesigned while preserving its original spirit, JB Lounge by Club Mareva offers a refined and intimate setting shaped for conversation, cigars, and slow enjoyment.
Following Juroslav’s passing, the Buljubašić family continued that legacy with pride. Inspired by his father’s friendship with Club Mareva and support for its vision, Tomislav Buljubašić proposed transforming the space into a new home for Mareva’s growing international community.
“A beautiful space can be designed, but transferring spirit and emotion is something entirely different, said“ Tomislav Buljubašić. “Tonight, I believe we brought the spirit and emotion of Club Mareva into this space.”
Beyond its emotional significance, the opening marks an important evolution for Club Mareva, expanding its offering beyond the original private club to include a public luxury cigar lounge, a partnership with Marmont Heritage Hotel, and exclusive member experiences connected to Seagull 2, the yacht owned by late Juroslav Buljubašić. Members and guests will enjoy preferred hotel rates, private events, curated hospitality experiences, and Adriatic sea excursions at specially tailored member rates. Founder and president Marko Bilić said the project gives Club Mareva an entirely new dimension.
“Today, we can offer our members not only a club, but a complete hospitality and lifestyle experience. It also opens the door to future collaborations and reciprocal partnerships with international cigar clubs, creating even greater value for our members.”
The opening was celebrated with an elegant black-tie event attended by members, cigar aficionados, and distinguished guests from around the world. The ribbon was cut by honorary president Ivan Mažuranić, Tomislav Buljubašić, and vice president Ivan Žižić, while Marko Bilić presented honorary member card No. 007 to Enrico Maria Puglisi in recognition of his longstanding support of Club Mareva and the CSWC community. Additionally, Sarah Saunders, Head Judge of the CSWC Association, presented a Hulecos device to Deputy Head Judge Nataša Krešević as a token of appreciation for her hard work and dedication to the Mareva and CSWC projects.
JB Cigar Lounge by Club Mareva brings together heritage, hospitality, and cigar culture, positioning Split as a new Adriatic destination for premium cigar experiences.The event was supported by sponsors and partners including Don Palamon Cigars, Hedonist distribution, Chivas Regal, Camelot Cigars, S.T. Dupont, Casdagli Cigars, and Cigar Journal magazine.
