El Platano Guest House

We came across this guesthouse online by chance. Anna and Alexey are decent people, and the photos match reality. We stayed in the second half of May 2023, paying 2500 for a room with a large veranda. The house has an atmospheric feel and a garden around it. The location works especially well for a beach holiday, with the beach only 5 minutes away. The old station and the famous cave are close too, and we walked everywhere. There are cafes and shops nearby, plus a small summer kitchen. Our room had air conditioning, a hairdryer, soap, shampoo, and a kettle.

We stayed at this guesthouse twice. The hosts are hospitable, and the small garden with tangerines, feijoa, and pomegranates is beautiful. The best rooms are on the third floor. There are shared balconies on every floor rather than private balconies, and the view over the sea and monastery is stunning. Reaching the second and third floors means using iron stairs. The sights are walkable, while the sea takes a relaxed 15-20 minutes. People often say 10 minutes, but that means walking very fast. It's downhill on the way there and uphill coming back, even if the incline isn't especially noticeable.

Everything around the house is green and full of flowers, and you can feel the care put into it. Our room was clean and comfortable, and the evenings were quiet, with no loud cafe music continuing into the early hours. The guesthouse is in a very convenient spot, with everything within walking distance. The owners are wonderful people, and we will definitely choose El Platano again.

I chose this hotel because I wanted to feel the atmosphere, spirit, and culture of Abkhazia, and I've now stayed twice. The hosts were welcoming and told me about the history and culture of the Abkhaz people with thoughtful attention. The rooms were clean and pleasant, while birdsong, flowers, fruit, and the honey-filled garden made it feel like paradise. The city's sights were all within walking distance. We even did yoga with other guests and the hostess by the waterfall. Those holidays will stay in my memory as some of my best. I definitely recommend it.