Baku Sea View Hotel

The people here were genuinely sweet and kind. The rooms are just decent.

The standout is the location, an easy walk to the Old City, and our Room 8 had a sit-out with magnificent views. It was also spacious, with a huge bathroom. But this is an apartment converted into a hotel, not a full-scale hotel. Breakfast was very basic and repetitive, with nothing for vegetarians. There’s no legal place for cabs or pickup buses to stop, and it isn’t accessible for disabled guests. It also lacks the other features you’d expect from a hotel, so the price feels high for what’s provided. You may find better options.

The room had no proper curtain to block the sun, and because it faced the sea it got very hot in the morning. Breakfast was extremely basic, and room service was very poor. For this price, there are better hotels. I wouldn’t recommend it for people from India or the Middle East. It’s an apartment on the fifth floor that’s been turned into a hotel, with a very old lift. We had to carry our own bags up the stairs, and there was no bellboy. It might suit a solo traveller, but not a family. When we arrived, nobody was there to welcome us. We called the manager, who was out of the country, and he said someone would come open the door. After a while, a woman from the opposite flat came and let us in. It was a very strange experience.

Spar and Bravo are only a block or two away, and the walled Old Town is within walking distance. The balcony has good views.