What's the view like from the high-rise rooms?

The view from the high-rise rooms is absolutely stunning, with breathtaking views of the surrounding area. You can see for miles and miles, and it's a great spot to watch the sunset.

Is the hotel located in the heart of the action?

No, the hotel is located in a quieter area, which might be a plus for some guests. However, it's still within walking distance to the market and shops.

How far is the hotel from the market?

The hotel is about a 250-meter walk from the market, which might be a bit of a trek for some guests. However, it's a nice walk and you can see some of the local sights along the way.

What's the transfer service like?

The transfer service is convenient and dropped me off right at the hotel gates. However, from there, it's a bit of a walk to the building.

Are the rooms comfortable and clean?

Yes, the rooms are spacious and well-appointed, with comfortable beds and modern amenities. The hotel has a solid 5 out of 5-star rating for its cleanliness and comfort.

Is the hotel's Wi-Fi reliable?

The hotel's Wi-Fi is a bit spotty at times, which can be frustrating for guests who need to stay connected. However, it's generally reliable and you can get a good connection most of the time.

What's the breakfast like?

The hotel's breakfast options are a bit limited, which might be a disappointment for some guests. However, there are plenty of other options in the area, including cafes and restaurants.

How's the customer support?

The hotel's customer support is a bit slow to respond to queries and concerns. However, the staff is friendly and helpful, and they'll do their best to assist you with any issues you might have.

Hotel Review for Spring 2025

When I'm flying in off-season, I want to enjoy the stunning view from my hotel room balcony, sip my morning coffee, and watch the sunset in the evening.

For this, I'd give the hotel a solid 5 out of 5 stars! The view from the "high-rise" rooms is breathtaking. Rather than being in the heart of the action, the hotel is located in New Gagra, almost opposite the market. If you want to know more about New Gagra, check out this review.

The first thing that struck me...

The transfer dropped me off at the hotel gates, but from there, it was a 250-meter walk to the building. I was worried about damaging my luggage, to be honest.

When I finally arrived at the building, I realized it was just the hotel's annex. The transfer had dropped me off there, but I still had to walk another 100 meters to the main entrance.

It was a bit of a struggle, but I finally made it to the hotel.

The reception area makes a lovely impression - it's spotless, everything shines, and there's plenty of comfy seating...

The information desk

There's an ATM and a currency exchange

Check-in starts at 14:00, but they were accommodating and let me in at 13:00 instead. There's a tourist tax of 200 rubles. The staff are super friendly. Concept

Room selection - it's a bit ambiguous, but interesting.

The building...

I stayed in a 14-story building with a lift, and the view from the top floor was supposed to be amazing, but the view restaurant wasn't working! The view of the Old Gagra and Pitsunda was pretty cool.The view of the Old Gagra was more picturesque, but the new power substation built by the Emerald Hotel was a bit of a bummer - it's not super loud, but it's a constant hum that competes with the sound of the waves. Plus, there's a little animation stage or maybe a summer bar down below, it's hard to tell...

Rooms closer to the lift's corner get no sun in March, so if you want some sun in the spring, ask for a room with a view of Pitsunda.

The view of Pitsunda is the sunny side, with a summer restaurant down below.

The summer restaurant was closed in the spring, so no annoying hum from the aircon.

The "hummers" - aircon blocks are installed at the building's corners and in the additional wing with a garden view.

Rooms higher up and closer to the sea might be a good choice to avoid the hum - rooms 06 to 10 are nicely located.

With the balcony closed, it's quiet. The windows are good quality.

Room Number - I really liked it, was okay on a 2-star level, and a bit lacking on a 3-star level (the third place had a fold-out sofa, which was better suited for someone light), it was cozy, warm, and the internet worked well, just like the TV, although the TV did cut out occasionally - there was no signal in the whole city, not just at the hotel.

The mattress was super comfy, the pillows were great, and the bedding was decent.

The tea station - two types of tea, sugar, and two 0.5-liter bottles of water that get refilled, a small fridge in the closet, quiet, and new.

The curtains and tulle were great.

The battery life was insane - the heating system is perfect for winter and spring, so I always came back to a warm room!

The entrance area was super convenient, and there were slippers provided. The closet is tiny and cramped, but it's got some great perks - like a powerful hair dryer and a decent clothes dryer for swimsuits. It's a bit cramped for clothes, though.

The bathroom is a real highlight - it's got a great shower, new fixtures, and plenty of hot water. The towel warmer is a nice touch, and the shower itself is big and has great water pressure.

There are plenty of outlets.

The balcony

The view from the balcony is amazing, especially in the morning and evening - it's like a whole different world!

The room itself was a real treat - it was clean and comfortable, and the staff was super friendly. They even had a little sign that said not to disturb the room, which was a nice touch.

The elevator is pretty standard, but it does take a while to get to the 14th floor - it's a bit of a slow ride.

The Wi-Fi is super fast, and there's an ironing station with an ironing board on every floor. Territory - it's amazing, tons of plants, swings, great walking paths... if you've got little ones, you'll love strolling around.

Benches Playground picturesque alleys... and mimosa! The scent is incredible.

plenty of palms...

I was able to get in some exercise during my stay...

There are two pools - during my visit, neither of them were heated, so we ended up going to the indoor pool at Amza...

By the end of March, they finally started heating up...

this summer Baski...The bar was a highlight for me - it's huge, comfy, and cozy... Sometimes they have these really cool installations...

They serve really great coffee,

and they pour it by the cup,

I love the fact that there's a fridge with drinks...the Wi-Fi works great.

The bar leads straight to the ocean...

The ocean is stunning, I really want to take a dip, but it's freezing!

Beach The path down to the ocean is a total disaster, I wouldn't recommend it with a stroller, bad feet, or little kids...This is the staircase...

And after that, you get to enjoy these...high steps...you can even sit comfortably and take a nap)the beach is pretty narrow, and the storm really made its presence knownMaybe they'll install a better beach access by summer...

Ready for a break? Time to head to the restaurant!

The restaurant is really nice, big, bright, and cozy with comfy furniture

but the kitchen and food selection were a letdown for the seasonBreakfast wasn't bad, but there were way too many cold dishes, and it's weird to have cold sausages and cold scrambled eggs

Breakfast is a rare occasion to get eggs, and sometimes you'll get an omelette or scrambled eggs, but don't expect any fresh pastries or greens - it's a real shame, but they do have some nice champagnes and baked apples with walnuts!

the automated juice machine is pretty good, and they have nice milk and yogurt in jugs, and the pancakes with cheese are a nice touch I was a bit disappointed with the pierogies - they were like rubber pancakes, but the potato pancakes weren't bad.

The hotel lunches were better than the dinners, although lunch was a rare occurrence...

I really liked the meatballs, the chicken was either chunky or in a sauce, and it was cooked just right.

The hedgehog was tasty, the pork was slow-cooked with onions, and the Korean pickles were a great addition to breakfast, lunch, and dinner...

The fish was dry, though. The soups... the best was definitely the chicken soup with noodles.

The vegetable soup was a total disaster.

I was a bit disappointed with the variety of meals - they all started to feel like the same old thing. I'd have a lunch that was basically the same as the previous night's dinner. It was like they just recycled the same dishes over and over. I took a photo of the menu to show you what I mean - it's basically the same thing every day.

The menu would change from day to day, but it was always the same old thing. Sometimes they'd run out of something, and you'd be left with nothing. But, I have to say, I never went hungry. And if I did, there was always a stash of food in the fridge.

It was never a feast, but I never went hungry either. Dessert Food-wise, this hotel is definitely not its strong suit, especially out of season! There's a paid restaurant on site, but if the same chef is working there, I'm not sure...

Whether to get food or not, if you're staying for a few days, you can probably get by with breakfast and dinner, but if you're staying long-term and the weather's gloomy, it's better to get food. In the spring, not much is open around here, and buying pastries from the market isn't exactly a meal... but the food is pretty sad, to be honest.

The coffee machine only works for breakfast and dinner.

They clean the tables, and the restaurant is spotless. I saw some reviews online about cockroaches, but I didn't see any - everything's clean in the restaurant and the hotel.

When there were more people for lunch, they had homemade wine, strong stuff, made mulled wine, and had vodka - I walked up, poured myself a glass, and it was self-service! The dining area was a nice touch!

One of the biggest pluses of this hotel is that they'll take you to the water therapy center - check it out here on this little machine...

On the second floor of the hotel, there's a relaxation area with a pool table, comfy furniture, and internet... Despite the downsides, I have to say I really enjoyed my stay here. The views of the sea were incredible, and it was totally worth it!

My mini-review of Staraya GagraPitsunda in the spring

Abkhazian Courtyard - a hidden gem

Mon cafe - a must-visit