Boni Bazaar and Batumi Cable Car - Georgia

Hello everyone. After spending our first few days in Batumi, we were lucky to have sunny and wonderful weather. This made us very happy because Batumi is generally known for its rainy or cloudy weather. On Friday we left our home, called a taxi and headed towards the local market, Boni Bazaar. Taxi prices in Batumi are quite affordable, usually around 2-3 Euros. Even traveling from one end of the city center to the other costs about 3 Euros.

We arrived at the market and saw that everything was sold here, from slippers to bread. But what really caught our attention were the fruits and vegetables. We had heard that the prices here were much more affordable compared to supermarkets, so we wanted to test it ourselves. When we moved to the indoor market area, we noticed souvenirs, wines and Georgia’s famous chacha liquor. The horn-shaped glasses designed for wine and chacha could make a very interesting gift. The prices of chacha range from 10 to 20 Lari. There are also spices, homemade cakes and Turkish delight being sold here. Spices are typically sold by the cup and one cup costs 1 Lari. The price of meat ranges from 18 to 20 Lari. Various types of churchkhela (walnut-filled grape sweets) are sold from 1.5 Lari. Most of the products at the market are homemade. Homemade wines, spices and fruit desserts are offered at reasonable prices. I highly recommend this authentic Georgian market.

But the best part was the tea. There are really delicious teas here. The ones in souvenir packages, in particular, are striking. The market mostly offers tea, wine, brandy and churchkhela varieties. For example, mint tea is available and it’s quite affordable, with 0.5 liters costing 5 Lari. We bought some to try. We asked about the alcohol content, but of course, it’s non-alcoholic. There are many different options, even tea made from black grapes. The spices and salts are also quite remarkable. Here spices are sold by the cup and one cup of spices costs 2.5 Lari. The appearance is even impressive. There are all sorts of colorful spices, salts and aromatic herbs. Green and herbal teas are very popular and the prices are quite reasonable. However, one downside of the market is that prices vary with each vendor. You need to ask each one individually and this sometimes means tourists may face higher prices. But bargaining is possible, though not everyone may want to do it.

The seafood section of the market is quite large. Here, you can find fresh fish and seafood. For example, the price of sea bass and bream is 27 Lari per kilogram, while salmon is 22 Lari. There are also smaller fish varieties, shrimp, squid and octopus. Prices are generally reasonable, but you might find some items cheaper in other places. Small octopuses are 50 Lari per kilogram and large octopuses are 70 Lari. There are also oysters, mussels and caviar varieties. For example, black caviar is sold in small jars for 50 Lari. The abundance and variety of fresh products at the market are impressive. The seafood looks very fresh and bright and the vendors are always trying to persuade you to make a purchase. Restaurants are also located right next to the market. If you wish, you can have the seafood you buy prepared and served at one of the restaurants. However, eating at a restaurant might sometimes be an easier and more comfortable option.

The market really offers a wide range of options. But in my observations it wouldn't always be accurate to say that the prices are always cheaper than at supermarkets. While it's advantageous in terms of fresh products, it's important to compare prices and negotiate. This market in Batumi is a great place for those who want to have an authentic shopping experience. The best part of the fish market is being able to eat the seafood you choose at the harbor, by the sea. However, what caught my attention was that the fish prices in supermarkets are generally lower. This was a bit disappointing because I had expected the prices at Boni Bazaar to be more affordable. But in some cases the prices are almost double. For example, here, the price of bream is 23 Lari, while in the supermarket, it’s 13 Lari. This is quite a big difference. Still the atmosphere of the market is nice. You can buy as little seafood as you want, like one octopus, a few shrimp or a fish and have it cooked at one of the restaurants with a harbor view. Most of the restaurants are located by the harbor and you can enjoy a pleasant time with beautiful weather. You can sit inside or on the terrace of the restaurants. From here, you can even see Batumi’s famous Alphabet tower and the view is impressive.

Since we had different plans that day, we didn’t spend much time here. We used a taxi to get to the market because it is located a bit outside the city center. We just stopped by to get an idea of the prices. The market has a nice atmosphere overall, but the prices weren’t as affordable as I had expected. Because of this, supermarkets can sometimes be a more practical and economical option.

After visiting the market we decided to go to Batumi’s famous cable car. The ticket price is 30 Lari per person, which is around 10-11 dollars or 11 euros. To get on the cable car, you climb up colorful stairs and beautiful views await at the top. The cabin windows can be opened, which is great for taking photos. Of course, you should be careful not to drop your phone.

When we got to the top, we were greeted by a impressive view. Watching Batumi’s port, the sea and the city from above is a magnificent experience. However, the height can be a bit intimidating. Thankfully everything went smoothly and we had a lovely ride on the cable car. If you come to Batumi for this kind of experience, I definitely recommend adding the cable car ride to your list.

When we reached the top, it felt like my ears were a bit blocked. The ride took about 15 minutes. The cabin windows were a bit foggy, so the view wasn’t completely clear. Thankfully, I was able to take some panoramic photos of Batumi thanks to the openable windows. There’s a souvenir shop and a restaurant at the top. The restaurant is a good spot for drinks or snacks, like a cafeteria.

We then went to the observation deck. There are also massage chairs here, similar to the ones we’ve tried in Turkey. The massage was quite good. But afterward, I did experience some muscle soreness. The terrace area has seating and a fantastic view. We looked at the menu, which mainly offered Georgian dishes. For example, bream is 52 Lari, khachapuri ranges from 19-25 Lari and a four-cheese pizza is 26 Lari. The view is stunning: the sea, the cable car line and the sunny weather combined create a beautiful atmosphere.

The view became even more amazing as we reached the highest point of the observation deck. With glass railings, we could see all of Batumi. There’s even a binocular for a closer look, for just a few Lari. The city looks like a small seaside resort with its compact structure. From here, you can see both the sea and the Alphabet tower. We even managed to spot the building we were staying at from afar.

The food prices here are a bit high, especially compared to the old town. For example, the khachapuri here is the most expensive one we’ve seen so far. Even in a hotel up in the mountains, it wasn’t as expensive. Places without much competition, like hotels, usually have more reasonable prices. However, the atmosphere here is different. It’s an ideal spot to enjoy nature and the view.

There’s also a wine cellar or shop here. The prices of wines range from 32-49 Lari. There are sets with both red and white wines, which could make a nice gift. Most of the wines are local Georgian wines and quite varied. You can even do a wine tasting here if you wish.

Finally after taking some photos and enjoying the view, we decided to go back down. Since we had already tried a lot of Georgian cuisine, we wanted to try something different. So, we decided to head back to the old town and look for other options.

Chacha is quite popular in Georgia, but it’s a strong drink and may not be suitable for everyone. There are also gift sets, priced at 53 and 51 Lari. Saperaavi red dry wine comes in small house-shaped bottles. We also came across brandy and Georgia’s famous brandies are available here too. Prices range from 70 and 49 Lari, with more expensive or affordable options as well. There’s a green-colored chacha that looks almost like absinthe, priced at 35 Lari. There are also more affordable options: 28, 20 and 26 Lari. There are many choices, so everyone can find a bottle that fits their budget. There are also wines priced at 24 and 21 Lari, but my favorite was the wine filled from the huge barrels in the wine cellar. Wineri Hareba, one of the wine cellars we visited before, offers bulk wine for just 10 Lari per liter and it tastes really good. The price is quite affordable, especially compared to expensive places like this. You can find wines for around 10-15 dollars.

We got off the cable car and immediately headed to the nearby old town. The old town is really beautiful and colorful. You can walk through narrow streets and enjoy the cobblestone roads and old buildings. Some of the buildings have quite interesting architectures. We tried to walk to our destination using Google Maps, but we got a little lost again. Fortunately, we could see the Alphabet Tower from a distance.

There are many hotels in the old town and the prices are generally reasonable. If you plan to stay for a week or a few days, it’s a good area to stay. However, hotels near the Alphabet Tower are usually the most expensive. There are simpler and more affordable options available.

Finally we found the place we were looking for. It’s a venue in an old building called Inspire. It’s close to the Alphabet Tower and the coastline. We entered and the décor was really impressive. There were paintings everywhere, with comfortable chairs and tables. I really liked the interior design of the place. We decided to sit by the fireplace since the atmosphere was both warm and cozy.

The restaurant is really pet-friendly. Interestingly, they even have a special menu for dogs. If you cme with your dog, you can choose a special meal for them. Luckily I didn’t accidentally order cat food for dessert.

Our orders arrived. We got a salad with salmon. The presentation was amazing. The cutlery was served on a nice wooden board. The main dishes came next. We had orzotto and seafood pasta. Orzotto was a real discovery. It was a flavor I had never tried before, but it was quite filling and tasty. The salad next to it was made with fresh salmon and plenty of greens. It could have used a few croutons, but it was still delicious.

For dessert, we ordered a crepe. The crepes were served with orange sauce and ice cream. They had a nice sweet-tart taste and were really good. Even for those who don’t particularly like sweets, these crepes are ideal. I had a piece and I really liked it.

The meals were very filling and delicious. We paid a total of 120 Lari (around 40 euros) for all the dishes. If you want to try European cuisine in Batumi, this place is definitely recommended. Although Georgian cuisine is fantastic, eating the same things every day can get a bit monotonous. That’s why we wanted to have a different experience and we were happy with our choice.

After the meal, we took a walk along the beach. We headed towards the Alphabet tower and checked if there were still people on the beach after sunset. Maybe no one was swimming anymore, but it was still nice to spend time on the beach. The sun was shining and the mountains were visible in the distance.

Since it was a weekday, there were fewer people than the last time we were there. The surroundings were very green, with bamboo, palm trees and flowering bushes. We decided to walk towards the beach. We came to a new spot we hadn’t been to before. People were taking photos here. The sign here says "I Love Batumi" which has a very original design.

We went down to the beach. The sunbeds hadn’t been set up yet. Since this beach is pebbly, it’s a good idea to bring water shoes if you plan to swim here. There were a few people on the beach. Some were sunbathing and others were fishing. We approached the water to check its temperature. The water was really warm and looked nice enough to swim in. We found the water warm, but since we hadn’t planned to swim that day, we just looked at it.

This beach is close to the Alphabet tower and the Ferris wheel and it also has a mountain view. This area is one of Batumi’s best beaches, but the part with ORBI is also nice. It’s designed in a bit of a Dubai style. We stayed near ORBI because the apartment options there were more economical and spacious. From here, we could walk to ORBI in 20 minutes or take a scooter and get there in 5 minutes. And this beach is wider than the one near ORBI, so it can accommodate more people during the summer.