Food prices in Abkhazia - 2021: cafes and shops

If you plan to visit Abkhazia and have a good rest, it is important to decide in advance on the amount of money that you have to take with you for food. At the same time, it is important to take into account in which city you plan to spend your vacation, how many people go on a trip, by how much. According to reviews, food prices in Abkhazia are lower than in Sochi and on the Crimean peninsula.

If earlier rest in Abkhazia was considered a budget option, then over the past couple of years, prices have increased markedly. This is due to the impossibility or reluctance of Russian tourists to go abroad in such difficult times. It is upsetting that with the rise in prices for rest, living conditions in Abkhazia remained at the same level, in line with the definition of the "Sovdepia". In any case, before the trip, it is important to plan a budget, determine the amount for food or dinners in a cafe.

What money to take with you on vacation?

The national currency of the country is the Abkhazian apsar, but the Russian ruble has been circulating for several years. This is explained by the high rate, i.e. 1 apsar = 10 rubles. Apsaras are gradually withdrawing from the turnover, and they are bought mainly by numismatists to replenish their own collections. If you have a trip to Abkhazia, it is recommended to stock up on Russian rubles. It is advisable to take small money with you, since sellers of local shops often do not have change.

You can pay in Abkhazia in cash or choose to pay by bank transfer. In the latter case, it is important to remember that cards are not accepted everywhere. For example, in the markets in Abkhazia, they will be more pleased with cash and good tips, and you can pay by bank transfer only in some shops, restaurants, cafes. If in large tourist cities (Gagra, Sukhumi, Novy Afon, Pitsunda) you will not surprise anyone with payment by card, then in small villages of the Sovdepovskoe at the checkout they want to see "live" Russian rubles. By the way, it is also problematic with ATMs, they are provided only in big cities.

When choosing a non-cash payment, prepare plastic cards Visa or MasterCard, while American Express delivers a lot of hassle at the checkout. Ideally - it works, in reality - it regularly gives a system failure.

Prices for groceries in shops of Abkhazia

If the prices for food in canteens and restaurants in Abkhazia "bite", tourists choose the budget option - they shop in local markets or go to local shops. In the latter case, the prices are not much higher, but you feel more comfortable (they can be deceived in the market).

Here is a standard check of a person who is resting at a resort in Abkhazia:

There are no chain supermarkets here. Local shops selling everything from laundry soap to fine wine have become an alternative. Convenient, but you will hardly be able to save money. Moreover, you will have to walk 2-3 km to the neighboring store. Therefore, upon arrival in the city, you must immediately decide where and what to buy and be sure to compare prices with market prices.

If there are no problems with housing in Abkhazia, then it will not be easy to find a supermarket in this obsolete country. Therefore, it is better to build the “Shopping” route in advance, you will have to walk.

The cost of the flight to Adler:

Helpful information

• How to get to Abkhazia - cheap ways
• How to get to Lake Ritsa

Prices in the markets of Abkhazia

Food in Abkhazia is inexpensive on the market, but you have to get up early to buy fresh and inexpensive food. The cost of vegetables and fruits depends on the season, but the price of meat and fish is stable all year round. The most popular markets - in Sukhumi and Gagra, are called central. In order to save some money on groceries, it is better to make purchases early in the morning or a couple of hours before the market closes. During this period, sellers are more accommodating, make good discounts, give something for nothing.

The fruits of Abkhazia are an inexhaustible source of natural vitamins. No vacation is complete without their presence on the menu. It is sometimes unprofitable to buy on the market, since resellers and intermediaries are engaged in the sale. Wholesale prices can be purchased from farmer traders. They bring fruits and vegetables by car, they don't pay much attention to the shop window, and they don't stay on the market for a long time. Even locals sell well, let alone tourists. Fruits are especially cheap in Abkhazia in August and September, so you can have enough vitamins upon arrival.

As for the rest of the food, the prices on the market do not differ much from those in the store. Here is a list of the most in-demand products and their estimated cost for the 2021 season:

In August-September, the fig season begins in Abkhazia. Therefore, you can buy such an exotic fruit not only on the market, but also from farmers at 80-100 rubles per 1 kg. Prices for vegetables, herbs and fruits are also falling. Watermelons for 15 rubles and melons for 30 rubles per 1 kg appear on the free sale. So this is the first thing to buy in Abkhazia upon arrival.

The most popular are the central markets in Gagra and Sukhumi. Vacationers are more often bought there, so prices are somewhat overpriced in the tourist season. Local residents try to bypass such places, choose budget markets for shopping. So, inquiring about the prices for food in Abkhazia, it is important to clarify the month of stay in this exotic country, to take into account your wishes.

Fruits in Abkhazia are cheap in September, and shortly before the market closes, sellers sell them for next to nothing. In this way, you can save money, replenish the supply of vital vitamins.

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Prices in cafes and restaurants

In order not to go to the market in Sukhumi and not to look for inexpensive shops in Pitsunda, in any tourist city of Abkhazia there are enough cafes and restaurants that will delight you not only with hospitality and delicious dishes, but also with optimal prices. For example, a complex lunch in a cafe with Gagra costs 250-300 rubles, you can gorge yourself to the full. If you visit a restaurant in Gagra, the average bill for two is 1,300-1,500 rubles. The indicated amount includes 2 servings of a meat dish, a bottle of good local wine.

The best restaurants in Abkhazia are concentrated in major tourist cities. Whereas in small villages on the seashore, in order not to cook on your own, you can eat in local cafes or canteens. In the latter case, the price of a set lunch drops to 250 rubles, but the food is homemade and tasty, the portions are large.

Many tourists, upon arrival, go to the coolest restaurant to celebrate their arrival. The menu and prices at the Gagripsh restaurant are surprising. In the first case, the variety of oriental dishes is striking, in the second, their cost is not always adequate (depending on the season). Prices "bite". But for many, visiting Gagripsh has already become a good tradition. In the reviews, many tourists note the good service and advise you to have dinner here. The average bill is 1900 rubles per person.

This is what includes a lunch for two at the price of 1,200 rubles: an Abkhazian hodgepodge, a large portion of shashlik, peanut sauce, satsivi, khashlama, beans, homemade wine (bottle). But every day on vacation you can’t make fun of it.

The prices in the cafes of Abkhazia are acceptable for tourists who have prepared in advance for the rest and are aware. They do not differ much from a meal in a restaurant in Gagra - no more than 5% on the dishes themselves, plus 10% - tips to the service staff. If you do not leave it "for tea", the owners may even be offended, so they made the provision of such a service paid.

Prices in a cafe in Abkhazia depend on the tourist city, season, and a specific institution. Here are the average prices in the restaurant business in the country:

The prices in the restaurants of Sukhumi, Novy Afon and Pitsunda are approximately the same. A check for 1,200 rubles must contain alcohol at the rate of 1 bottle. By the way, the waiter will definitely give good advice on what to try in Abkhazia from food. There are enough national dishes in the country.

Useful materials for an independent trip:

• Complete review of vacation prices
• Where better to go to rest in Abkhazia

Tourist tips for rest in Abkhazia

If you go on vacation in the summer, the prices for fruits in Abkhazia will pleasantly please, especially the residents of Siberia, the Far East, etc. So he recommends not to get lost, but to gorge on exotic dishes from the heart. The list of recommendations does not end there:

• In search of an answer, how much wine costs in Abkhazia, buy the products of home winemakers. Wine on tap with a volume of 1 liter will cost 120-200 rubles.
• If you are wondering what fruits are cheap in Abkhazia in September, get the answer: cherry plum, grapes, dogwood, pear, peaches, apples, on the way - persimmons, walnuts and hazelnuts.
• When deciding where to eat in Gagra hearty and inexpensive, give preference to homemade food. If you have no desire to cook on vacation, you can visit a local cafe or cafe. In restaurants, prices go wild.
• If on vacation you visit the same cafe, restaurant, regular customers are provided with discounts, compliments from the chef. Take advantage of this bonus.
• Local canteens are open from morning until 17.00-18.00. So, if you wish, you can still dine here.
• In the restaurant, the check already includes 10% for the disturbance of the waiter. Even if the service was not to your liking, you will have to pay for it. The so-called "imposed service".

When choosing a tourist city for an upcoming trip, it will not hurt to find out what fruits are the cheapest in Abkhazia now, how much housing and transport will cost, and determine the costs of entertainment. Only such a competent approach and organization of the trip will help to save money and have an unforgettable time at sea.