New Boulevard, Batumi: towers by the sea, all year
New Boulevard, Batumi: the towers of Khimshiashvili Street, the seafront and studios with a view. Life out of season and three addresses.
Contents 10 sections
What the district is like
The New Boulevard area is the strip of high-rises along Sherif Khimshiashvili Street and the extension of the seafront promenade. Fifteen years ago this was waste ground. Now dozens of apartment towers stand here, including the best-known complexes in the city.
It was built for investors and holidaymakers, but people live here all year too: remote workers, and families who moved to the sea.
On foot
The sea is closer here than anywhere else in town: the promenade starts across the road. Along it run a cycle path, a park with a lake and playgrounds. Supermarkets, cafes and pharmacies sit on the ground floors of the towers.
Everything else is harder. Schools, clinics and markets are few, and people go into town for them. Old Batumi is a long walk and a short bus or bike ride.
What we measured
Two addresses are on Khimshiashvili Street and the third on Tbel-Abuseridze Street, in the block behind the front line.
| Address | Score | Groceries | Station or stop | School | Park | Noise and air |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherif Khimshiashvili Street, 7, Batumi | 84.6 | 7 min | 2 minZhiuli Shartavas Kucha, Iustitsiis Sakhli | 8 min | 2 min | −2.9 |
| Sherif Khimshiashvili Street, 15, Batumi | 87.2 | 5 min | 3 minShe.Khimshiashvilis K. | 7 min | 2 min | −0.5 |
| Tbel Abuseridze Street, 5, Batumi | 84.8 | 7 min | 3 minTbel Abuserisdzis K. Respublikuri Savadmkopo | 6 min | 6 min | −4.5 |
Map numbers match the table rows. Use the plus button to zoom in.
The figure for park and seafront is high; for school and everyday services it is more modest. How they add up is shown on How the score works.
Who it suits
- Remote workers who want the sea in the window.
- People who spend part of the year in Batumi.
- Buyers who let the flat in season.
The trade-offs
Out of season many blocks are half empty, with few lit windows at night. The towers are mostly studios with thin walls. The wind comes off the sea and the air is humid. Building work never stops.
The housing
Concrete towers of twenty floors and more, mainly studios and small flats with a balcony. Many New Boulevard apartments are sold as serviced units with a management company. Family layouts are rare.
What to check
Ask how many people live in the building in winter, and whether the lifts and the heating in shared areas work then. Listen to the neighbours through the wall. Find out whether there is gas or only electricity. See what is going up in front of the windows.
Summer and winter
In summer the district wakes up and turns into a resort. In winter there is sea wind, rain and empty yards.
Without a car
Buses and the cycle path link the area with the centre. A car matters to families whose children go to school across town.
Neighbours
To the north-east the promenade leads into Old Batumi.