Octopus

Batumi has preserved many examples of mosaic art, but the most notable among them is the "Fantasia" cafe, better known as the "Octopus".

Many people don't know that this building, formerly known as the Fantasy Cafe or, as it was often called, the Octopus, is located On Batumi Boulevard, near Near May 6th Park and By the singing fountains.

It had been completely abandoned and damaged since 2000. Later, a hotel was built behind it by the international chain Hilton, which reportedly intended to restore the landmark.

However, the building was eventually restored, not by Hilton, but by Bidzina Ivanishvili's Cartu Foundation. Today, Fantasia looks the same as it did in 1975, and any passerby can stop and visit it.

The cafe itself is already functioning with a modest menu, but that's not the main thing. The most important thing is that this unique example of modernist architecture from the 60s-80s has been restored and today brings joy and memories to the city's guests.

This unique functional sculpture was created in 1981 based on a sketch by artist Zurab Kapanadze. The open-air cafe-bar hosted Batumi residents and visitors for almost four decades, eventually becoming one of the city's symbols.