Cafe-bar “Skil Borzhavy”: an interesting find in the small village of Volovets
In the middle of the Carpathian Mountains, on the picturesque Volovets Pass, there is a cozy cafe-bar called “Skil Borzhavy.” It is a place where the mountains seem to descend right to your table, and the air smells of fir trees and freedom. The cafe is located near the village of Volovets, in the heart of Transcarpathia — where the tourist trails to the famous Borzhava mountain range begin.
The land of clouds and trails
Borzhava is one of the most popular mountain ranges in the Ukrainian Carpathians. Its peaks — Velykyi Verkh, Hymba, Plai, Temnatyk, and Stiy — attract tourists in any season. From here, you can enjoy views that rival those of the Alps: wide ridges, cloudy valleys, and endless green slopes.
Near the cafe is Mount Plai, on top of which there is a high-altitude weather station, and further away is the Shipit Waterfall, one of the most famous in Ukraine. The village of Pylypets, a 15-minute drive away, is the starting point for popular hiking and skiing trails. In winter, skiers come here, and in summer, those seeking peace and relaxation in nature.
It is on this tourist route, between Volovets and the Borzhava Mountains, that the Skhily Borzhavy restaurant is located.
Review of the cafe
If you drive through the Volovets Pass, at the turn to the Borzhava Mountains, you will see a small cafe with a telling name — Skhily Borzhavy. It is from here that you can see the very landscape that tourists usually only see on postcards. The cafe is located almost at the top of the pass, so the air is fresh and surrounded by mountains.
Inside, it is simple, without ostentatious luxury. There are wooden tables, it is clean and tidy, and behind the large windows, there is a view of the ridge. It is especially pleasant to sit on the terrace, from where you can see the slopes of Borzhava and the road descending into the valley. The atmosphere is calm, even a little sleepy, but that is what adds to the feeling of relaxation.
The menu is not large, but it has everything travelers need: hot dishes, soups, potatoes, meat, tea, and coffee. But what I liked most was that they serve dishes that are popular in this region. Prices are average, even lower than in nearby tourist villages, such as Pylypets.
The service is polite, without excessive fuss. The staff is calm and smiling. Everything is brought on time and nicely presented.
Sometimes it can be noisy here, especially when large tourist groups or bikers arrive. But if you come at a quiet time, it is one of those places where you can just sit with a cup of coffee and look into the distance, where the mountains merge with the clouds.
On the downside, there are not many seats, and if the weather is changeable (which is often the case in the mountains), it can be chilly sitting outside. However, it is cozy inside.
In general, Skhily Borzhavy is not about the cuisine, but about the atmosphere. It’s about the feeling that you are really in the Carpathians, among the mountains, and not somewhere in the city with a fake “mountain” design. It’s worth stopping by for at least a few minutes to see what Borzhava looks like up close — and to feel that even ordinary coffee can taste special when you’re surrounded by real mountains.
