SEVAN WRITERS HOUSE – Lakeside Comfort in Sevan

Sevan Writers House is a 1930s Soviet modernist complex designed by architects Kochar and Mazmanian, both later arrested in the Great Purge. The hotel consists of two buildings: the Residence Hall (completed 1935) and the Lounge Building (added in 1963). The circular Lounge Building features a dining room with floor-to-ceiling windows that offer lake views and connects to the monastery via a short path.

The hotel sits on the Sevan peninsula between Lake Sevan and Sevanavank Monastery, with direct beach access and a private path to the monastery. All rooms have balconies with unimpeded lake views, and the sun terrace overlooks the water. The location is quiet, away from the main beach strip, and offers a 5-minute walk to a swimming area.

The family-friendly restaurant serves local cuisine, including barbecued trout from Lake Sevan, with a breakfast basket at 2,000 AMD (eggs, bread, cheese, tomato, cucumber, croissant, tea/coffee). Dinner options include a whole barbecued trout, salad, bread, and sparkling water for 4,000 AMD. A coffee house on site and a picnic area with BBQ facilities supplement the dining options.

The hotel offers a table tennis room, a ping-pong table, and live music or performances on certain evenings. Free parking, a sun terrace, and a garden with picnic areas are available for guests. Additional services include a paid airport shuttle, car hire, bicycle parking, lockers, laundry, and ironing, as well as a meeting/banquet room.

Rooms are basic and retain original Soviet-era furnishings, with private bathrooms, walk-in showers, and balconies facing the lake. Family rooms and ground-floor units are available, and the hotel permits pets. Note that the building has multiple flights of stairs, no elevators, and rooms are not heated - guests should bring warm clothing for nights outside July-August.

Architecture: 1930s Soviet modernist complex by Kochar and Mazmanian

Location: direct beach access and private path to Sevanavank Monastery

Dining: whole barbecued trout from Lake Sevan for 4,000 AMD

Views: all rooms with balconies overlooking Lake Sevan

Activities: ping-pong table, table tennis, live music

Services: paid airport shuttle, car hire, meeting/banquet room