Kolyba “Smerekova Khata”, Slavske

Kolyba “Smerekova Khata” is the ethno-restaurant of the hotel complex of the same name at the entrance to Slavske, one of the best-known mountain resorts of the Boyko region. Here it is easy to see why Carpathian people say “kolyba”: a spacious timber hall under a high ceiling with an open fire burning in the middle — a large stone hearth under a metal smoke hood. In winter people warm up beside it after skiing on Trostian or Pohar; in summer they gather here in the evening when the mountains turn cool.

Atmosphere: fire, wood and Ukrainian style

The interior is in Ukrainian style: wooden walls, embroidered runners and rugs, rushnyky towels and wooden furniture. Guests call the kolyba “very atmospheric” and say its main feature is the fire in the centre of the room. There are hunting trophies on the walls — worth knowing if that is not your thing. In the warm season you can sit in a gazebo on the complex grounds, by a pond with a little wooden bridge. The road to the kolyba runs through scenic countryside, so getting there is already part of the experience.

What to try: borshch with salo spread, banosh and bograch

The cooking is home-style Ukrainian with Carpathian dishes, and portions are large. Visitors especially praise the “Ukrainian” borshch, served with a salo spread and toasted bread — one reviewer says it “fills you up for the whole day”. Be sure to try the porcini soup, banosh with cracklings and bryndza or banosh with mushroom machanka when mushrooms are in season, and Transcarpathian bograch. Home-style dishes include “Hutsul” deruny and deruny with sour cream, varenyky with potato, cabbage or salted cheese, and dumplings baked in a clay pot. As a snack with a drink — garlic salo spread, sauerkraut and home-made pickles. If you cannot finish, they will happily pack it for you.

Sample prices from the menu (from a menu photo on Google Maps): borshch UAH 170, porcini soup UAH 180, banosh with cracklings and bryndza UAH 170, bograch UAH 270, deruny UAH 170–270. These are sample prices from the menu — please check current prices at the restaurant.

Experiences: an evening by the fire after the mountains

The best time for the kolyba is the evening after an active day: coming down from Trostian, a walk to the waterfalls or a day on the slopes. Sitting close to the hearth with hot borshch and banosh is exactly the Carpathian rest people come here for. The kolyba is part of a hotel complex, so it is convenient for dinner if you are staying nearby, and for celebrating with a group. The restaurant does not advertise shows or masterclasses — the fire, the food and the atmosphere are the point.

Sample menu

Prices according to Google Maps, October 2026; please check current prices with the restaurant.

Practical information

• Address: 57b Ivana Franka St., Slavske, Stryi district, Lviv region (Smerekova Khata hotel complex).
• Getting there: the complex stands at the entrance to Slavske, on the right side of the road, about 1.5 km from the village centre and the railway station. Trains and buses run to Slavske from Lviv and Stryi; by car, take the road via Skole.
• Opening hours: not officially published — call before you go.
• Phone: +380 67 440 4457.
• Payment: the restaurant asks guests to carry cash, as card payment is not always possible.
• Parking: on the hotel complex grounds.
• Price level: roughly UAH 300–500 per person for a two-course lunch.
• Rating: 4.3 on Google Maps for the kolyba (74 reviews) and 4.4 for the complex (over 500 reviews), as of October 2026.

Photos: lh3.googleusercontent.com.