Forest A-frame & Max River -Porumbacu

First Impressions

When I first spotted Forest A-frame & Max River -Porumbacu, I honestly wasn’t expecting something this striking tucked away in the Romanian countryside. The A-frame cabin sits perfectly against the forest backdrop — you know, one of those places that looks almost too picturesque to be real. The four-star property has this rustic-modern vibe that immediately made me forget about the two-hour drive from Brașov.

Location & Setting

Porumbacu de Sus isn’t exactly a household name, but that’s the whole point. This little village in Sibiu County is surrounded by the Făgăraș Mountains, and honestly, the silence here is almost jarring if you’re used to city noise. The property sits right along the river — I mean literally right there — so you’ll fall asleep to actual water sounds, not some white noise machine. It’s about 45 minutes from Sibiu if you need civilization, but most guests (myself included) end up staying put.

The Cabin Experience

The A-frame design isn’t just for show — the high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows make the space feel way bigger than it actually is. My room had this incredible view of the forest canopy, and I spent way too much time just staring out at the trees. The Max River part of the name refers to the main lodge area, which has a proper restaurant and common spaces where you’ll probably end up chatting with other guests over Romanian wine.

What Actually Matters

The food situation is better than I expected — they source ingredients locally, and the trout (obviously from the river) was incredible. There’s decent WiFi if you absolutely need it, but honestly, this isn’t the place to catch up on emails. The staff speaks English well enough, and they’re genuinely helpful with hiking recommendations. Parking is right there, which matters since you’ll definitely want a car to explore the area properly.

Why Guests Love It

Look, this isn’t for everyone — if you need room service and a concierge, you’re in the wrong place. But if you want to disconnect without completely roughing it, Forest A-frame hits that sweet spot perfectly. The 9.8 rating makes sense when you consider what this property is trying to do — it’s not pretending to be fancy, just really, really good at being a peaceful mountain retreat. I left feeling actually rested, which doesn’t happen often these days.