The Best Hotels to Stay at in Tbilisi, Georgia

A design hotel with an eye for the Millennial aesthetic, Stamba is the social hub in the hip neighbourhood of Vera. With the industrial, red-brick backdrop of an old printworks as well as beautiful gardens and passageways, this boutique hotel is a real looker. Ceiling-height bookshelves, brass bathtubs, concrete pillars and retro graphic floor tiles converge in a tasteful but eclectic kaleidoscope of rooms. Don’t miss the striking Cafe and Pink Bar, where you’re sure to meet cool, creative locals.

Set in a regal mansion building along central Rustaveli Avenue, the Marriott is a class act – reliably stylish and smart, with lovely stone and plum-toned rooms that feel more like leisure than business. The peaceful courtyard means some rooms have lovely balconies for a morning coffee. When you want to head out sightseeing, the Old Town is less than a 10-minute walk away, while the Narikala Fortress can be reached via a short taxi or cable car ride.

Set in the city’s first and tallest skyscraper, shaped like a cascade of water, this is the hyper-modern way to see Tbilisi. The sushi restaurant, slick cocktail bar and the higher-floor rooms all have dizzying views. Generally, rooms are a little business-hotel beige but filled with light and contemporary fittings. Also on well-heeled Rustaveli Avenue, in the heart of the upmarket shopping district, you’re well placed for the city’s glamorous side.

Close to the Parliament and the Freedom Square, this bold design hotel is as earthy as they come, with mossy living walls and ceilings filling almost every viewpoint with green. Inside, you’ll find smart, frill-free rooms in concrete grey and burnt orange, but it’s the communal areas that truly thrill: a cushioned, expansive rooftop bar; a plant-filled, exposed-brick Japanese-fusion restaurant; and a Georgian restaurant, Ghumeli, centred around a huge wood-fired oven.

On the banks of the Mtkvari River, the Ambassadori is the luxury choice for international types who want guaranteed style, service and security. Entry-level rooms have lashings of marble and gold, while upper suites form bases for visiting celebs and diplomats. The Mozaiko restaurant is a Silk Road fever dream of Eurasian cuisines and busy prints, and the lovely Persian and Turkish-influenced spa feels appropriately lavish.

Positioned by the edge of the luminous city reservoir known as the Tbilisi Sea, this is the sort of hotel that names its various areas along the lines of Be CHIC and Be COSY – no mere “restaurant” or “bar” around here. But don’t be put off – rooms strike a nice balance between modern and luxurious (some with ornate wood panelling and gilded headboards), and there’s a generously sized gym and spa (Be PURE) with an indoor pool as well as a whirlpool tub and sauna.

Within walking distance of the main museums and galleries – as well as some of the best shopping – in the city, Shota is a low-key, affordable but incredibly stylish choice. Rooms are all furnished in raw woods, distressed leather, crisp white bedding and circular mirrors, and many come with views of the elegant old architecture in the neighbourhood. A lightbulb-strung terrace is a magical spot for a cocktail after a day of sightseeing.

With just three lovingly designed apartments – sleeping from three to six guests – the Residence is an exclusive-feeling base. With moody forest green feature walls, glass-edged mezzanine bedrooms and sculptural light fixtures with huge bubble bulbs, each room is an influencer’s dream. Splurge on the Exclusive Suite for the feeling of renting an architect’s home: luscious plants, high ceilings and rustic brick walls make it feel dramatic yet comfy.

At this aparthotel, with its tasteful mix of palatial furnishings and functional, contemporary kitchens, you’ll feel like a stylish local. Close to the river and central Rustaveli Avenue, the hotel’s four apartments each sleep two, with chandeliers and upmarket dove-grey sofas adding a layer of glamour to your city break. One key sight, the rococo Rustaveli National Theatre, is only a short walk away.

Smart and modern but slightly less exclusive than some of the competition, Ameri Plaza has 55 gold-tinged rooms slightly north of the city centre. A 24-hour front desk and spacious restaurant prove handy for anyone arriving or leaving at awkward times, while a friendly, youthful team and concierge give great tips for heading out into town. Ask for a high-floor room with a balcony for great views of the city.

The black-lacquered entrance of Rooms, with its golden signage, hints at the stylish quarters behind the doors. The hip Kitchen restaurant has white subway tiling and dangling copper pans; the Garden Bar is a tranquil, foliage-shaded spot for a coffee; and the high-ceilinged Lolita restaurant is the hangout of the moment, with long communal tables for making friends. Rooms dazzle with bold-print flocked wallpaper, iron bedsteads and crown-style light fixtures. At the upper end, the suites look like something straight out of an interior-design magazine, with blue velvet sofas and freestanding tubs.