Hospitable Tbilisi: what’s new to see for a traveler in the Georgian capital

However, we quickly forget fatigue, distracted by the magnificent views. Just as natural landscapes replace each other (there are not many capitals in the world where we see mountains, rocky cliffs and a real waterfall right in the middle of the city!), so does each district of Tbilisi has its own “face” – completely unique. Get lost in the narrow streets of Sololaki, looking at the picturesque ancient facades, admire the open spaces of Vake, immerse yourself in the ambiance of Chugureti, be determined and climb to the observation deck of Mtatsminda – d Pleasant surprises await you everywhere.

Of course, we offer such a list only as an example: there are many options for spending time usefully and pleasantly in the capital of Georgia, and something new constantly appears, you just need to keep up eye open.

Perhaps while visiting Tbilisi and walking along David Agmashenebeli Avenue, you noticed an elegant three-story post office. Excellent news: in the summer of 2023, this century-old building will begin a new life. Today, the Radisson RED Tbilisi hotel opened here. The majestic facade has been restored: it is decorated with light wrought iron balconies and black critical windows. Finding a dove with its eyes glued to the glass roof at the entrance is the city’s new sign of luck.

The hotel (it has 111 rooms of different categories) is well located – staying here, you will find yourself close to the main points of attraction. However, the Radisson RED Tbilisi itself is like a teaser of the Georgian capital: there is an atmospheric courtyard with traditional carved shushabandi balconies, a real gallery of works of Tbilisi artists and many other unique local details. For example, above the beds in the rooms, guests will find signs with inscriptions. They were made from materials from the postal archives: the designers found there the correspondence of famous Georgian public figures and integrated facsimiles of their original letters inside.

Of course, one of the main goals of any trip to Georgia is to enjoy the local hospitality and legendary cuisine. You can get started as soon as you check in: the hotel has a Posta bar and restaurant, which not only guests, but also locals love. They serve Georgian, Asian and international cuisine, and Tina Vashakidze, a teacher at the Georgian Culinary Academy, reigns in the kitchen.

Georgians are extremely respectful of table traditions and at the same time extremely open to new culinary trends and experiences. It is unthinkable to come to Tbilisi and be hungry: even if you go to a small cafe without a sign, you will be fed like the most welcome guest. It is completely acceptable to indulge in khinkali, khachapuri and pkhali, making your own assessments (or just enjoying pure pleasure without any thought).

Or you can try to compare your impressions and visit “Chveni”, a restaurant where the famous TV presenter chef Guram Bagdoshvili cooks. For over 30 years, he has specialized in the home cooking of his native country – and has been so successful that he was nominated for the Gault&Millau award “Best Chef 2019, Georgia”.

The Oro Tbilisi restaurant (translated from Mingrelian Oro – shadow) is a project by the famous designer Maya Davitidze. History and modernity skillfully mix here: the stylish interior seems to highlight the nuances of the tastes of traditional dishes. You should definitely try chicken shkmeruli, beef and mushrooms on ketsi.

Well, if you want something completely different, take a look at the Strada Tbilisi restaurant chain: it was started by an international team of chefs. The menu focuses on American and Asian dishes (of course, with a slight Georgian flavor, otherwise).

Winemaking is an important part of Georgia’s history, culture and industry. If you want to know more, you can visit the ancient wine cellar “Guramishvilis Marani” in Saguramo, just half an hour’s drive from Tbilisi.

The winery is a division of the traditional Kakheti winemaking enterprise; she previously belonged to the family of the famous Georgian public figure Ilya Chavchavadze. Here, visitors will benefit from a guided tour and an informative lecture on raw material sourcing and storage technologies and botanical work aimed at restoring rare endemic varieties of wine grapes to the region.

Georgians know and love their country and skillfully introduce it to their guests. A local guide will take your trip to the next level, and if you are planning a group trip, it is advisable to hire a concierge service, who will take care of the arrangements and be in touch 24/7. For example, Concierge Tbilisi – the co-founder of this company was the famous media tour organizer Nino Skhirtladze, and the partner and main Russian-speaking guide was Eka Gegeshidze, orientalist, participant in the intellectual television club “What? Or? When?”. No question about Tbilisi remains unanswered and you can count on the best and latest insider tips.