Tbilisi
Georgia
Georgia / Tbilisi
East meets west in the Caucasus
Tbilisi was once a gloomy Soviet outpost of noisy generators, crumbling buildings, and corrupt police, but thanks to the Rose Revolution and some savvy design-centric investments, the city has become a mecca of creative energy, design, and style. Clunky Soviet-era buildings were gutted and repurposed into concept stores and swanky hotels; tilting wooden houses into design stores and street cafes; and concrete factories converted into co-working spaces, creative hubs, and open-air art galleries.
And, for travelers seeking conscious design-led hotels, Tbilisi is the place to be. Our Offbeat Goat collection includes two swanky design-led hotels in the heart of the city.
The Offbeat Goat Collection
Stays in Tbilisi.
the highlights.
For lovers of architecture and design, venture out to some must-see sights too often overlooked: Bank of Georgia Headquarters, Writer’s House of Georgia (a blend of European and Georgian architecture), and the Tbilisi State Opera.
For street art fans, meander through the street art-smeared streets surrounding hipster hub Fabrika. Be sure to pop into Fabrika to check out its cool lobby and buzzing courtyard, a great place to fritter away the afternoon over drinks and tasty treats.
Check out the modern urban planning marvel: Rike Park with its grand piano and the twin metal exhibition halls designed by Italian architect Massimiliano Fuksas. Then walk back over the Bridge of Peace to the centre of town.
Catch a show at the legendary Rezo Gabriadze Marionette Theatre. Gabriadze, a Georgian playwright, director, painter, and sculptor, collaborated with other directors to make some of Georgia’s most iconic films, and his unique puppet theater productions have been praised at festivals across the world.
Grab a funicular ride up to Mtatsminda Park for a bird’s eye view of Tbilisi.
Check out Tbilisi’s central bazaar, the city’s largest and oldest farmers’ market, the primary source of products for many of the city’s restaurants and neighborhood markets.
Pop into the Writer’s House Residency, a tastefully designed and lovingly restored writer's house in the heart of Tbilisi, and grab lunch at the well-known Cafe Littera in the courtyard below.
Check out the ancient sulfur bath district (a tad touristy) and the Jumah mosque. Then, for the adventurous at heart, enjoy a bath at the most tourist-friendly of the bathhouses, Chreli Abano (known as Orbeliani) Baths.
Head over to the Dry Bridge flea market for salvaged collectibles and an endless supply Soviet kitsch.