ŽIVOTNI STIL / LIFESTYLE
City made for hedonists Here you can eat, drink and enjoy yourself hassle-free! We guarantee that you’ll find the charming capital of Georgia irresistible T he Georgian capital enables you to spend chilled days by picturesque city lakes, attend a moving service at the magnificent Holy Trin- ity Cathedral, enjoy some of the world’s best wines, sample irresistible tradition- al cuisine or visit cafés that are seeming- ly made for Instagram. Add year-round sunshine and you have an almost ideal destination. But where to find accommodation? Tbi- lisi’s hotel scene is just as impressive as its attractions and offers something to suit every taste – from artistic interiors to extravagant five-star luxury. Wheth- er massive Brutalist buildings that have received a new lease of life, glitzy hotels that have been newly unveiled or gran- diose villas that have been converted in- to exclusive accommodation options, the choice is really diverse. Stamba isn’t just ranked among the best restaurants in Tbilisi, it’s also one of the most unfor- gettable places to stay. Housed in a for- mer Soviet-era publishing house, this brutalist industrial space has been trans- formed into the city’s most aesthetical- ly appealing hotel. Exposed brick walls, antique parquet flooring and outstand- ing works of contemporary Georgian art give it a unique character. Huge windows resembling those of warehouses allow plenty of light to enter the suites, while the experience is raised to the next level by carefully selected details like cocktail sets from cut glass, vinyl record players and Grown Alchemist cosmetics. One of the latest additions to Tbilisi’s hotel scene, Unfound Door, opened in spring 2021 and has quickly become a favourite place to stay, particularly for those wanting to be located on the other side of the river, in the vicinity of Marja- nishvili metro station. After two years of painstaking restoration work, the build-
RESTAURANT SHAVI LOMI
the seductive flavours and textures with friends, you’ll understand why the word “gobi” represents the root of the Geor- gian word for friend - megobari. Tbilisi is a place where food isn’t just a meal – it’s a story, a tradition and a shared experience. The same goes for wine. Widely considered the best wine bar in Tbilisi, 8000 Vintages stands out for having the largest selection of wines in the city, as well as some of the best sommeliers on the local scene. If you want to try a wide range of Georgian wines, a tasting session is simply a must. Led professionally, but affordably, these wine tasting tours are free of expert jar- gon and emphasise the wines’ cultur- al value. Upon the conclusion of the ses- sion, you can select your favourite bottle and enjoy it alongside a gourmet “char- cuterie” board. Tastings are held week- days from 1pm to 7pm, and it is required to make a reservation via the website. If you don't drink alcohol, be sure to try homemade Georgian grape juice with added pomegranate – a real treat! The sommeliers of 8000 Vintages personal- ly select each wine through blind tasting, testing 100 new labels a month, rang- ing from the products of small wineries to major producers. This brand current- ly has four locations in Tbilisi, as well as a store in Berlin.
ing’s original interior was fully rejuvenat- ed to reveal ceilings adorned with golden baroque ornaments and angels watching from above. When it comes to the city’s historical buildings, this is one of its ar- chitectural gems. The hotel’s restaurant ranks among the best in the city when it comes to modern cuisine – with a menu combining traditional Georgian special- ities with an innovative contemporary approach. At Shavi Lomi Restaurant, an atmos- pheric Tbilisi venue with creaky floor- boards and cats that prowl the courtyard, you can receive the full Pkhali experi- ence: multiple pâté spreads served in a spectrum of colours, topped with all the traditional additions: cheese, corn cakes and pickled jonjoli flowers. The Pkha- li spreads arrive in a large wooden bowl known as a gobi, and when you share
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