For my first time in Georgia (for MB Fashion Week Tbilisi), I was quite unsure what to expect. Tbilisi proved to be a great place, which, alongside a sublime hotel stay, offered a thrilling trip into a culture which has been equally influenced by the East as it has by the West.
Hipster places, great interiors and architecture – not to mention fantastic music – all mean that Tbilisi’s title of "the new Berlin" is really well deserved. Food is budget-friendly, there are bakeries on every corner and Georgian wine is among the best I’ve tasted. Ahead is a foolproof guide to some of my favourite things to do in Tbilisi.
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Rooms Hotel
By fusing traditional Georgian style with contemporary Western elements, a chilled atmosphere and great – and I mean great – music, Rooms is equal to any Soho House or other hipster hotel. The lobby is absolutely amazing to relax in and offers both a fantastic social space to unwind with great cocktails, coffee and food as well as the perfect working environment. Be sure to check out the library as well, where books can be borrowed.
The interior is really second to none; great design and mid-century modern pieces of furniture are neatly balanced with traditional carpets, tapestries and contemporary art hanging on the walls.
The breakfast at Rooms is definitely worth the stay – omelette with your choice of add-ons or pancakes are made right in front of you, and there's a great selection of fruit (think lush figs and ruby-red pomegranate) as well as local bread, which, paired with organic chocolate spread, jams and granola, offers the best start to the day one could possibly imagine.
Rooms, 4 Merab Kostava St, Tbilisi 0108, Georgia
In Dadiani restaurant, wearing a Céline skirt and slippers, a Balenciaga jacket and Uzwei sweater.
Fabrika
Fabrika is a former sewing factory that has been turned into a hip, budget-friendly hostel boasting grey walls neatly decorated with monstera plants. The food is great, the music even better and the interior is very, very Instagram-friendly. During the evening, gigs and concerts take place in the charmingly decorated courtyard.
Fabrika, 8 Egnate Ninoshvili St, Tbilisi 0102, Georgia
Fabrika
I recommend coffee in Fabrika’s courtyard or one can get takeaway and explore the charming neighbourhood oozing with the fallen glamour of centuries past.
The Carpet Shops
Visit the Old Town if you are on the lookout for a carpet or simply wish to enjoy the post-Soviet architecture. If tired, KGB restaurant (with the slogan "We are watching you") and Leila nearby offer great food and Turkish coffee.
KGB, 8-10 Erekle II St, Tbilisi, Georgia
Leila
Leila is a vegetarian gem in the Old Town offering hands-down one of the best stews I have ever tasted, as well as the chicest interior I have had the pleasure of enjoying such a dish in. The traditional tiles and embroidered cushions contrast with the clay walls, adding a folkloric charm to the place. There is an equally beautiful seating area outside, too.
Leila, 8 Ioane Shavteli St, Tbilisi, Georgia
Matériel
Matériel collaborates with local designers with different concepts, enabling them to produce bigger collections. The concept store is located near Old Town so it is easy to take a stroll when out and about.
Matériel, Kote Afkhazi Street 22, Tbilisi 0105, Georgia
Peek into the bathrooms around and about in cafés as they really are something! Pink and floral tiles, contrasting wall panels and fresh flowers are very camera-friendly and are a fantastic source of inspiration to take home.
O Moda Moda
O Moda Moda is part vintage store, part café, tucked away in a hidden courtyard. As with everything in Tbilisi, it offers a great opportunity to stumble upon vintage treasures, great food and amazing interiors. Here one can find local designers and contemporary brands at reasonable prices.
O Moda Moda, 4-66 Vasil Barnov St, Tbilisi, Georgia
O Moda Moda
Wearing a Céline blazer and shoes, Vetements jeans, Matériel T-shirt and Chanel bag.
Pierrot Le Fou
Pierrot Le Fou is a concept store offering a great selection, from Margiela to Rick Owens, situated in a cool artsy space.
Pierrot Le Fou, Irakli Abashidze Street, Tbilisi, Georgia
Go on a tour of Tbilisi's brutalist architecture, which, alongside recent contemporary additions, makes the city a very eclectic and exciting place for anybody who appreciates the mixture of shiny new and charming decay.
Chaos
Chaos and N’Duo are also great concept stores that each offer a great selection of brands in their own right. Chaos is perhaps edgier, stocking the likes of J.W.Anderson.
Chaos, Chovelidze Street, 0108 Tbilisi, Georgia
Dry Bridge Market
The flea market under the Dry Bridge opens from midday til 6pm and is a great place to stumble upon some great chinaware, old records, Soviet Union memorabilia and all other kinds of shiny trinkets.
Café Manu
Manu has the best burger in the city, similar to the one at Gasoline Grill in Copenhagen or Shizo in Berlin. The rest of the food is equally delicious – all to be enjoyed on charming yellow-tiled tables.
Café Manu, Tamar Chovelidze St, Tbilisi, Georgia
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