Where to Stay
While it's possible to stay in the villages around the Shuaguli venue, we recommend basing yourself in Tbilisi — it's a short drive away and has far more to see, eat, and explore. Your decision regarding where to stay will ultimately depend on the duration of your trip and sightseeing plans. Below are some options to explore for out-of-towners, including a few of our favorites. Bar's brother Noam and his beautiful wife Iako have a tourist agency in Tbilisi and they would love to help you pick and book the best location for your stay!
Neighborhoods of Tbilisi
Tbilisi is wonderfully walkable, and each neighborhood has its own character. Here are three of our favorites to help you pick the part of the city that suits you best.
Old Town
The Silk Road heart of the city
Historically known as Kala, this is where Tbilisi began — a fascinating tapestry of architectural styles winding through cobbled lanes, past the brick domes of the Abanotubani sulfur baths, with the Narikala fortress watching from the hill above. It's the most central and atmospheric part of the city, with markets, churches, cafes, and landmarks all on your doorstep.
Good for: First-time visitors · sightseeing on foot · old-world atmosphere
Mtatsminda / Rustaveli
Grand boulevard & hillside lanes
Rustaveli is the main boulevard of Tbilisi and is lined with shops, cafes and hotels. It starts from Freedom Square in the centre of Tbilisi and stretches for several kilometres. There are several of Tbilisi's most luxurious hotels on the street as well as museums and theatres.
The tangled streets stretching up the hill behind Rustaveli make up the cute little suburb of Mtatsminda, named after the hill it's on. There are more and more hostels and guesthouses popping up in this area and there are plenty of great options. It's a good area for being close to cafes and restaurants but not right in the middle of the old town.
Good for: Dining & sightseeing · culture
Vera
Up-market, trendy & cafe-filled
An up-market, trendy quarter on the river's west bank — cafe after cafe, wine bar after wine bar, dotted with boutiques, artisanal bakeries, and the buzzing Wine Factory N1 dining precinct. Quieter and more local-feeling than the Old Town, it's home to design-led stays like Rooms and Stamba, with lower Vera the most convenient for getting around.
Good for: Cafe & wine-bar culture · a stylish local vibe · boutique hotels
Hotels We Love
Once you've picked an area, here are a few specific places we recommend across different neighborhoods and budgets.
$$IOTA Hotel Tbilisi
Old TbilisiA five-star design hotel in the very centre of Old Tbilisi, with 90 thoughtfully crafted rooms, the IOTA Garden and Ghumeli restaurant on site, and a calm, contemporary character throughout.
$$$Paragraph Freedom Square
Freedom SquareGeorgia's first Luxury Collection hotel, steps from the Old Town at Freedom Square. 220 rooms and suites with panoramic city views, five restaurants curated by a Michelin-starred chef, and a three-floor luxury spa.
$$$Tbilisi Marriott Hotel
Rustaveli AvenueA historic landmark on prestigious Rustaveli Avenue, dating to 1915. Iconic circular architecture and a restored Great Room set the tone for 127 rooms that blend classic grandeur with Georgian character.
$King David Residences
SaburtaloGeorgia's first condominium-type complex, in the Saburtalo district. Premium apartments paired with hotel-style amenities — pool, spa and fitness centres, restaurants, co-working spaces, and secure parking. As these are individually owned units, the layout and rating vary from one apartment to the next.
$$ibis Styles Tbilisi Center
City CenterA bright, modern hotel in the heart of the city on Galaktion Tabidze Street, a few minutes' walk from Freedom Square and the metro. 119 comfortable rooms with a homey feel, plus the Rum Roof kitchen and bar on the fifth floor.
$Epigraph Hotel
MtatsmindaA boutique kosher hotel in the historic Mtatsminda district, opened in 2022 inside a fully restored 19th-century building. Individually designed rooms pair old-Tbilisi architecture with modern comfort, right in the city's cultural centre.