The Vibe: Industrial chic.
The Area: A charming and historic quarter, Vera has long been associated with bohemians and intellectuals. It offers chic restaurants, independent boutiques and concept stores. The famous Rustaveli Avenue, home to some of the country’s most prestigious landmarks such as the Georgian National Museum, the Opera & Ballet Theatre and the Parliament of Georgia is around the corner. Tbilisi International Airport is 17 km away. At the other end of this one-mile-long thoroughfare is Freedom Square, which lies adjacent to the picturesque old town.
The DNA: Stamba is a design hotel set in a stunning industrial building that was once Georgia’s most important printing house. The brutalist building is made of expansive atriums, passages and courtyards with rediscovered printing paraphernalia imaginatively restored and repurposed. In the lobby, four floors were removed – leaving just the remaining structural pillars to create a soaring expanse, crowned with a glass-bottomed rooftop pool. A floor-to-ceiling wall of books and custom-designed botanical-inspired wallpaper on the landings by local artist Maya Sumbadze further soften the building’s concrete bones. Opening up from the soaring hotel lobby is the hotel’s restaurant- Café Stamba- offering international classics and Georgian specialties, accompanied by local wines. The Stamba Chocolaterie sells artisan chocolate and coffee, completes the hotel’s gourmet edit on the ground floor. There is also a sophisticated pink bar. Another draw is the show-stopping Aviator Casino with Art Deco-inspired interiors, where smoking cigars and shisha is allowed.
Suite-Me-Up: Light-filled, extremely spacious rooms feature massive windows that look out onto the lush, rambling courtyard gardens of both Stamba and Rooms Hotel (its sister hotel). There are high ceilings, a floor-to-ceiling wall of books, plush creamy carpet, leather headboards, an old school hi-fi stereo, a linen sofa and exposed brick walls. Room facilities include extra-large cloud-like beds, personal McIntosh brand hi-fi systems, La Marzocco coffee machines, mini bars, cocktail kits and flat screen TV-s. The bathrooms come with glazed red floor tiles, a 1930s-inspired gilded standalone bathtub, a brass shower, slippers and hair-dryers. Room service.
Seen: archdaily, Wallpaper*, WeHeart
Accolades: Condé Nast Traveler Hot List 2019, Wallpaper* Best Urban Hotels 2019
✅ free Wi-Fi • size matters: 150 rooms (52-79m2) (560-850 sq ft) • hotel opened: June 2018 ✅ free parking on-site • no pets allowed • 24-hours front desk • wheelchair accessible
