Vogue on Tbilisi: An Insider Guide
Vogue UK recently published an article "Vogue's Insider Guide to Tbilisi" on the must-see places in the capital of Georgia.
The article puts together a list of where to sleep, eat, shop, drink and party as the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Tbilisi opened up in November: "With its Soviet-era architecture, cutting-edge fashion credentials and outré club scene, the Georgian capital is an East-meets-West Pandora’s box of delights".
The author starts by reviewing Rooms and Stamba hotel as the best places to stay with excellent pre-dinner cocktails fused with a modern, stylish and classy building design. The article further explores Tbilisi's concept stores, listing Chaos as the first must-shop place: "Chaos attracts a youthful crowd skipping in for a new cult item and maybe having a go on the skate ramp (yes, really)".
To get a gist of traditional Georgian cuisine, the article suggests the readers pass by Keto and Kote, boasting panoramic views of the city with delicate Georgian cuisine. For a modern twist, Shavi Lomi (Black Lion) offers the best venue for a fresh lunch or cozy, traditional dinner atmosphere. As for drinks, Art-Café and Fabrika make it to the top of the list with live music overlooking the city for the former and a transformed cultural hub for great cocktails for the latter.
For techno lovers, Vogue encourages its readers to visit the former Soviet swimming pool transformed into a techno club - Bassiani: "Likened to the scenes in Berlin, Amsterdam and nearby Kiev, Bassiani hosts world-class DJs until the early hours Thursday, Friday and Saturday with extremely liberal values".
On the cultural side, the article notes Tbilisi is a place which has witnessed the influence of Ottoman, Persian, Byzantine and Soviet architectural structures, highlighting the Wedding Palace, Bank of Georgia, the auditorium of the Industrial Technical College and the Archaeology Museum as the top must-see venues.
Not forgetting the best places for a detox after a busy schedule of sightseeing and going out, Vogue names the renowned sulphur baths as the ideal place to "reduce stress, and improve digestive problems, circulation and skin conditions". Finally, for those with a taste for the oldest, unique wines, the article urges readers to visit Vino Underground to "smell, taste and swirl your way through the selection while you learn about the history and production methods from grape to glass".
To read the full article, follow the link: Vogue's Insider Guide to Tbilisi
By Anna Zhvania
Photo: Vogue UK