On location – first-hand impressions of Stamba Hotel

A Boutique Hotel Hub contributor visited this hotel in March 2026.

I visited Stamba Hotel after a tip from a Telavi winemaker, and so was prepared for its close connections to the Georgian wine industry.

I was, though, surprised to be confronted by such a very hip space – Stamba is so much more than a hotel.

I entered past neon signs set next to thriving potted plants, large leaves of a bird of paradise and sweeping palms leading the way.

Read more of our first-hand impressions…

To the side, there were shelves of succulents, Dracaena, and other plants I would struggle to keep alive in my own home, slightly obscured a dining area that filled the wide foyer with luminescent blue tile. Someone at the Stamba knows their flora.

I’m lucky that the Warehouse Wine Bar & Shop was part of the Telavi winemaker’s tip, or I’m not sure I’d have known to explore more of Stamba’s amazing common areas.

I passed a lovely bakery where I’d happily have spent half an hour looking at pastries, an inviting, wood-covered courtyard filled with even more plants, a co-working space, and a moody bar surrounded by glass windows.

On one side sat what could have been acres of sprouts sitting happily under grow lights, on the other a library’s worth of bottles.

I selected a kisi from the metal tub of that day’s vintages and sat happily by the window among the plants, glass, and wine.

TL;DR

Creative hub: – the space feels like a hybrid of hotel, gallery, and social hangout.
Design impact: – a former publishing house layered with plants, glass, and industrial textures.
Food scene: – dining areas seem lively. Food with a clear focus on local ingredients.
Rooms feel: – spaces lean into raw, stylish design with books, textures, and thoughtful details.
Central base: – everything important in Tbilisi feels within easy reach.
Guest buzz: – reviews mention the atmosphere, design, and strong overall hotel experience.
Check prices here

First opening in May 2018, Stamba is now a Tbilisi boutique hotel icon, maybe the best hotel the city has, we think.

Tbilisi’s status as a Criminally Underrated City may well be doing some of the work for it, but even so Stamba is a top-notch hotel experience by any standards.

It has the central location, the iconic building, the award-winning food, one of the world’s most extensive hotel gardens, and a one-of-a-kind urban gardening programme.

The atmosphere mixes cutting-edge urbanity with historical charm in a 1950s publishing house.

It’s pure culture without the ceremony, Tbilisi’s beating artistic heart on its sleeve.

The only downside, really, is the price, which doesn’t really match the city’s super affordable vibe, but is fairly reasonable if you take it out of context.

If you’ve got the money, we’re not sure we’d give you any other option in Tbilisi.

What are the rooms like?

42 rooms: – a relatively intimate setup that still feels spacious once inside.
Industrial style: – exposed brick, wood, and leather give the spaces a raw but considered feel.
Standout touches: – brass bathtubs, bookshelves, and Georgian artwork draw attention around the room.
Room variety: – even entry-level options feel generous, with only minor trade-offs like no terrace.
Comfort details: – linens, minibars, and sound systems suggest a well-thought-out stay.
See all the rooms in detail here

The rooms at Stamba are the heart of the raw, urban side of things.

They’ve got exposed brick, untreated wood, they’ve got plush leather, brass bathtubs, and walls of books.

It’s all very stylish and creative, post-industrial design dressed up in a casual elegance that feels local, right down to the Georgian artwork scattered on the walls.

This is true for basically every single room; there’s not much of a lower-tier happening.

The most basic, maybe, are the Aviator rooms, 52 square metre spaces that are probably the least fancy by virtue of not having a terrace, bathtub, or floor-to-ceiling windows.

Seriously, that’s like the only downside.

Of course, this means that the other options have terraces, or bathtubs, or floor-to-ceiling windows. If any of this appeals, book it.

All rooms feature plush amenities like coffee machines, delightful linens, mini bars, books, and small sound systems.

What are prices like?

Check prices here

And what’s the food like? Any facilities we should know about?

Dining scene: – spaces feel busy and social, with locals and guests mixing throughout the day.
Local focus: – menus seem rooted in Georgian ingredients with a more refined edge.
Wine culture: – the Warehouse has a deep, curated selection of local organic wines.
Urban farm: – the vertical growing setup adds a distinctive, almost experimental touch.
Extra spaces: – co-working, gallery areas, and the courtyard make it easy to linger.

The dining options here are equally iconic. Run by the Georgian Adjara Group, there’s a strong focus on locally-grown and eco-conscious ingredients.

A super-chic sort of food court occupies part of the ground floor, where guests and locals alike come for their posh dates, business meetings, and more.

Cafe Stamba is focused on Georgian, serving up upscale takes on traditional classics.

The Stamba Bakery next door is stocked with breads, pastries, and more.

Keep going through the cafe seating, and you’ll hit the Warehouse, a library-esque space where books are replaced with bottles of organic Georgian wine.

It sits next to part of SpaceFarm, a vertical farming initiative that is the biggest urban farm in the city.

Alongside all this, you’ll find a co-working space with free access for guests, a plant-covered amphitheatre, conference rooms, a photography gallery, and, why not, one of our guilty pleasures in any hotel; a gift shop.

How is the neighbourhood? Anything interesting nearby?

Central setting: – the location feels well-placed for exploring much of Tbilisi on foot.
Easy access: – nearby metro links make longer distances seem straightforward.
Walkable highlights: – theatres, avenues, and landmarks appear within a short stroll.
Food & drink: – bars, cafes, and wine spots seem to cluster in every direction.
Further exploring: – areas across the river feel reachable with a bit more time or transport.

Stamba Hotel sits on Merab Kostava Street, the street that quite quickly turns into the iconic Rustaveli Ave.

It means basically everything of note will be within walking distance and, if not, accessible from the nearby metro station.

Many of the city’s best bars and restaurants will be in the actual building, but most of the others will be less than a 15-minute walk away.

The furthest gems will be over the Kura River in Plekhanovi, or on the river, if we’re talking about the open market of the bridgeside 9 March Park.

These will be more like half an hour’s walk, but transport is easy, affordable, and wandering around the city is delightful.

You can walk by the Opera House and its iconic stone stripes, the colonnade that welcomes you to Rustaveli Theatre, or stop in for some top-notch opera, ballet, and more.

Bars, cafes, breweries, and wine cellars sit around almost every corner, the small city holding more than enough culture to fill a week, much less a weekend.

And what about the reviews? What did other guests think?

Some things guests liked:

“We booked the Aviator room & it was incredible. Great value for money. It was nice & spacious, felt very clean. Even the laundry service was fair price & normally hotels rip you off for this. Free co working access for guests which was SO appreciated, best place we have worked in for focus. Staff are lovely, great restaurant, bar & cafe within the hotel….”

“This may be one of the best hotels we have ever stayed in, and we travel often. Clean, spacious rooms. Great value for money. Co Working space perfect for us and great to focus. Staff were incredible, helpful yet friendly. Location was perfect too, I liked that there were plenty of restaurants around. This hotel was the absolute highlight of our trip to Georgia….”