Stamba is not just a hotel. It's a statement. In the 1930s, this building printed the newspaper "Kommunist" -- the main mouthpiece of Soviet Georgia. A massive structure of concrete and glass, built in constructivist style, produced Georgian-language propaganda for decades.
In 2017, the building was converted into a five-star hotel while preserving everything possible: concrete columns, industrial windows, soaring ceilings. A living tree was added to the lobby (growing straight through the atrium), contemporary art was hung on the walls, and a rooftop pool with Caucasus Mountain views was installed.
Stamba became a magnet not just for tourists but for the local creative elite: designers, musicians, and entrepreneurs come here to work, dine, and meet. I bring guests here not because it's "trendy," but because it's the best transformation story in Tbilisi. A Soviet propaganda machine turned into a space of freedom and beauty.
What is Stamba: from printing house to Georgia's best hotel
The word "Stamba" means "printing house" in Georgian. The building was designed in the 1930s as a publishing complex -- one of the largest in the Caucasus. Hundreds of people worked here: typesetters, printers, editors. Press workshops occupied all 5 floors.
After the USSR collapsed, the printing house closed. The building stood abandoned for 20 years -- concrete cracking, windows smashed, illegal parties held inside. In 2014, Adjara Group (Georgia's largest hospitality company, also owners of Rooms Hotel) bought the building and began reconstruction.
The work took 3 years. The architects made a radical decision: don't hide the past -- highlight it. Concrete walls were left bare. Industrial columns became part of the interior. Real vintage printing presses were installed in the lobby as art objects.
The hotel opened in 2017 and immediately won international awards: Wallpaper* Design Award, Conde Nast Traveler Hot List, Dezeen Award for restoration. Today Stamba is one of the few hotels in the world where people come not to sleep, but to experience the atmosphere.
Architecture & design: concrete, art, and a living tree
The first thing you see when entering Stamba is a tree. A real, living tree growing from the first floor through a glass atrium to the roof. It was planted during reconstruction and became the hotel's symbol: life growing through concrete.
Atrium. Five stories high. Concrete walls, industrial windows with black frames, open balconies from rooms overlooking the courtyard. Light falls from above through a glass roof. The feeling is like being inside a massive industrial loft.
Art. The walls display works by Georgian and international artists. The collection changes each season. Among permanent exhibits are installations made from old typographic letters and industrial parts. Everything you see in Stamba is original, not reproductions.
Furniture. A mix of vintage and contemporary design. Soviet armchairs from the 1960s have been restored and reupholstered. Next to them -- Italian lamps and Danish tables. This contrast is Stamba's signature style: past and present don't clash but complement each other.
Printing presses. Two original 1930s printing presses stand in the lobby. They don't work (obviously), but they look impressive: black metal, gears, levers. A plaque nearby tells their history. Good photo spot.
Restaurant: menu, prices, and booking tips
The Stamba restaurant is one of the best in Tbilisi. The cuisine is modern Georgian with international elements. The chef works with local produce: cheeses from Tusheti, meat from Kakheti, herbs from the farmers' market.
What to try
- Adjarian khachapuri with truffle -- the signature dish, 28-35 GEL (~$10-12). The classic boat shape but with truffle oil and Parmesan. Not for purists, but impressive.
- Veal tartare -- with pickled onion and mustard sauce. 25-30 GEL (~$9-10). Melt-in-your-mouth tender.
- Pkhali assortment -- 5 types (spinach, beet, cabbage, bean, eggplant). 18-22 GEL (~$6-8). Best pkhali presentation in the city.
- Ribeye steak -- Georgian beef, 55-70 GEL (~$19-25). Grilled, served with tkemali sauce.
- Deconstructed churchkhela dessert -- walnut, grape mousse, chocolate. 15-18 GEL (~$5-6).
Prices
| Item | Price (GEL) | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Breakfast buffet (for guests) | Included | -- |
| Breakfast (for non-guests) | 35-50 GEL | ~$12-18 |
| Appetizers | 15-30 GEL | ~$5-10 |
| Main courses | 30-70 GEL | ~$10-25 |
| Desserts | 12-20 GEL | ~$4-7 |
| Glass of wine (Georgian) | 12-25 GEL | ~$4-9 |
| Cocktail | 18-30 GEL | ~$6-10 |
| Average dinner (1 person) | 80-120 GEL | ~$28-42 |
Booking: on weekdays you can walk in. Friday-Saturday -- book 2-3 days ahead. Via Instagram (@stambahotel), by phone, or at the hotel front desk. Window tables are most popular -- request in advance.
Rooftop bar & pool: access for non-guests
The Stamba rooftop is one of the best spots for an evening drink in Tbilisi. Panoramic views of the city, Mtatsminda, mountains on the horizon. On summer evenings, DJ sets give it a Berlin rooftop club feel.
Bar. Open to everyone -- no need to be a guest. Cocktails: 18-30 GEL (~$6-10). House specials with Georgian ingredients: tarragon, tkemali, chacha. Wine from 12 GEL per glass. Bar hours: 5:00 PM to 1:00 AM (Fri-Sat until 2:00 AM).
Pool. On the roof with city views. Free for hotel guests. For outside visitors: 50-80 GEL (~$18-28) on weekdays, includes lounger and towel. Weekend access for non-guests is limited -- check at reception. Pool operates June through September, 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
Tip: come to the rooftop on a weekday evening after 6:00 PM. Tables are free, the sun is setting behind Mtatsminda, and cocktails cost the same as a regular bar downtown. One of the best "view-to-price" ratios in Tbilisi.
Art gallery and bookshop
Gallery. On the first floor -- an exhibition space that changes shows every 2-3 months. Contemporary Georgian art: painting, sculpture, installations, photography. Free entry. Open daily 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM. The level is serious: some artists have exhibited in Venice and Berlin.
Bookshop. In the lobby -- small but carefully curated. Books on architecture, design, photography, Georgian history. Available in English. Prices: 20-80 GEL per book. Also sells postcards, posters, and designer souvenirs -- far more interesting than magnets on Meidan.
How to visit Stamba without staying: step-by-step
Option 1: Coffee + gallery (1 hour, 15-20 GEL). Walk into the lobby, order coffee (6-8 GEL) at the first-floor bar, browse the gallery and bookshop. Photograph the tree in the atrium. Dress code: anything.
Option 2: Lunch/dinner (2 hours, 80-150 GEL for two). Book a restaurant table. Try the truffle khachapuri and a glass of Georgian natural wine. Dress code: smart casual.
Option 3: Rooftop evening (2-3 hours, 40-80 GEL). Arrive after 6:00 PM, order a cocktail, watch the sunset. DJs in summer. Dress code: smart casual.
Option 4: Pool day (4-6 hours, 50-80 GEL + food). Summer weekdays only. Pay for rooftop pool access, order food and drinks poolside. Dress code: swimwear + something over it.
Room categories, prices, and which to pick
| Category | Size | Price/night (GEL) | Price/night (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loft Room | 30-35 m2 | 350-500 GEL | ~$120-175 |
| Superior Room | 40-45 m2 | 500-700 GEL | ~$175-245 |
| Deluxe Room | 50-55 m2 | 700-900 GEL | ~$245-315 |
| Suite | 65-80 m2 | 900-1500 GEL | ~$315-525 |
| Penthouse | 120+ m2 | from 2000 GEL | from ~$700 |
My advice: go with the Loft Room. It's the most affordable category, but you still get: high ceilings (4+ meters), exposed concrete walls, designer furniture, rainfall shower, mini-bar, and breakfast. The difference from Superior is just in size and view, but the atmosphere is identical.
Vera district: what else to see nearby
Stamba is in Vera -- one of Tbilisi's most beautiful and authentic neighborhoods. An old residential quarter with narrow streets, grapevines on balconies, and cats on every corner.
- Prospero's Books -- iconic bookshop + cafe. 5 minutes on foot from Stamba. English books, excellent coffee (5-7 GEL), reading sofas. Address: 34 Rustaveli Ave.
- Fabrika -- former sewing factory, now hostel + coworking + bars. 15 minutes from Stamba. The opposite end of the spectrum: if Stamba is luxury, Fabrika is underground. Details in our Fabrika guide.
- Vera Park -- small, quiet park with a fountain. 3 minutes from Stamba. Good for a morning run or reading.
- Shavi Lomi restaurant -- contemporary Georgian cuisine in a residential courtyard. 10 minutes from Stamba. Average bill: 40-60 GEL. Book ahead.
- Copernico cafe -- specialty coffee, minimalist interior. 7 minutes from Stamba. Flat white: 7 GEL.
Stamba vs Rooms Hotel vs others
| Criteria | Stamba Hotel | Rooms Hotel | The Biltmore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Style | Industrial, brutalist | Warm, cozy | Classic luxury |
| Building | 1930s printing house | 1930s publishing house | New construction |
| Price/night (from) | 350 GEL | 300 GEL | 400 GEL |
| Pool | Rooftop | Rooftop | Indoor spa |
| Restaurant | Modern Georgian | Georgian + Italian | International |
| Art gallery | Yes | No | No |
| Best for | Designers, art lovers | Couples, business | Corporate, business |
| Wow factor | Maximum | High | Medium |
Verdict: Stamba is for those who want impressions and Instagram content. Rooms is for those who just want to relax in a beautiful place. Biltmore is for those who need standard five-star service with no surprises.
Insider tips from Timur
Best time to visit: weekday evening, 6:00-8:00 PM. Rooftop is half-empty, sun is setting, cocktails flowing. Weekend evenings are loud and crowded (though fun).
Photo spots:
- Tree in the atrium -- shoot from below looking up, wide angle. Concrete + green + light from above = perfect shot.
- Printing presses in the lobby -- close-up details: gears, levers, metal.
- Rooftop at sunset -- Tbilisi panorama with a glass in hand. Classic Instagram shot.
- Staircase between floors -- concrete spiral, industrial lighting. For portraits.
Save money: you don't need to dine at the Stamba restaurant. Pop in for coffee (6-8 GEL) or a rooftop cocktail (18-25 GEL) -- you get the same atmosphere at 1/5 the cost of dinner. Spend what you save on dinner at Shavi Lomi or Barbarestan nearby.