Tbilisi: A City That Feels Like a Secret Waiting to Be Discovered
Welcome to my carefully curated guide to Tbilisi, where industrial-chic hotels, hip coworking spaces, street-side cafes, and hidden art spaces come together to create a city brimming with character. This is my current hometown, a place where every corner invites discovery—whether it’s a hole-in-the-wall marionette theater or an off-the-grid courtyard café only locals seem to know about.
Tbilisi is where old-world charm meets a raw, urban edge—cobblestone streets and ancient baths coexist effortlessly with sleek galleries and modern design hotels. It’s a city of contrasts, bridging the surreal and the everyday with ease. Georgia, too, reflects this duality: warm and whimsical, steeped in history yet buzzing with fresh creative energy, long past the shadow of its Soviet past.
This guide isn’t just a list of places—it’s an invitation to uncover the essence of Tbilisi. I’ve spotlighted the places I love most:
Where to Stay: Design-forward hotels with a nod to tradition.
Where to Eat: From cozy bakeries to contemporary Georgian kitchens.
What to Explore: Art spaces, quirky theaters, and streets that tell stories.
Experiences to Book: Tours and immersive experiences—from food and wine tastings to art walks and cultural excursions—ensuring you connect deeply with the heart of the city.
The guide includes a curated map to help you navigate the city with ease, whether you’re here for a quick getaway or a longer stay. This isn’t a checklist—it’s an invitation to explore the hidden charm, creative pulse, and untold stories of a city designed for discovery.
Here's a glimpse:
• 6 design-led, sustainable hotels
• 3 swanky apartment rentals
• 6 top spots for coffee and nibbles
• 9 lunch spots
• 15 dinner spots
• 5 evening hotspots
• 5 suggested neighborhood walkabouts
• 10 must-do/must-see city experiences
• 10 handpicked shops
• 6 tour suggestions
Architecture • Art • Boutique • Design • Luxury • Photography • People & Culture • Slow Travel • Sustainable/Eco
Free
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Marrakech (aka the Red City) lies at the heart of Morocco, brimming with centuries-old history and vibrant culture. Framed by the stunning Atlas Mountains and steeped in rich traditions, the city dazzles with its lively souks, fragrant courtyard gardens, and the hustle and bustle of daily life. From the iconic Jemaa el-Fnaa square, alive with storytellers and snake charmers, to the serene majesty of its palaces and mosques, Marrakech offers a tapestry of sensory experiences. But the city can be overwhelming! We're here to help you navigate and uncover some of Marrakech’s swankiest riads, atmospheric cafes, farm-to-table restaurants, boutique shops, and all the ungoogleable, offbeat places that make a city come to life.
Our handpicked selections are more than just cookie-cutter recommendations; each place is chosen with a keen eye for design, aesthetics, and sustainability.
So, what's in the guide? Here's a glimpse:
- 16 handpicked conscious boutique hotels/riad
- 9 favorite spots for coffee & nibbles
- 9 favorite lunch spots
- 14 favorite dinner spots
- 7 cool bars + night clubs
- 7 suggested places to walk + explore
- 6 must-see sites
- 7 spots for art and design lovers
- 9 off-the-beaten-path experiences in and around Lisbon
- 10 cool shops we love
Enjoy and happy trail blazing!
Couples • Family • Female Solo • Business • Architecture • Art • Boutique • Design • Foodie • History • Luxury • People & Culture • Outdoors • Photography • Relaxation • Slow Travel
$8.00
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Discover my collection of tightly edited places to eat, stay, and play in Lisbon. We've tapped into our network of travel connoisseurs, conducted extensive research, and scoured all that's local, ungoogleable, and off-the-trodden path.
The city guide spotlights design-led sustainable hotels, artisanal cafes, cutting-edge art spaces, farm-to-fork restaurants, beach excursions, sailing tours, and elusive, off-the-grid experiences that breathe life into a city.
The city guide includes a link to a curated map with all the recommended places to eat, play, and stay. So, what's in the guide?
Here's a glimpse:
- 15 handpicked conscious boutique hotels in Lisbon
- 4 recommended rentals in Lisbon
- 10 favorite spots for coffee & nibbles
- 10 favorite lunch spots
- 18 favorite dinner spots
- 12 cool bars + night clubs
- 9 suggested places to explore in Lisbon
- 4 must-see sites
- 9 great spots for art and design lovers
- 10 off-the-beaten-path experiences in and around Lisbon
- A handful of cool shops we love
Architecture • Art • Boutique • Design • Luxury • Photography • Slow Travel • Sustainable/Eco
$12.00
2
Cuba dazzles, enchants, and lures you in with its melancholic beauty, vibrant culture, and gracious people. It's a place of eternal contrasts, where decay and elegance, real and surreal, live side by side — in its art, streets, politics, and way of life. Nowhere is its character more on display than in Havana. Narrow streets lined with crumbling mansions and pastel-colored vintage cars, parades of trumpeting musicians and gyrating stilt dancers, and the Habaneros for whom the streets are part of life. Around every corner, a new layer is peeled back to reveal yet another unexpected delight in this city of endless intrigue.
Our CityKITS gently nudge travelers off the trodden path, encouraging positive-impact exploration that’s a win-win for travelers, local communities, and the environment.
The CityKIT includes:
- 5 recommended conscious boutique hotels and residences in Havana
- 5 favorite spots for Coffee & Nibbles
- 4 favorite lunch spots.
- 6 favorite restaurants to grab dinner
- 6 cool bars and rooftop terraces
- 5 suggestions for walks and exploration in the city
- 8 locally immersive and offbeat experiences in Tbilisi
- 7 places for art and design lovers
- 5 recommended places to shop
- 3 recommended tours and tour guides
50+ • Female Solo • Couples • Groups • Architecture • Art • Boutique • Design • History • Luxury • Photography • Slow Travel • Sustainable/Eco
$8.00
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Kutaisi, featured on TIME Magazine's World's Greatest Places 2024 list, is perfect for a picturesque weekend escape. As the capital of the historic Imereti region and one of Europe's oldest settlements, Kutaisi blends an "old world" village-like charm with chic boutique hotels and a vibrant culinary and cultural scene. Wander through lively food markets, explore Soviet-era relics, and visit quirky hole-in-the-wall museums. The city also serves as an ideal launchpad for exploring nearby vineyards, tea plantations, and the urban exploration of Tskaltubo's old sanitariums.
Through a discerning lens, our design lover’s guide to Kutaisi offers a curated selection of handpicked stays, eats, and experiences. Our CityKITs highlight the city's authentic charm and encourage travelers to explore with a focus on aesthetics and positive impact, supporting local communities and uncovering hidden gems.
Our CityKIT includes:
- 2 Boutique hotels
- 6 Restaurants
- 2 Places for coffee & nibbles
- 12 Must see sites in Kutaisi
- 13 offbeat excursions near Kutaisi
50+ • Couples • Family • Female Solo • Architecture • Art • Boutique • Design • History • Luxury • Photography • People & Culture • Slow Travel • Sustainable/Eco
$5.00
0
Downtown Athens is a sensory overload of narrow streets, chock-a-block apartments, bric-a-brac shops, and ancient ruins around every twisted corner. A jumble of contradictions—old and new, glamour and grit—but the city buzzes with creative energy, ancient sites, and offbeat gems worth exploring. We're here to help you navigate this wonderful city!
Thrilled to offer our design lover’s city guide, featuring a handpicked collection of stays, eats, and experiences in Athens. Our CityKITs gently nudge travelers off the beaten path, encouraging aesthetic and positive-impact exploration that benefits travelers, local communities, and the environment.
The CityKIT includes:
- 4 recommended conscious boutique hotels in Athens
- 6 favorite spots for Coffee & Nibbles
- 6 favorite lunch spots
- 9 favorite restaurants to grab dinner
- 9 cool bars and roof terraces
- 7 suggested places to walks and explore the city
- 5 museums and must-see sites
- 5 offbeat experiences in Tbilisi
- 6 recommended places for art and design lovers
- 5 recommendations to shop
50+ • Couples • Family • Female Solo • Architecture • Art • Boutique • Design • Foodie • History • Luxury • People & Culture • Photography • Shopping • Slow Travel • Sustainable/Eco
$8.00
0
Saskia Veendorp
Available for hire
Kutaisi: A weekend of architecture, culture, sanitoriums, and Soviet-era relics.
Embark on a picturesque weekend escape to the enchanting city of Kutaisi, nestled approximately 220 kilometers west of Tbilisi (a 3.5-hour drive). Serving as the capital of the historic Imereti region and boasting a legacy as one of Europe's oldest settlements, Kutaisi exudes an "old world" village-like ambiance complemented by chic boutique hotels and a burgeoning culinary and cultural scene. Spend your days exploring lively food markets, marveling at the Soviet-era relics, and delving into quirky museums. During the early 19th century, Kutaisi flourished as the epicenter of Georgian creativity, nurturing renowned playwrights, authors, and poets. Today, sculptures and bas-reliefs honoring local musicians, artists, and literary luminaries embellish its streets, reflecting its rich cultural heritage. Nestled alongside the Rioni River amidst sprawling tea fields and hilly farmland, the city also serves as the perfect launchpad for exploring the surrounding countryside. And don't miss the chance for an urban exploration adventure in Tskaltubo, where you'll experience a surreal, post-apocalyptic wasteland of abandoned sanatoriums.
Architecture • Boutique • Design • History • Foodie • Photography • Slow Travel • Sustainable/Eco • Wine
Free
1
Welcome to our curated collection of Marrakesh’s swankiest riads, each selected for its distinctive design and deep connection to the city's past. With the city chock-full of beautiful riad stays, travelers often experience decision fatigue given the plethora of enticing options. Here is where we come in! Our handpicked selections are more than just cookie-cutter accommodations; they are sanctuaries crafted with a keen eye for design, where each space blends contemporary aesthetics with the timeless allure of Moroccan craftsmanship. Enjoy and happy trail blazing!
Art • Boutique • Architecture • Design • Luxury • People & Culture • Sustainable/Eco
Free
1
Saskia Veendorp
2 Subscribers
Tbilisi, Georgia
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Available for Hire
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