Fabrika, Tbilisi, Georgia

If you ever needed a clear signal of Tbilisi’s arrival on the contemporary tourist map, it would be the debut of the Adjara Group Hospitality’s Fabrika.

Part of the larger global movement towards a new accommodation model of hostel slash hotel slash AirBnB – a flag flown proudly by the likes of the Ace, Generator, Zoku and Room Mates – the 98-room property is located in an old Soviet-era sewing factory. Here, Multiverse Architecture has left the industrial concrete shell more or less intact, while carving out of the vast interior space into a series of, admittedly austere, rooms that are based on demographics and funds: dorm rooms featuring shared bunks and bathrooms, private rooms with en-suites, and apartments with kitchenettes and terraces.

Outside of the rooms, the vibe is firmly democratic with the lobby serving as a sociable watering hotel and den, anchored by a common kitchen that’s based on local produce, and a courtyard speckled with cafés and bars serving up burgers and Georgian treats. Meanwhile, the rooftop terrace provides more socialising opportunities. 

The neighbourhood is a particular draw, the cobbled streets, so reminiscent of the old world, giving way to fabulous period architecture – a mix of traditional Georgian silhouettes alongside art nouveau and neo-classical piles.