{"id":63044,"date":"2026-03-30T10:53:45","date_gmt":"2026-03-30T09:53:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/londoncult.co.uk\/?p=63044"},"modified":"2026-03-30T10:54:31","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T09:54:31","slug":"tbilisi-revisited","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/londoncult.co.uk\/en\/tbilisi-revisited\/","title":{"rendered":"Tbilisi: Revisited"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Partly, it\u2019s personal. Friends. Family. Familiar streets. But more than that, Georgia resets the senses. Tomatoes with real depth, cucumbers that taste of sun, strawberries that need nothing added. It\u2019s less nostalgia, more recalibration.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Photo from the author’s archive<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Increasingly, it\u2019s also about ideas. Each visit brings new energy, new projects \u2014 always rooted in the connection between Georgia and the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Getting here is effortless. With direct flights from British Airways and easyJet, Tbilisi is just over four hours from London. No real jet lag. A short transfer from the airport. Easy. ( No Visa required for most of passport holders).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On my last flight, I noticed how the audience has changed. British travellers \u2014 curious, informed. Even half-asleep, I could hear the familiar words: khachapuri, wine, khinkali. Georgia has quietly arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My first morning always begins the same way: the sulphur baths in Abanotubani. Timeless, slightly theatrical, deeply restorative. My host, Gulo, remembers everything \u2014 every detail of my life, as though no time has passed. These baths have welcomed everyone from Sting to Alexander Pushkin and Alexandre Dumas. You leave lighter, sharper, reset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rhythm of the city follows quickly. Coffee at Vinotel \u2014 low-key, elegant. Evenings at the Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theatre, a Moorish revival masterpiece. Under Nina Ananiashvili, the ballet alone is reason enough to visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Tbilisi\u2019s creative confidence is growing. At Zarapkhana, under Irakli Nasidze, Paris based Georgian artist, heritage meets precision. Nearby, COMODE fashion boutique  showcases Georgian designers with a distinctly modern voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spring brings a particular softness to the city. Blossoms frame an eclectic mix of architecture \u2014 Art Nouveau, Oriental, Soviet, contemporary. Beautiful, and slightly unpredictable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is also momentum. Developments such as IDEA PANORAMA\u00a0 point to a city evolving with confidence \u2014 appealing to those looking beyond saturated markets.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Photo from the author’s archive<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

And then, the food. Tamtaki for vibrant street flavours. Keto and Kote for understated elegance. Shavi Lomi, for modern Georgian cuisine. And Apotheka by Tekuna Gachechiladze \u2014 a cocktail bar in a former pharmacy \u2014 for atmosphere and quiet glamour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond the capital, Kakheti remains essential. Less than two hours away, it offers vineyards, qvevri cellars, and space to breathe. I stayed at Chateau Mere, hosted by winemaker Gia Piradashvili \u2014 a place that captures the spirit of the region.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Photo from the author’s archive<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

What defines Tbilisi, ultimately, is not just what you see \u2014 but how it makes you feel. In a world that often feels over-engineered, it remains instinctive, creative, and calm. I leave each time recharged \u2014 and certain I will return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For those interested in experiencing Georgia more deeply \u2014 from curated wine tastings and consultancy through Wine Roots, to property investment opportunities in Tbilisi, or bespoke VIP journeys \u2014 feel free to get in touch at makoabashidze@me.com.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here is a link for the coming trip (few places left)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

makoabashidze@yahoo.co.uk<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mob. +44 (0) 7769477090<\/p>\n\n\n\n

buy.stripe.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I have lived in London for over 30 years, yet Georgia remains a place I cannot stay away from for long. The longest absence\u2014during the pandemic\u2014felt unnatural. Now, I return every two to three months.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":136,"featured_media":63045,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[159],"tags":[],"type_post":[184],"column":[],"class_list":["post-63044","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/londoncult.co.uk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63044","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/londoncult.co.uk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/londoncult.co.uk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/londoncult.co.uk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/136"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/londoncult.co.uk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=63044"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/londoncult.co.uk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63044\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":63053,"href":"https:\/\/londoncult.co.uk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63044\/revisions\/63053"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/londoncult.co.uk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/63045"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/londoncult.co.uk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=63044"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/londoncult.co.uk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=63044"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/londoncult.co.uk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=63044"},{"taxonomy":"type_post","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/londoncult.co.uk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/type_post?post=63044"},{"taxonomy":"column","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/londoncult.co.uk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/column?post=63044"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}