As the capital of a former Soviet Union republic, the city of Tbilisi has its fair share of Soviet architecture, such as the central post office and telegraph office of Georgian architects Lado Alexi-Meskhishvili and Teimuraz Mikashavidze. Situated downtown, the 1970s Brutalist-style building, now owned by Georgian industrial conglomerate Silk Road Group, has been thoroughly redeveloped, and is now home to a design-led luxury boutique hotel which has shaken up the local hospitality scene. Aptly called The Telegraph Hotel, the property features 239 guest rooms and suites, all designed by acclaimed Shanghai-based architecture and design practice Neri & Hu. In fact, they’ve done the entire hotel, meticulously pairing the building’s spartan architectural legacy with a solid, albeit balanced, dose of modern-day luxury.

The chosen aesthetic embeds new elements in the building’s original concrete frame, retaining its storied past, while also creating an interesting visual dialogue with modernity. Aiming to engage with Tbilisi‘s vibrant urban culture, the ground floor of The Telegraph Hotel boasts a layout that mimics downtown’s maze of alleyways, featuring restaurants, a library, a club, and an urban-inspired central courtyard. In fact, the ground floor design concept intends to add more cultural buzz to downtown life. The rooms, which come in no less than ten different categories and sizes, present an understated luxury, and obviously feature all the comfort and amenities today’s discerning traveller requires. Looking to splurge? At 260 sqm. (2,799 sq.ft.), the Presidential Suite is the best spot on the premises. Needless to say, it lives up to its name, featuring in fact two bedrooms with a King bed and Twin beds, a separate living rooms and an equally spacious, 338 sqm. (3,638 sq.ft.) outdoor terrace.

Other extras include, three smart TVs, a complimentary non-alcohol minibar, Diptyque toiletries, and even private airport pick-up. As said, The Telegraph Hotel is home to a sizeable number of alluring establishments which lure not only hotel guests to its doorstep, including Laan Thai, a stylish Thai restaurant where chef Rose Chalalai Singh serves authentic dishes pairing traditional techniques with fresh Georgian ingredients; the Wine Library, an actual library and wine bar where to sit back and relax a curated wine selection; the lively Courtyard Bar, a popular meeting place with a chic urban setting, serving signature cocktails; or for a more happening vibe, there’s the Rolling Stone rooftop bar where music and mixology are expertly fused into an alluring concept that keeps going until the wee little hours. © superfuture