Hotel Cité

The house is pleasant, and the owners are kind and helpful. Our room was cozy, especially the very spacious one with a view of the Cathedral Church. The location feels almost magical if you understand the history of the Svetitskhoveli Complex and what it means to Georgian people. The rooms and facilities do need a full renovation, particularly the bathrooms, though I know that can be difficult for a private owner.

The breakfast was great, and the rooms were spacious, clean, and comfortable. The welcome was so warm and the hospitality so kind that I’d give this place a 10/10. I’ll stay here again next time I’m in the area.

We loved being in the old town, where shops and street vendors were already out early, and Hotel Cite sits right beside the famous monastery. The hotel is small, with three rooms upstairs by our count, but ours had plenty of space for three people, including a sofa, coffee table, and a separate table with chairs. Everything was clean and well kept. There’s a little terrace with room for two or three tables and a nice view of the monastery and the mountains behind it. Parking takes some coordination: you have to find the owner so he can open the street gate, then he’ll show you where to leave the car. Breakfast is served in a tiny area. The food was fairly basic, with limited choice, and reminded us of the kind of breakfast at American hotels that we don’t care for.

The price felt too high for what you get. It’s more like a hostel than a hotel, with thin walls, so you hear conversations and other noise from nearby rooms and the corridor. The lobby is tiny, and they don’t take cards, which was inconvenient. There’s also an unmarked staircase in the room that could be dangerous, plus a low ceiling. You can hear every footstep on the stairs. Reviews on commission-based sites like Booking, Agoda, and Airbnb can be misleading. In my view, those platforms care about their commissions and not poor service.