Swissôtel Tbilisi: A Spa Hotel Celebrating Vitality and Gastronomy

After spotting the elegant contemporary exterior of Swissôtel Tbilisi, we stroll up to the hotel in the refreshing shade of trees lining the neighbouring park.

We step inside and immediately feel like greenery followed us in. The nature-inspired design brings a welcome sense of peace.

And with nature comes vitality. Welcome smoothies are our first indication that the hotel focuses wholeheartedly on well-being. As soon as we hear about the superb spa amenities, we know we're going to leave here feeling better than ever.

In fact, there's a healthy buzz about the place already. Focused guests zip in and out of the co-working space, and friends chat over coffee in the lobby café, with its bookshelves and botanical décor. It's a combination of aesthetics and dynamism that matches Rustaveli Avenue, the city's most prominent street just outside the door.

The first thing you'll notice when you enter the lobby is the décor, which manages to be both captivating and calming at the same time. Designed by the innovative Sundukovy Sisters, the styling incorporates wood accents, understated creamy tones and an abundance of plants. The centrepiece appears like a garden with a creative, slightly fantastical element to it.

Modern botanical design is elevated to new heights in the Swiss Café, located next to the lobby. Here, floral patterns on the walls and seating complement real plants and trees. This, we discover, is also the spot where afternoon tea is served at an attractively presented station with a display of high-quality loose teas. The cosy library corner looks like somewhere we'll spend a lot of time, and the garden terrace calls too.

The aroma of good coffee and the hiss of barista equipment tells us that guests are enjoying the café already. Businesspeople and fellow tourists bustle in the open, flowing space, and there are also sports teams staying here. We're told stars from a Milan football team stayed not long ago. Event rooms are named after royalty, and as we soon learn, the hotel has plenty to offer to esteemed guests.

The spa is one of the best in the city, with a hammam, pool and sauna adding to the wellness offerings. Atmosphere restaurant serves Asian-fusion cuisine, from wagyu beef sushi to Thai curry. The venue features panoramic city views from the top floor, as does Olives, specialising in soulful Mediterranean fare. We can't wait to explore it all for ourselves.

Natural themes carry through into our room, where modern floral accents, green palettes and warm wood furnishings in varied tones enhance our feeling of contentment. Naturally, for Swissôtel, the abode has a tranquil Alpine vibe that offers an enticing contrast in the energetic Georgian capital.

The glow of natural light draws our attention to the floor-to-ceiling windows. The city presents itself before us, and we pick out landmarks of charming Old Tbilisi, including Dry Bridge, where the famous flea market bustles in the sun. There's greenery too, with the tree-filled park near the hotel adding colour to our view. The trees are tall but leave space for glimpses of the mountains beyond the city.

We're lucky enough to reside in a Swiss Vitality Room that adds wellness to comfort. Workout videos, gym equipment and minibars with vitality drinks have us covered throughout our stay. If you follow in our footsteps and stay here, you're sure to enjoy the in-room tub for moments of restorative relaxation. For private space in the open air, choose a suite with a terrace.

We're excited to try Atmosphere, Swissôtel Tbilisi's Asian fusion restaurant, where sushi is served with views on the top floor. Sleek décor, window walls and a terrace with vistas of the cityscape help to make this one of the best restaurants in Tbilisi. As the sun sets over the capital, the energy picks up. Live DJs provide the background music. The vibe is not so much "party" but "stylish soirée", with a mix of hotel guests and locals creating a nice buzz. The FUGU cocktail, strikingly shaped like the famous pufferfish popular in Japanese cuisine, is one not to miss. We certainly didn't.

The next morning, our gastronomic journey within the hotel takes us to Olives, which is also found on the top floor. Breakfast is an enticing blend of treats and nutrition, with the chocolate fountain and vitality corner covering every epicurean angle. Later in the day, this inviting Mediterranean restaurant radiates with the vision of Brand Chef Enzo Neri, who we're told has a book on steakhouses to his name. Though the whole menu looks tempting, we can't resist the branzino al sale – whole sea bass baked in salt and de-boned in front of us by the food butler. The kind of interactive food theatre that makes dining memorable.

There are plenty of standout features at this five-star Tbilisi hotel, and Pürovel Spa and Sport is certainly one of them. We visit mid-morning after a workout with a personal trainer in the on-site fitness centre, planning a full day of good vibes. The treatment menu is immediately intriguing. 

A full-body massage with Pürovel Alpine Spring essential oil makes sense for physical recovery, and we make a plan to return later to take care of the soul, too. A revitalising massage oil and sea salt polish infused with activated charcoal, together with natural elements from Georgian forests, will surely do the trick. Alpine flowers shape the essential oils here.

Between treatments, there's plenty to keep us delighted. Time in the jacuzzi and elegant indoor pool is spent in almost dreamlike tranquility, though the pool is certainly large enough to do laps as part of a workout. Spa amenities also include a sauna and a hammam, which are ideal before a massage or after a busy day in the city. We plan to visit several times during our stay at Swissôtel Tbilisi.

Old Tbilisi is calling to us, so we step outside and walk through the park towards Rustaveli Avenue, the cultural heart of the city. We find two of Tbilisi's finest museums along this grand boulevard, right outside the park. The National Gallery and the Georgian Museum of Fine Arts await to satisfy our love of art.

Along with the museums, the churches, stately parliament building and the Georgian National Opera and Ballet Theater of Tbilisi all add to the appeal of the famous street. There's a vibrancy to the area that's enhanced by terrace cafés and snug traditional restaurants. There's a metro station at the southern end of the avenue to make further exploration easy, and it's also good to know that the nightlife, cafés and galleries of Shardeni Street are just a 20-minute walk away.

For now, we love the vibe around the hotel, and it's no wonder a former president recently lived in the area. This locale is also where the city's Christmas market pops up in winter. At the opposite side of the park, along the Kura River, we explore the Dry Bridge Market we saw from the room. We're immediately drawn in by the cluttered collections of vintage clothing, vivid paintings and vinyl records. The only issue we have is how much we can carry when we reluctantly return home.

• Style-conscious travellers interested in contemporary interior design 
• Wellness seekers who'll love the spa, pool, hammam and sauna
• Businesspeople who will benefit from co-working rooms and event space
• Culture lovers exploring Tbilisi's museums, opera house and other admired venues
• Sports teams looking to boost team unity in a vitality-focused setting
• Couples sharing moments over dinner and drinks
• Gastronomes exploring two excellent restaurants and the café's sweet treats

1. The fish-shaped FUGU cocktail at Atmosphere: We love the quirky pufferfish-shaped glass and the drink's fresh, tropical notes.
2. The afternoon tea station with its loose tea display: The dainty tea set and delicate pastries are especially gorgeous with the city as their backdrop.
3. Dry Bridge Market: There's a wonderful vibrancy among the stalls piled high with all sorts of unusual finds. 
4. The terrace at Atmosphere or Olives: Perfect spots for a stunning sunset shot.
5. The signature sea bass dish: Between the rustic presentation and the food butler's practiced flair, we're entranced.  

Address: 3 Soliko Virsaladze St, Tbilisi 0108, Georgia