Gistola Hotel Mestia

Two dozen rooms in the Svan tower district of Mestia, Gistola Hotel occupies a modern build on Boris Kakhiani street with direct sightlines to the medieval koshkebi that define the Upper Svaneti skyline.

Rooms follow a clean alpine format: stone-and-timber interiors, mountain-facing windows, and en-suite bathrooms with heated floors. The kitchen focuses on regional staples — kubdari bread, Svan salt lamb, and locally fermented chacha — sourced from village producers rather than wholesale suppliers.

Mestia serves as the main gateway for Ushba glacier hikes and the Koruldi Lakes trail, both reachable within an hour. The town's small airport connects to Tbilisi daily in season, cutting the mountain road journey entirely.