Rooms Hotel Kokhta Bakuriani – Simple, Luxury, and Comfort

Rooms Hotels is a Georgian chain that started in Kazbegi, followed by Tbilisi, and now Bakuriani, mainly the winter ski destination in the country. All the Rooms Hotels have a similar concept but are very different from each other. And if you wonder what to expect in Rooms Hotel Kokhta Bakuriani, here’s my in-depth review.

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At the foot of Kokhta Gora, a 2,200-metre peak in a slightly recently developed Bakuriani and Mitarbi resort areas, stands an ark-like glass and wood Rooms Hotel Kokhta, the new addition to elegant design-oriented Rooms Hotel Kazbegi and Rooms Hotel Tbilisi. 

Bakuriani is a year-round destination. However, it is mainly known as a winter ski destination for many locals and foreigners. Rooms hotel Bakuriani, sitting at the junction of ski runs, tries to change the notion by presenting hiking and horseback opportunities in the area so the guests can enjoy time spent in nature any time of the year. 

Best defined as Modern Rustic, with a very minimalistic approach and a perfect combination of stone, wood, and polished clay creates a warm and pleasing environment. 

The story of Rooms Hotel Kokhta

Rooms hotels in Georgia are very distinctive from any other hotel you might have stayed at elsewhere – fully localized, accomplished, and native to a place. 

Kokhta Rooms Hotel is just as remarkable as its sisters in Kazbegi and Tbilisi, adding the appeal of ski-in-ski-out access to the stunning Caucasus Mountains. 

An elegant structure in the center of mountain greenery is a creation of architect Levan Mushkudiani commissioned by Adjara Group, who also owns Stamba Hotel and Fabrika Tbilisi. The interior is the work of local designers Nata Janberidze and Keti Toloraia, founders of Rooms Studio. 

The location of Rooms Hotel Kokhta and how to get there

Nestled in eastern Georgia, Rooms Kokhta is just 2.5 km from the center of Bakuriani, 26 km from Borjomi, the spa town, and 186 km from Tbilisi. 

For those who want to ski in Bakuriani, Rooms Hotel Kokhta is at the foot of Kokhta Gora ski slopes. Mitarbi resort and Didveli are much higher and easily accessible from the hotel.  

There are several ways to get to the hotel from Tbilisi or any other city in Georgia. If you are not in Tbilisi and are using public transport, the best way to get to the hotel would be to first get to Borjomi and then take a taxi or a minibus from Borjomi to Bakuriani. 

Tbilisi to Bakuriani by marshrutka

Marshrutka, a minibus, departs daily from Orkiba at Didube Bus Station at 9:30 am, 3 pm, and 6 pm. It takes around 2:30-3 hrs, depending on the traffic and road conditions, and the journey costs 15 GEL. From the center of Bakuriani, you can walk to the hotel or order a Bolt taxi. 

Tip: First time using Bolt? Use code YRP76 to get discounts on your first rides. 

Tbilisi to Bakuriani by minivan

Shared minivans are standing at Didube Bus Station, taking you directly to the hotel. The journey takes slightly less than a marshrutka and costs 30 GEL per person. They wait for the minivan to get full. 

Tbilisi to Bakuriani by a rental car

If you plan on driving from Tbilisi to Bakuriani by a rental car, I recommend LocalRent for its reliable service and low prices compared to other international companies. 

Alternatively, if you want to avoid driving on Georgian roads, hire a driver through Gotrip.ge. I have personally used their service numerous times and have always been pleased. 

Borjomi to Bakuriani by marshrutka

If your first stop is Borjomi, you can easily get to Bakuriani from here, as there are more frequent marshrutkas on the Borjomi-Bakuriani road. Marshrutkas leave from 9 am every full hour till 5 pm. The price is 3 GEL. 

Borjomi to Bakuriani by train

There was a historic train from Borjomi to Bakuriani locals called Kukushka. Unfortunately, since COVID-19, the train has stopped and hasn’t reopened ever since. There is no ETA for when it will relaunch, either. 

ADVICE: always travel with comprehensive travel insurance that also covers COVID. I personally use SafetyWing. 

The design of Rooms Hotel Bakuriani

The location itself – Bakuriani – has influenced and inspired the concept of the hotel, specifically the immensity and nature of the peaks encircling the venue. 

The designers reflected this idea by using locally made, natural, and old materials such as stone, wood, and clay that Georgians have always used in their architecture. 

Architecturally, it’s both a rustic lodge and a modern industrial. The slatted oak covers and dominates the façade of the building, but it’s not rough for the viewer and doesn’t distract an eye from the surrounding snow-covered peaks. These raw wood lines echo in the interior – particularly in the timbered ceilings and walls of the ground floor and shop-style parquet floors. 

The floor-to-ceiling windows on both the ground floor and the rooms bring natural light into the hotel while at the same time naturally making you enjoy and look at the surrounding landscape. 

You can feel the presence of nature, and local crafts at every corner, manifested in various interior items. Lamps with terracotta clay qvevri-like bases, mesmerizing massive metal bas-reliefbas-relief turned into a fireplace, woven carpets turned into wall decor, and local stone sinks perfectly blend into pastel tones, creating a relaxing and warm ambiance. 

Like its sister hotels in Tbilisi and Kazbegi, Rooms Hotel Kokhta was a former Soviet-era building. And similar to them, materials and design bring nature from the outside in, while simple yet futuristic design details conflict with the Soviet character.

The rooms at Rooms Hotel Kokhta

Rooms Kokhta has 95 rooms of various types and budgets, including small and junior suites, standard and executive king rooms, and twin rooms. Rooms in hotel have a balcony and floor-to-ceiling windows to enjoy spectacular views. Every hotel room is very spacious; even twin rooms are 28 sq. meters. And some feature freestanding metal bathtubs. 

Our room had a king-size bed, a working desk, a TV, and a spacious bathroom. Even here, the shop-style parquet floors and other wooden decorations continue to be part of the interior. The bathrooms have terracotta tiles mimicking the whole concept seen everywhere in the hotel. 

Artisinal and vintage objects are on display. I especially loved the vintage phone and the custom-made lamp with a qvevri-like base. The walls are uncolored; however, with its simple and minimalist approach, it doesn’t feel unfinished. 

There is no chandelier in the center of the ceiling. The light in the evening comes from the table lamp, floor lamp, or two bedside lamps. During the day, all the daylight comes from the floor-to-ceiling windows. This adds a special touch to a relaxing and romantic weekend getaway. 

Additionally, we had a coffee machine that would freshly grind coffee beans and prepare delicious Espresso or Americano. We even had takeaway branded cups to enjoy the drink while wandering through Bakuriani. 

Whether you read this or Rooms Hotel Kokhta TripAdvisor reviews, the hotel meets every expectation. 

Breakfast and dinner at Rooms Hotel Kokhta

The ground floor of Rooms Hotel Kokhta features a lounge area, bar, and restaurant. The lounge area features massive furniture with extremely comfortable sofas, big wooden coffee tables, and local artisanal items on display on various shelves – all this harmoniously correlates with the hotel’s concept. 

The center part of the lounge bar is the gorgeous metal bas-relief piece turned into a fireplace. Sitting here in the evening when the staff starts a fire and sipping your favorite beverage is exceptionally romantic and pleasing. 

The open-fire restaurant, where dinner and breakfast are served, reflects modern culinary selections with a solid connection to Georgian cuisine and locally-sourced products. 

The buffet breakfast provides various meals and ingredients to create your preferred meal. On one side of the buffet serving, you’ll find charcuterie, different cheeses and dairy products, boiled eggs, sauteed mushrooms, beef sausages, vegetables, dips, tiny Khachapuri, and salmon slices, to name a few. Another table is packed with desserts, cakes, cereals, homemade jams, granolas, and pastries, including a crispy and tender croissant. 

You can also order an omelet or a pancake if you’d like. The chefs will prepare it in front of you, behind the counter. 

The hotel’s kitchen offers a wide range of delicious meals for dinner. Rooms Kokhta menu has starters, soups, main meals, burgers and sandwiches, pastries, and desserts. Like buffet breakfast, most of their meals have locally-sourced ingredients that are seasonal and fresh. 

We ordered Oyster mushrooms in Bazhe (a very liquid cold walnut sauce) and Duck Apokhti. Marinated mushrooms came in a small clay pot seasoned with garlic and coriander. The combination was quite interesting to taste but nothing special. I think it would work great as a side dish for something that needs a bit of sauce instead of a stand-alone starter or salad. 

On the other hand, Duck Apokhti did exceed all of my expectations. Apokhti is a regional dried meat of lamb, beef, goose, or duck, native to the Samtskhe-Javakheti area. 

Tiny 7-8 Khinkali, made from in-house smoked duck, had all the right flavors and juice topped with garlic and matsoni (local yogurt) sauce. I highly recommend trying it! 

Useful info

• Address: Kokhta-Mitarbi Resort, Bakuriani. 
• Reservations: See the prices and availability.
• Facilities: free parking, ATM, library, conference rooms, 
• Pet friendly: yes, for an additional charge for staying overnight. 
• Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible