Fabrika — Local services in Tbilisi

Overall Rating for the hostel / front desk communication : ★☆☆☆☆ Room type : Private double room with bathroom Duration of the stay : 6 nights Room Cleaning : ★★★★★ Atmosphere : ★★★★☆ Bar-Cafe (inside the hostel) : ★★★★☆

My recent stay at Fabrika was unfortunately quite disappointing. Despite the unique atmosphere, several issues made it challenging to enjoy my time there.

Upon check-in, I had to reconfirm all the details of my reservation, which was a bit inconvenient. Additionally, there was some confusion regarding the pricing, as I was asked to pay a slightly higher fee than what was initially confirmed. However, I'm pleased to say that it was resolved quickly.

The most concerning issue was the inconsistency with the water supply. On multiple occasions, the water was either completely cut off or was discolored and unhygienic, making it impossible for me to use for basic hygiene purposes.

Furthermore, I was disappointed by the policy regarding the use of a Polaroid camera in the common area. As a guest, I was simply taking photos of ourselves on the sofa. I don’t even own a professional camera that could result in commercial use of the images. Later, when I wanted to double-check with the front desk, I learned that I needed to obtain approval from management via email. Additionally, I was informed that even upon receiving a reply, it wasn't certain that the response would be positive, which seemed unnecessary and overly restrictive.

Moreover, I experienced significant stress regarding the airport transfer I had arranged through the hotel. Despite providing my flight details well in advance and receiving confirmation, there was a misunderstanding which resulted in the taxi not being arranged at the agreed-upon time. This left me in a very stressful situation, as I was worried about missing my flight.

Beforehand, I took the initiative to confirm with the front desk about my airport transfer, just to be safe. I was assured that everything was fine and that the timing of my taxi wasn't crucial, as they could organize it whenever I needed it.

While I understand that misunderstandings can happen, I was disappointed by the lack of accountability and the refusal to refund the transfer fee. As a guest, I believe it's essential to feel supported and valued, especially in situations like this.

Overall, I hope that Fabrika management team can take steps to address these issues and improve the overall guest experience. Clear communication, consistency in service, and accountability are key factors that can significantly enhance customer...

📍 Location & Atmosphere Fabrika is more than just a hostel — it’s a lively complex filled with shops, bars, and restaurants. While this creates a vibrant social scene, it also means that nights, especially on weekends, are noisy. Loud conversations and laughter can be heard in the rooms until around 1 a.m., so if you’re looking for a quiet place to relax, this isn’t it.

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🛏️ Rooms & Amenities The hostel is surprisingly spacious, which is a rare perk. Bathrooms and showers are large and generally clean, although the shower drains could use some maintenance. There are plenty of hairdryers available, and each room has individual lockers with customizable codes — a nice touch for security.

However, the hostel doesn’t provide a towel or clean blanket cover by default. You need to rent a towel for 6 GEL, which feels a bit stingy. Also, there’s no water cooler anywhere in this massive building; if you want drinking water, you’ll have to head down to the kitchen and use tap water.

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🕒 Check-in / Check-out Policy One of the downsides is the strict check-in and check-out times. Check-in is only available from 3 p.m., while check-out is at 11 a.m. This feels a bit rigid and less generous compared to many other hostels and hotels.

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🧳 Luggage Storage A plus: there is a secure luggage room where you can store your belongings before check-in or after check-out, which is convenient for travelers.

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🍳 Kitchen Facilities The kitchen is a bit underwhelming. There’s no stove, so cooking even a simple sunny-side-up egg isn’t possible. Instead, there’s a strange all-purpose electric oven that gives off a pretty unpleasant smell.

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👩‍💼 Staff & Service Unfortunately, the staff is cold and not particularly friendly, which can really affect the overall experience — especially in a place meant to foster community and connection.

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🎨 Design & Concept The design is one of Fabrika’s strong points. The space is beautifully decorated with vintage items and creative touches. It’s a fantastic repurposing of an old factory building that might otherwise have been left to decay. Visually, it’s impressive and full of character.

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💭 Overall Impression Despite its aesthetic charm and spacious layout, Fabrika falls short in terms of comfort and service. It caters more to outside visitors enjoying the bars and cafés than to actual hostel guests. The amenities are basic, and the atmosphere can be unwelcoming. With all its impressive looks, the substance doesn’t quite live up...

I tried my best to love this place. The old refunctioned Soviet building is a great location and everything looks very inspiring, the receptionists are also very helpful and friendly. Still I‘ve had several issues that, according to the other reviews seem to be quiet common here.

1. the men’s bathrooms are literally the most disgusting ones I‘ve ever experienced in a hostel, the toilets are so dirty, I‘ve opted to skip them completely and only go to a bathroom outside the hostel. That never happened in all my time travelling, but it’s not the cleaners fault. They get assigned to clean them only a few times per week, and the biggest problem is there are no urinals so the stalls get very dirty very quick, it was unimaginable.
2. their rules are ridiculous and ever changing: On one day they don‘t allow you to bring any outside drinks into the literal lobby, on other days food is the problem. On some days you can sit at every place and use your laptop (something absolutely natural) on other days they send you to a uncomfortable bunch of tables in a corner. On somedays you can make yourself comfortable on the couches on other days it’s you have to sit up straight.
3. Also I can’t understand why anyone would hire those security guards, they are ridiculously untrained for guest interaction. Like when someone is in the lobby at night or wants to go to the guest kitchen. The most sensible thing would be first assume they are a guest and treat them nicely, but their modus operandi is to assume you are there illegally, interrogate you what you are planning to do in a very rude way. The they say oh outside is closed oh this place is closed, you have to go away and if you don‘t know that you have to say „No I‘m a guest“ you end up thinking everything is closed.

All in all this would be a perfect place, if the bar staff and especially the rude security guards would change their attitude and if a proper cleaning routine in the bathroom was implemented (also urinals are not optional!). I understand that the staff is probably just following rules, so the only thing that makes this place less then ideal instead of perfect is poor...