How River Side Hotel has managed to claim 5 stars is beyond me—unless those stars were bought and paid for. This is, at best, a run-down 2-star property masquerading as luxury. The place is dirty, poorly maintained, with visible leaks, moldy walls, and an overall vibe of neglect.
The so-called bar upstairs turns into a nightclub-level noise factory every night, with bass so intense the entire room shakes. Sleep? Impossible.
I had booked a 3-week stay and fled after just two miserable nights. When I politely explained the conditions were unlivable and far from what was advertised, the staff were not only dismissive but downright rude. Not only did they refuse a refund, but they had the audacity to charge me for a single coffee capsule I used while trying to stay awake through the noise.
There are plenty of decent places in Tbilisi—this isn’t one of them. Do yourself a favor and steer far, far away.