Inside the Holiday Inn Telavi, change is quietly underway. Without making a public fuss, the hotel’s leadership has been working behind the scenes on a project that aims to offer something distinct in the Kakheti region not a new suite, not a renovation, but a restaurant: a carefully developed, Italian dining concept called Amore.
General Manager Levan Eristavi is not framing it as a trendy addition or a superficial theme. Instead, Amore represents a deliberate shift a commitment to providing something that feels new and complete, without abandoning the values of place, quality, and guest care that define the hotel.
“We always strive to offer our guests a new and memorable experience,” Levan Eristavi says. And with Amore, he believes they are doing exactly that by bringing the atmosphere, flavors, and traditions of Italy into a Georgian setting in a way that feels both honest and sustainable.
A Restaurant That Starts with a Feeling
From the very beginning, Amore has been driven by the desire to create an experience that goes beyond cuisine. Under the vision of Levan Eristavi and his team, the restaurant is not merely introducing Italian dishes to Telavi, it is curating an atmosphere that immerses guests in the essence of Italy.
“The goal is for our guests to experience authentic Italian flavors and ambiance,” explains Eristavi. “We want each visit to evoke the canals of Venice, the streets of Florence, or the seaside breeze of Naples.”
This concept is not about literal replication, but about offering a form of emotional travel-transporting diners through flavor, design, and atmosphere. Every detail has been thoughtfully crafted to achieve this balance: subtle yet intentional, refined rather than ornamental.
Italian Cuisine, Built with Precision and Respect
At the heart of Amore is the menu, designed as a culinary journey through Italy’s diverse regions. The dishes reflect the traditions of Naples, Tuscany, and other corners of the country, offering both familiar staples and lesser-known regional specialties. Every dish is prepared using traditional Italian techniques, and in many cases, from scratch.
Homemade pasta and ravioli are key elements of the offering. These are not shortcuts or gestures, they are a foundational part of the concept. The kitchen team, made up of experienced chefs, has been working tirelessly on execution, making sure that the dishes aren’t only correct by recipe, but carry the taste and texture that define Italian home cooking at its best.
As Levan Eristavi explains, quality is non-negotiable. High-quality ingredients, a healthy approach to preparation, and elegant presentation form the baseline for what Amore aims to deliver.
That presentation, he emphasizes, is not about flash: it’s about making sure that each plate reflects the care behind it, visually simple, but exacting in its detail. There’s a consistent respect for both the ingredients and the traditions they come from.
A Georgian-Italian Connection Through Wine
One of the more distinctive elements of Amore is its integration of local Kakhetian wine with Italian cuisine, a combination that, on paper, might seem unlikely, but which, in practice, is central to the restaurant’s identity.
Levan Eristavi puts it plainly: “Our advantage will be traditional Italian techniques, uniquely combined with Kakhetian wine.” This isn’t a fusion restaurant in the conventional sense—the food remains Italian, but the wine pairing is where Georgia steps in.
It’s a natural move, given that Amore is located in one of the most renowned wine regions in the world. Kakheti has its own rich and ancient wine tradition, and Amore uses this to create something genuinely original, not through invention, but through thoughtful combination.
Italian dishes, from classic pastas to meat-based mains, are paired with local Georgian wines, creating a cross-cultural connection that feels grounded in both regions. It’s not a marketing spin, it’s a practical, respectful use of local strengths.
Designing the Environment, Not Just the Menu
Hospitality, as Levan Eristavi sees it, is about more than food. It’s about how the guest feels the moment they walk into the space. With Amore, every detail, from the interior design to the music, has been planned with the same care as the menu.
“It’s important for us that the guest not only tastes the dish, but also feels Italian hospitality,” he says. That hospitality is expressed not only through warm service, but through the complete environment: the lighting, the materials, the pace of service, and the sound of the room.
The space is designed to be inviting without being overdone, not a caricature of Italy, but a space that reflects its sensibility. Elegance is balanced with comfort. Familiarity is balanced with intention. The restaurant, like the food, is meant to invite people in and to make them want to stay.
A Cultural Project, Not Just a Business One
Beyond the everyday operation of the restaurant, Amore is being developed as part of a broader cultural program. The hotel plans to host Italian-themed evenings, wine tastings, and events that explore the food and wine heritage of both Italy and Georgia.
It’s a long-term project, not just a seasonal experiment. The aim is to create a sustained exchange between two countries that, despite their differences, share certain core values: pride in hospitality, a deep relationship with wine, and a cultural identity built around the table.
This part of the project matters just as much as the restaurant service. Amore is not simply an add-on to the hotel, it is integrated into its identity, designed to evolve over time and respond to the interests of its guests.
A Realistic but Ambitious Goal
Rebranding or launching a new direction within a hotel always brings a set of risks. Levan Eristavi acknowledges this openly. “Rebranding is always a challenge,” he says. But he also expresses confidence in the decision, and the team behind it.
The ambition is clear: “We have set a goal for Amore to be the best Italian restaurant not only in Kakheti, but in all of Georgia.” It’s a high bar, but not an unrealistic one, because it’s not based on image or design, but on execution. The team believes that with the right balance of quality, consistency, and genuine hospitality, the restaurant can find its place in the wider Georgian dining scene.
Holiday Inn Telavi’s Evolving Identity
For Holiday Inn Telavi, Amore reflects a broader approach to hospitality, one that listens to what guests want and invests in experiences that feel meaningful. It’s not about big statements. It’s about small, thoughtful changes that add up over time.
We have many more surprises in store for our guests, ensuring they will always want to return, Levan Eristavi says.
That return, not just of business, but of emotional connection, is what the hotel is aiming for. With Amore, the hope is not only that guests enjoy a good meal, but that they leave with something more: a memory, a feeling, another reason to come back.
By Kesaria Katcharava
