The city of Tbilisi is one of my favorite places; I feel comfortable and calm in it. Apparently that’s why, when traveling around Georgia, we stay the longest in the capital. We walked it far and wide, met nice people and noted for ourselves the best places to which we return again and again.

This article will be useful for those who are traveling to Georgia for the first time. In it I tell you what prices are in 2019, what to see in Tbilisi, as well as which establishments serve the best food (in our subjective opinion!).

The first step to an unforgettable vacation is to buy airline tickets. One of the sites where I find flights at the best price is Momondo. He scans dozens of agencies and finds the best options. The average cost of a flight from Moscow, Kyiv and St. Petersburg is $250-300 in both directions. The price depends on the season and current promotions. The minimum I've seen is $150 round trip from Moscow.

Housing cost

Housing prices in Tbilisi are very chaotic and the pricing algorithm is completely incomprehensible. You can find good housing for $10 a day, or you can live very modestly for $60. Therefore, when booking, first of all, pay attention to the reviews of other travelers. The average cost is:

• Night in a hostel - from $7, highly rated hostel from $12
• Hotel room - from $16, hotel with good reviews from $34
• Room on airbnb – from $16
• Apartment on airbnb – from $25

Where to eat deliciously

Dima and I have two favorite cafes that we definitely go to when we’re in Tbilisi. They are rather budget-friendly and do not deserve the high title of “restaurant”, but they are really good and cook with soul.

1. Cafe Veliaminov is located 2 minutes from Freedom Square, in a semi-basement. We've been here 10 times and always left full and happy. True, once they brought us an over-salted salad, but this is the only negative I encountered. The average bill is ≈ 50 GEL, this is 3-4 dishes + wine and lemonade. Most of all in Veliaminov I liked khinkali, Adjarian khachapuri and tongue salad. Address: st. Sh. Dadiani, 8
2. We chose Akhali Gemo based on reviews on Tripadvisor and were not disappointed. It has fast service, affordable prices and large portions. In addition, Akhali Gemo has a pleasant interior and live music in the evenings. The average bill, as in Veliaminov, is ≈ 50 lari. But there is a small minus - the cafe is not located in the center, but within walking distance from it. Address: st. Khetagurov 5/7, near the Dry Bridge, entrance from the main road.

Popular excursions in Tbilisi

If you want to bypass standard tourist routes and get to know the city better, you can order an author’s excursion in Russian from local residents. Offers for every taste - from sightseeing tours of historical places to an evening walk and a culinary master class.

If you want to see Tbilisi on your own, without being tied to a guide, you can buy a ticket for the Hop On Hop Off sightseeing bus. Tickets are valid 24 hours. or 48 hours, sold on the official website, or in the office on Meydan Square, at 11, Rkinis Rigi St.

But in my opinion, such an excursion is a pointless waste of money:

1. Almost all the sights of Tbilisi are located in the center and can be explored on foot. The bus makes a full circle along the route in 60-70 minutes. It’s unlikely that there will be anyone willing to do 2-3 laps in order to assimilate the material as much as possible, and the ticket is valid for 24 hours, what’s the point?
2. In New York, we bought an excursion from this company, but there was not one route, but three. It took us a day to travel to all directions. In this case, the purchase is justified!
3. $20 for a sightseeing tour is expensive for Georgia, but you can find a cheaper option. For example, in old Tbilisi, not far from Metekhi, there are excursion trains that take tourists around the center on excursions. The fare is $6 for 40 minutes.

Sights of Tbilisi on the map

Let's start with the most important place, which determined the name of the city. Translated into Russian, Tbilisi means warm, and it was nicknamed so because of the sulfur springs on which it is located. The baths are a popular place for both tourists and local residents. According to experienced people, steam rooms have a healing effect and are simply a panacea for people with problem skin.

The sulfur baths are located in the Abanotubani district and occupy an entire block, which has eight complexes. We were in bathhouse No. 5.

• The bathhouse is divided into 2 parts - two common rooms (3 GEL/hour) and private rooms (40-100 GEL/hour), where men and women can be together.
• General rooms are open from 7:00 to 21:00, rooms are open 24 hours a day.
• The women's room only has a shower with sulfur water, while the men's room also has a swimming pool. The private rooms have both a shower and a swimming pool.
• In the complex you can rent sheets, slippers, go for a massage or get a peeling.

These are not exactly the baths we are used to at home. The temperature in the steam room is low, no one will spank with a broom, and it smells not of pine wood, but of sulfur. One hour, or two at most, will be enough.

Mtatsminda Park and Ferris Wheel

A park Mtatsminda is one of the most visited places in Tbilisi. The park has:

• Attractions. Opening hours: 11:00 to 21:00;
• Ferris wheel;
• Restaurants;
• Cafe with panoramic views;
• Observation platforms;
• In the summer, cool parties are held here;

As befits an amusement park, Mtatsminda sells cotton candy, popcorn, waffles, juices, smoothies and other goodies.

The best way to get to Mtatsminda is by funicular, cost 2.5 GEL one way. Location coordinates: 41.695144, 44.78964.

I would recommend visiting the park in the late afternoon, when the sun begins to go below the horizon. Mtatsminda has one of the best viewpoints in Tbilisi; in the rays of sunset the city looks even more beautiful.

Tsminda Sameba, also known as Trinity Church, is the tallest cathedral in the country, its height is 75.5 meters. The church is new, it was built in 2002, it does not have a rich history, and I did not feel any strong energy there. There are a lot of tourists and even more beggars. If in the fall it is more or less calm, then in the summer it will not be crowded. I recommend leaving the cathedral for a snack after you have already seen the more interesting sights of the capital.

It received this name because of the river that once flowed under it. The bridge served for crossing, and when the river dried up, it was called dry. Today, a flea market is comfortably located here, where you can buy various unnecessary things: coins, dinnerware, daggers, lamps, plates and other dust collectors.

They also sell souvenirs here, which are cheaper than in souvenir shops. For example, dry magnets can be bought for 2.5 GEL. Exactly the same, but in the souvenir shop it will cost 3.5 GEL.

Metekhi Castle was built on the rock of the same name, on the banks of the Kura River. The castle itself is an ancient citadel and residence of the Georgian kings, after whom the area was named. The main feature of Metekhi is the observation deck of old Tbilisi. Dima and I even specially arrived early in the morning to admire the beautiful panorama in silence. I recommend Metekhi as a must-see attraction, you won’t regret it!

I've seen a lot of cities at night, but even New York and Singapore didn't impress me as much as Tbilisi at night. The cabins are beautifully illuminated at night, you feel like you are in a movie about the future, where small cars fly. Perhaps just because you don’t expect anything special from the cable car, in the end the impressions are much stronger. The lift costs 2 lari.

The top of the mountain, where the cable car takes you, is our favorite place in the city. Sometimes we take a bottle of wine and churchkhela, go up to the observation deck and admire old Tbilisi.

In Georgia, no one will be surprised by ancient churches, but Narikala has a huge advantage - its territory offers a stunning panorama of old Tbilisi. What I especially like (and at the same time causes bewilderment!) is that you can climb the walls of the fortress and explore its different corners.

The best way to get to Narikala is by cable car, and walk a few hundred meters from it. The entrance is free.

Peace Bridge and Rike Park

The Glass Bridge of Peace has generated a lot of buzz around it. Some admired the architectural masterpiece, others complained that it violated the unified integrity of architecture. You can't please everyone!

Crossing the bridge, you will enter the territory of Rike Park. It is not very big and its construction is still ongoing, but, in my opinion, it is one of the best places in Tbilisi. It’s nice to walk in it, it’s bright and extraordinary, as if you’re not in Georgia at all, but somewhere in Europe or the USA (according to my feelings!)

A huge green oasis with waterfalls and a bamboo grove in the heart of the city. The Botanical Garden is an excellent place for those who have already had enough of the sights of Tbilisi and want to relax in the shade of the trees. It’s clean here, there are benches, gazebos, playgrounds and very few people, or at least that’s the impression one gets.

There are two ways to get to the botanical garden:

• Near the sulfur baths there is the main entrance, address: 1 Botanikuri St.
• On the mountain, opposite the entrance to the cable car, there is an observation deck. A staircase leads down from it, you go there.

Entrance ticket: 2 GEL.

From April to September the botanical garden is open from 9:00 to 20:00, at other times of the year from 9:00 to 18:00. Closed on Mondays.

The zoo was badly damaged due to floods in 2015. Some things have been restored, but many repairs continue to this day. The zoo itself is not large, but many animals live in it: hippos, lions, monkeys, rhinoceroses, elephants and others. A visit for an adult is 2 GEL, for children from 3 to 12 years old - 1 GEL, under 3 years old is free.

To truly feel Georgia, you need to go grocery shopping where the locals buy their food. Here is the genuine flavor for which most tourists come. Here you will find fresh vegetables and fruits, herbs, spices, cheeses, the famous Georgian churchkhela and much more. In addition, tasting is not only encouraged, but also practically obligatory.

One of the largest markets in Tbilisi is Desertirsky, also known as Desertirka. True, it seemed to me that it was dirtier than, for example, in Kutaisi or, and this spoiled the impression a little.

Of all the described attractions of Tbilisi, I would not go to the Trinity Church again. I think the hype around her is a bit exaggerated. Yes, it’s beautiful, no doubt about it, but not wow-wow!

Public transport

The Georgian capital has a good transport interchange; getting from point A to point B is not difficult. The main mode of transport: metro, buses and taxis. Prices in Tbilisi for transport in 2019 are as follows:

1. Metro - 1 lari.
2. Bus or minibus - 50 tetri.
3. Ropeway - 2 GEL.
4. Funicular - 2 GEL.
5. (3-6 km.) - 4-6 GEL.
6. Taxi (5-8 km) - 5-8 GEL.

Still have questions? Ask in the comments!

No trip to Georgia is complete without visiting the capital of this country - Tbilisi. This beautiful city of the Caucasus delights tourists with its attractions and delicious traditional food. To ensure that the trip leaves unforgettable emotions and impressions, cafes, khinkali and restaurants in the city offer guests to taste dishes of national Georgian cuisine. Expensive and budget establishments, the food is equally delicious. Eating nourishingly and inexpensively, or expensively and in luxurious surroundings is everyone’s personal choice. There are many catering establishments in Tbilisi of various price segments.

This article provides a list of places where you can eat delicious food in Tbilisi. The review begins with budget places, the food in which will delight with its taste and quality, and the price list with average prices will pleasantly surprise the visitor.

Restaurant of Caucasian cuisine Khinkali House

Khinkali House, according to visitor reviews, offers the most in Tbilisi. In addition, the restaurant menu offers a large selection of various Georgian dishes: kupaty, kuchmachi, chakupuli, soups, salads, meat and much more. Here you can have a delicious dinner, drink good wine or beer, listen to live music, and, if you wish, while away the night until the morning, since the restaurant is open around the clock.

The friendly restaurant staff happily opens its doors to its guests and communicates freely with them in Russian. For those who are not very familiar with Georgian cuisine, the waiters diligently help them choose the most delicious dishes, taking into account their wishes.

In the evening, the restaurant is cheerful and noisy in a Georgian way. Two large halls are instantly filled with guests. Dancing and a cheerful atmosphere reigns until the morning. Mid-price segment, large portions and delicious food, everything a modern tourist needs.

Khinkali House is located at: Tbilisi, Rustaveli Avenue, 37.

Machakhela

Machakhela is a chain of Georgian cafes. There are several of them in Tbilisi, the most famous are located on Rustaveli Street and Freedom Square. The one that is located in the old town on the square is more popular. This is a three-story building, with a street veranda, from which the Metekhi Church and the rest of the historical part of the city are clearly visible.

The cafe's signature dish is. The fillings and recipes for preparing this dish are varied. Here, probably, all the known khachapuri recipes are collected: with cheese, with cheese and green onions, with vegetables, with meat, Mingrelian recipe, Adjarian recipe, Imeretian recipe, etc. In addition to this, the menu offers all food options: first course, second course, salads, drinks and desserts. There is a large selection of khinkali and many other dishes of Georgian cuisine. A very tasty dish in this cafe is ojakhuri. This is a roast of meat and potatoes, with onions and Georgian spices.

In the old town, excursions involve long walks, so it is very convenient to stop by Samikitno Machakhela for breakfast, lunch and dinner. You don't have to waste time on the road, since the cafe is within walking distance. By the way, if you decide to have breakfast at this establishment, order Turkish coffee, they brew it amazingly.

Samikitno Machakhela is located at: Tbilisi, Mosashvili, 11

Reviews from tourists say that this is a very good khinkal. At least, having read the recommendations of tourists who stopped by here for lunch or dinner, and went to have breakfast once personally at Velyaminov’s, we fully support the opinion that the food prepared here is really tasty.

In Velyaminov’s cafe, the menu offers various Georgian delicacies, including homemade pickles. Meat dishes, amazing khinkali, chakapuli, soups, Georgian flatbreads, national drinks - everything is tasty, satisfying and inexpensive.

The cafe is located in the basement. It must be said that, as in most Georgian cafes and restaurants, smoking is allowed here. Since the room is closed and the ventilation does not work very well, smoke instantly permeates things and hair. This option is definitely not suitable for a family with a child.

The service is not at the highest level, but the taste of the dishes instantly makes up for all the shortcomings. I should add that locals also come here to eat - this is a good indicator of the quality of the food. The local population says that the Velyaminov cafe serves the best khinkali in Tbilisi.

Velyaminov khinkalnaya location address: Tbilisi, Dadiani street, 8

One of the best restaurants in Tbilisi. This is the perfect place to go for dinner with the whole family. The beautiful interior is cozy and homely. Along with the usual rectangular tables and wooden chairs, it has many elements that add luxury to the restaurant. Beautiful furniture, white tablecloths, good lighting, delicious food, live music give a very soulful relaxation.

The chef personally comes to the restaurant guests to help them decide on the choice of dishes and select the appropriate wines to go with them. And if you’re lucky, he’ll also treat you to chacha. In Sakhli they prepare unusually delicious desserts, which the chef will also tell you about in detail and take your order.

Compared to other establishments in Tbilisi, the service here is at the highest level. The waiters speak Russian quite well. Fast and friendly.

Prices are above average, but this is quite logical, the level of the restaurant is high in Tbilisi. It is one of the ten best restaurants in Tbilisi. If you decided: “Today I will eat and relax mentally and in a big way!”, then you should definitely come here. This is a very worthy place.

Sakhli restaurant location address: Tbilisi, G.Tabidze St., 1

The restaurant is a highlight of Tbilisi. It is located at a height from which there is a beautiful view of the city and all the historical places of Tbilisi. It can only be reached by cable car.

The undoubted advantage of the Funicular is the high quality of the dishes offered, each of which is prepared and served in such a way as not only to feed deliciously, but also to surprise guests. All the chefs are truly masters of their craft. The menu includes dishes of national and European cuisine. Here you can taste traditional khinkali and exquisite delicacies, such as young lamb, veal and many other dishes.

The restaurant itself is expensive. But in return for this, you will receive amazing impressions that may even become one of the main memories of Georgia. The restaurant is of a European level, so foreign citizens are very frequent guests here.

Address: Tbilisi, Chonkadze, 0114

A famous restaurant located near the airport. In appearance, it is not very noticeable, so not everyone may know that politicians, stars and other famous personalities are frequent guests of this restaurant. It is always crowded here, so if you decide to visit this legendary place, book a table in advance.

The restaurant menu changes depending on the season. It always has a wide selection of food and drinks. His own farm provides him with products; everything from greens to quail meat is grown there.

It is probably impossible to single out one special dish. All the food served by the restaurant's chefs is rightfully considered haute cuisine.

Meat on fire with smoke, thin khachapuri with different types of cheese, fish, stewed goat - all these delicacies can be listed endlessly. It's better to try and see once.

Address: Tbilisi, Saknavobi, 2

Probably everyone, traveling around any city, has had a snack on the street at least once. You won’t have to wonder where to eat in Tbilisi for long. Here, street stalls and shop windows where you can buy inexpensive food are everywhere. The fragrant smell of delicious baked goods is literally everywhere, so it’s simply impossible to pass by these eateries. It should be said that local residents also actively buy the same flatbreads and khachapuri from street vendors, without fear of any unpleasant consequences after eating this food. On every corner there are stalls with shawarma, khachapuri and other delicacies, so while walking around Tbilisi you can eat along the way and completely do without restaurants and cafes.

You can also drink on the streets, and not ordinary cola or water, but real Georgian lemonade or buy coffee from a mobile coffee shop. Another common service on the streets of Tbilisi is preparing a glass of freshly squeezed pomegranate juice. The seller will peel the pomegranate with you, squeeze it out and treat you to the healthiest juice, for a certain price, of course. Not only pomegranate juice is available for drinking in public places. On the street you can freely buy good, homemade Georgian wine and even drink it.

Right on the sidewalks there are sellers of fresh vegetables and fruits that adults and children can snack on. Stalls with churchkhela, marshmallows, and nuts can also serve as a snack for children; this is healthy and very loved by kids.

Snacking on the run can also be a very tasty, cheap and convenient option. Just by the smell, what you are about to buy already becomes tasty. You won’t have to wait long for your order, as happens in crowded restaurants and cafes, especially during lunch and dinner. This way you can save time and spend it on walks and sightseeing in Tbilisi.

Where to have breakfast in Tbilisi

Cafes and other catering establishments in Tbilisi open on average at 10-11 o’clock. Georgians are a people who like to sleep and do not like to rush. Therefore, the issue of an early breakfast for tourists who, out of habit, wake up with the sunrise, must be resolved in advance. It’s not very pleasant to wake up at seven o’clock in the morning and wait for the nearest cafes to open. Hunger is not a thing. There is not a lot of caffeine, which I work from 8-9 am in Tbilisi. If the place where you already had lunch can be replaced by another, then breakfast is a little more difficult. You will have to go for breakfast every day to one establishment closest to the hotel. Finding a place to eat early is a very common problem for tourists. To make it easier for you to find a cafe for breakfast, we have provided a list of morning coffee shops with a brief description of the menu. The food in morning cafes in Tbilisi is decent.

Opens at 8-00 am. They offer a crispy croissant and aromatic coffee. Suitable for a light breakfast for those who wake up early.

Location: Tbilisi, Mtkvari street, 2

The establishment is open from 9-00. The menu includes both light breakfasts in the form of curd cheesecakes and hearty dishes in the form of pasta, Hinkley and scrambled eggs. Drinks include coffee, tea, chocolate. Also a great place to have an early breakfast.

Tbilisi, Tsintsadze 12

This is the smallest coffee shop in the city. It opens at 9-00 am. Pleasant and friendly staff who will feed you a delicious breakfast and charge you with positive emotions for the whole day. For breakfast, we offer sandwiches, chocolate muffins, aromatic coffee, homemade creme brulee, smoothies and more, which will serve as a complete and healthy breakfast.

Tbilisi, Chavchavadze Avenue 22

Opens at 8-00 am. Breakfast includes pastries, juices and coffee. In addition, you can order full meals. Smoking is prohibited in the establishment.

Tbilisi, Melikishvili 21

Information for tourists traveling to Tbilisi for the first time:

• Almost all cafes and restaurants in Tbilisi allow smoking
• 10% tip is included in the bill
• payment by bank cards available
• bills are written in Georgian, so as not to get confused, take a photo of the names of the dishes and their prices.

To summarize, I would like to note that in Tbilisi they are very sensitive to the traditions of feasting and refreshments. Food, even in street stalls, is prepared with special care, which is probably why it is so tasty.

There are enough cafes and restaurants in Tbilisi and every guest will find a place to suit their budget. All have their pros and cons. Don't stop at just one establishment. Believe me, the more places you visit, the more impressions you will have from your trip.

There are small problems - the coffee menu does not shine with its originality, consider yourself lucky if you stumbled upon a good cappuccino or raf (probably only 1-2 coffee shops serve it here). Georgians mainly drink Turkish or instant coffee, so Jacobs and Nescafe have launched some cool marketing activities here. And the well-being of the population has an impact: most people have no time for coffee in cafes. Don't look for Starbucks, it's not here and doesn't plan to appear, according to their official statement. But no, information update from March 2017 - they are planning to open! Moreover, Starbucks plans to create a “regional hub” in Tbilisi and open a coffee processing plant, and even a museum.

If Georgian cuisine is delicious almost everywhere, then it is better to choose places for coffee time in advance. There are coffee shops that are expensive and not worth it. However, compared to the fairly low prices for basic food, the price of coffee is not reduced. We have compiled a list of coffee shops for you so that you can drink your invigorating cup of cappuccino and be satisfied.

Most likely you will want to rest after walks around the center and have a cup or two when you are in the center of Tbilisi, for this case we recommend the following coffee shops:

Skola Coffee & Wine bar- a new establishment at the end of 2017 in the very center of Tbilisi, on Rustaveli Street 17. An excellent place with good coffee in a historical building, next to the famous theater. Well, we are in Georgia! What's coffee without wine? Therefore, the wine bar is at your disposal. The range of food is small, but you can have a snack on European cuisine.
Pleasant minimalist interior - wood (like beech) and white color. It would have been possible to make white dishes, but the owners decided to buy black ones. Great place, normal prices - we publish the menu in the photo. There are only a few such places in Tbilisi. Recommended for coffee lovers.

Prospero's Books- the most cozy place next to the bookstore on the street. Rustaveli, there is a terrace on the street. Books in a store and people in a cafe speak all kinds of languages ​​of the world. Expats living in Tbilisi often come here to chat and work. Address: Rustaveli St., 34 in a quiet side street, from 9:30 to 21:00.

Entrée- French-Georgian chain of coffee shops. Addresses: st. David Agmashenebeli, 86; Pekini St., 7; Chavchavadze Avenue, 76; Kote Abkhazi, 47 (formerly Leselidze) - there are more, but these are the most “central”. Open from early morning - from 8:00 to 22:00

Double B- a recently opened branch of cool Russian coffee shops that position themselves as innovators in the world of coffee. Very advantageous location, center-center - next to Freedom Square, on the street. Galaktion Tabidze, 9 (if you stand with your back to Rustaveli Street, then on the right in the alley of the building with boutiques and next to the beginning of the tourist street Kote Abkhazi, also known as Leselidze). The price tag is above average. Opening hours from 11 to 22.

Dinehall— the staff gets confused with orders, the food is delicious and the interior is nice and glamorous. Cappuccino at an average price for Tbilisi 6 GEL, everything else is expensive - too sweet cheesecake 16 GEL, good schnitzel with tartar sauce and fries. Advantageous location on Rustaveli 28, from 7.30 to 2.00.

Respublika Espresso Bar- a small and cute place next to the Carrefour supermarket. Stopping by for a cup of coffee to go is a nice thing, the prices for desserts and coffee are very encouraging. Located next to the Metro bus office, 3 Vekua St. from 9 to 22.

Donkin Donuts- the world's largest chain of coffee shops with donuts, pastries and sandwiches. You can take your coffee with you. There are several of them in Tbilisi, including on Freedom Square.

MADO- the dream of any blogger, enchanting serving of coffee and food. They are located on Freedom Square, opening hours from 7:30 to 23:45.

Gourmet— French coffee shop and bakery with excellent eclairs and coffee, reasonable prices. Located on the tourist street David Agmashenebeli, 47.

Luca Polare- a chain of cafes with a delicious and rich assortment ice cream, there is also coffee. A couple of cafes are located in the most tourist places - on David Agmashenebeli St., 125 and Kote Abkhazi, 34 (Leselidze). Open from 8 to 2:00.

Pur-Pur- cool interior, French vintage with Georgian flavor of the 20s. The cuisine is European, prices are above average. Have a cup of coffee and dessert here and that's enough. Center, address st. Abo Tbileli St 1, opening hours from 12 to 02:00.

Room's Hotel Tbilisi— the coffee is delicious and the prices are reasonable, the rest of the menu is very tasty, but expensive. Address st. Merab Kostava, 14 (Merab Kostava Street, 14).

Lolita— bar-club, good atmosphere, very tasty. Located opposite Rooms Hotel Tbilisi. Open from 11 to 1:00, on Fridays and weekends until 02:00.

Away from the center:

Cantina by Bontempi— the coffee and food are delicious, the cheesecakes are tender, you can buy real Italian pasta and all sorts of crispbreads, coffee and chocolate. Saburtalo district, st. Tsintsadze 12, open from 8 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.

Paul- an international French chain of coffee shops, there is only one in Tbilisi so far. St. Ilya Abashidze, 26, from 9:00 to 23:00.

Brotmeister- a chain of Austrian bakeries, you can snack on sandwiches and salads. 7/9 Otar Taktakishvili str, I.Abashidze str 69; V. dolidze 38; R.Eristavi 16; Pekini 16. Opening hours from 8 to 22.

PinPon Cafe— a tiny and cute cafe, homemade creme brulee, delicious muffins, healthy sandwiches, seasonal smoothies. Address st. Ilya Chavchavadze, 22, from 10 to 22.

Coffee Lab— excellent coffee and desserts, a great place to work. Alexandra Kazbegi Street, 27, from 9:00 to 23:00.

Gardenia Shevardnadze— a cafe-garden where you can drink coffee, eat dessert and buy or admire plants for the garden. Entrance to the garden is paid separately and costs 2 GEL. The coffee and menu are average, but the beauty around is worth a visit. Far from the center.

Restaurants with stunning panoramic views & romantic places in Tbilisi

Restaurant "Funicular", restaurant "Chela" and confectionery "Puri Guliani"- all these places are located in one place on Mount Mtatsminda. You can get here by funicular. At Chela, it’s better to drink wine and chocolate-cream lemonade - it’s very tasty! You can also eat something more substantial here. The pastry shop prepares delicious donuts in the oven. Everyone in Tbilisi and beyond knows about these donuts. They are prepared after ordering, delicious, fresh and large. Good coffee. The views of the entire city are amazing!

Tiffany Bar & Terrace- a romantic place on the map of Tbilisi at the RiverSide Hotel. Delicious coffee and sweet treats for the girls in the form of beautiful cocktails and cakes. Prices are one and a half times more expensive than in most restaurants in the city, but it's worth it. Located in the center - within walking distance from the street. Rustaveli. Brose Street turn, Right side of Riv. Mtkvari, from 12:00 to 23:45.

Restaurant Kopala- a restaurant with an unusually beautiful evening view of the city, pleasant calm music, delicious cuisine and a romantic atmosphere. Prices are above average. Address st. Chekhova, 8/9, from 11 to 00:00.

In The Shadow of Metekhi— beautiful view of the Mtkvari River, delicious food, fast service, show programs. You have to pay extra for a beautiful view - prices are above average, but acceptable. Be careful - there is a dress code; shorts are not allowed. Directions address Tsamebuli, 29A, from 12 to 01:00. True, some guests said that the food in Georgian roadside cafes tastes better.

Restoclub columnist Victoria Dim visited the capital of Georgia, studied local establishments and compiled her top list.

At first it seemed to me that everything in Georgia must be divinely delicious. There are really a lot of establishments; you can eat here endlessly (and drink too). The first days I regularly went to all the top places from the well-known rating: it was bold, traditional, and sometimes fun. And - oh my God - it’s not always tasty! One restaurant even broke the record for disappointment: I couldn’t eat a single dish.

But the language, they say, will take you to Kyiv. It’s easy to make new friends in Tbilisi: Georgian openness and hospitality, combined with my curiosity, did the trick - soon I had a long list of establishments where modern Tbilisians with a developed sense of beauty go. It was he who helped me really explore the city, after which I compiled this top 10. Here are the most memorable restaurants - with different cuisines and price ranges, their own audience and special mood - places that truly reflect the brightness and diversity of modern Georgian culture in the best possible way. Use it when traveling around Tbilisi!

KAKHELEBI
Address: Saknavtobi #2 Kakheti Hwy
Average score: 1200 rub.

Legendary place in a nondescript building on the side of the road near Tbilisi airport. Long lines of drivers line up at the display case with dozens of types of breads, pies and pies. It gives the impression of just another roadside eatery, the kind of place where only the most desperate truckers would dare to dine on the Rostov-Vladikavkaz highway. But in fact, politicians and show business stars from all over the world have been coming here to dine for more than 10 years. Be sure to book a table in advance: the likelihood of walking in from the street and taking one of the eight tables is close to zero.

There is a menu here, but it is not recommended to look at it. The decision about the dishes is made by the waiter after several questions: “Meat or fish? Boiled, stewed, fried? Khachapuri? Then, depending on the products and the method of their preparation, they offer snacks and wine.

The selection of dishes changes constantly according to the season and available products. This is not a tribute to a trend, but a reality of life. The restaurant is supplied by its own farm of 60 hectares, where everything they need is grown, from nuts to quail. They also make their own wine: it’s worth trying their rose Mary blend of merlot and Rkatsiteli, named after the owner’s mother.

The combinations of ingredients here are worthy of the best gourmet restaurants (only the salad with greens, carrots, strawberry marshmallow and pomegranate seeds was worth it). Stewed kid in tomato sauce - a signature dish - falls apart and melts, and the signature khachapuri with three types of cheese and a thin, thin layer of golden brown dough was incredibly tasty and huge, and there was enough for six. In addition, it’s worth trying smoky dishes fried over an open fire: pork fillet, veal cutlets, fish, vegetables, mushrooms. In conclusion - tea with mountain thyme and natural sweets, not at all cloying: for example, jam from watermelon rinds, from whole walnuts, nuts in honey and fresh soft churchkhela.

Already in September 2016, the owners plan to open the second Kakhelebi in the center of Tbilisi with almost 400 seats, with an open kitchen and separate rooms for barbecue, baking, and confectionery.

CAFE LITTERA/CULINARIUM
Addresses: 13 Ivane Machabeli St. / 1 Mikheil Lermontovi
Average score: 1200 rub. in both establishments

The owner of these two restaurants, Tekuna Gachechiladze, is the number one chef in Georgia. The establishments are located next door, their menus overlap in many ways, but the format is radically different. Culinarium is a year-round experimental platform where new recipes are invented and tested, and the best of them end up on the menu of the summer Littera (fortunately, the Tbilisi summer lasts from approximately March to November) - a fabulous place with a courtyard surrounded by stone walls, a winding path and a whole forest of tall trees.

Tekuna Gachechiladze’s cuisine is called “Georgian fusion”, where the usual tastes of the Caucasus are mixed with explosive Asia, classic Italy or France.

Chakapuli here is made from mussels instead of lamb, shrimp and polenta are put in kharcho, and cheesecake is baked from delicate curd cheese nadugi. It seems that only Gachechiladze in Tbilisi dared to serve trout carpaccio: a Georgian can only dream of eating raw fish in a nightmare (and even with avocado). A mandatory item should be dips: baked eggplant with the bright taste of fire, vegetable beetroot with nuts or delicate yoghurt. They are served with triangles of pita bread and brighten up even a very long wait for the remaining courses.

The menu in both establishments is like a spinning globe: point your finger at any position and you won’t go wrong. The execution of the dishes is excellent, be it a warm salad of Kakheti herbs, viscous suluguni in thin golden breading, delicate zucchini soup with crispy mussels, salmon with tarragon sauce or filet mignon with wild mushrooms. By the way, about the latter. Georgia has a great variety of them: take the chance to try fried Caesar mushroom, also known as nikvi, a local delicacy.

MOULIN ELECTRIQUE
Address: 28 Kote Afkhazi St.
Average score: 800 rub.

This cafe is located on the main street of Tbilisi right next to the synagogue. It is protected from noise and unnecessary people by the ruins of the churchkhela and vague ultra-tourist eateries. A spacious courtyard with a wooden balcony, a must for Tbilisi, a couple of halls inside with library card files and cats on the walls: this miniature Georgian Montmartre is a favorite meeting place for creative youth over a hearty dinner or a late-night cocktail. The food is prepared simple, for every day.

You can have lunch on a budget: the portions are huge, one or two dishes will be enough to fill you up. In the evening it becomes noisy and crowded here, companies literally crowd every available meter and in every possible way interfere with the relaxed work of the waiters. Speed ​​of service is not the establishment's strong point.

The menu has an abundance of dishes with cheese, there is a signature khachapuri and interesting sandwiches - for example, on Georgian bread with a huge piece of suluguni. I advise you to leave the European dishes for the bored locals, and go for the Georgian ones yourself: beans in a pot, kebabs (mtsvadi) or a traditional salad with nuts and a ton of herbs. And remember about the portion size: even vegetable kebab is three skewers.

MUKHATSAKATUKHA
Address: 15 Giorgi Akhvlediani St.
Average score: 1200 rub.

“Mukha-Tsokotukha”, although it is located in the main bar-party triangle of Tbilisi and offers wines from fashionable winemakers like Nika Bakhia, it’s still worth coming here for breakfast. The special offer includes homemade jam, butter, bread, cheese, and your choice of tea or coffee. In the mornings, the miniature hall is filled with the aroma of fresh baked goods: the cafe bakes several types of yeast-free bread and pies.

There are also warm tartines: fried eggplant with tomato, blue cheese with pear or cool seared goat with seasonal fruit confiture on rye toast. Delicious sandwiches, of course, but compared to the local “pizza” it’s difficult to see them: for 17 GEL they will bring you a whole baking sheet, where thin Armenian lavash is greased with olive paste, on it lie layers of cheese as thick as a finger, and the filling is three times higher: mushrooms, tomatoes, aromatic peppers, sugar figs.

They also have excellent branded water with half a kilo of fruit per liter, rich in the taste of melon, apples, pears and berries.

In general, the place cannot be called budget, and the Georgian spirit, in addition to the hospitality of the staff and the taste of fresh products, is not particularly felt here, but, nevertheless, there is something in “Mukha” that makes you come back every morning.

CAFE GABRIADZE
Address: 13 Shavteli St.
Average score: 1400 rub.

The cafe at the famous Gabriadze Puppet Theater on the pedestrian street Shavteli is a performance in itself. The interior and details were designed by Rezo Gabriadze himself, an artist, writer and author of more than 35 films, including “Mimino” and “Kin-dza-dza”. Tables and chairs are hand-painted with phrases from films and plays, posters cover the walls, and even Shakespeare frowns from the curtains.

The menu is an interesting, neat Georgian one with “stray” borscht and donuts. Items for vegans are carefully marked with a special sign, and there is a section with dishes on a wood-burning grill and on a ketsi (traditional clay frying pan): for example, bubbling lobio with beans or chicken tabaka. Special offers do not appear with the season, but as the chef gets inspired. For example, I was inspired to make “oyster mushrooms fried as if under a hot food iron” or ice cream with rum - all here.

By the way, they say oyster mushrooms are available in Georgia almost all year round, and at Gabriadze they come with a thin crispy crust, with nuts in honey. Deserves a standing ovation. But the specialty of the cafe is Imeretian-style khachapuri, and even the “small” size is very large!

But the choice of authentic desserts is quite modest: I recommend a small pelamushi made from corn flour and grapes with nuts: almost unsweetened, with a slight sourness, it perfectly complements the bitterness of oriental coffee. And pay attention: red wine is poured into tea here. Oh, this theatrical bohemia.

STRADA
Address: 7 Sandro Euli St.; Marjanishvili St.
Average bill: 1200 rub.

One day, Moscow businessmen with Georgian roots decided to open a restaurant in Tbilisi. We had no experience in the industry, so we did what we knew: we called some of the best interior professionals and famous chefs. This is how the first Strada was born with brand chef Isaac Correa (creator of Correa’s, UDC, Corner Burger, Montalto and Black Market), pastry chef Suki Maman from London (formerly Upside Down Cake) and barista Nastya Godunova (Good Enough). The opening of the second restaurant on Marjanishvili Street with almost 350 seats proved the viability of the concept. A refreshing New York breeze in the kingdom of khachapuri.

In the evenings, live music concerts are held here: saxophone, guitar, piano. The courtyard is filled with a pleasant hum of conversations, and the tables are filled with glasses of popular branded lemonades. Mostly modern locals and expats come here, tired of the traditional delights of Georgian cuisine (and you get tired of them quite quickly).

There are two main menus: American-European and Asian with a Korean accent - different as day and night in appearance, flavors and price. An Asian dinner will cost 2-3 times more, although they will bring a bucket of Tom Yam, and only a generous plate of European soups. The pizza is prepared in American style, the pasta, buns and all the baked goods are made in-house.

Come here, firstly, for the only proper hummus in the city with vegetable sticks and pita bread, and, secondly, for red cabbage salad with dates and feta. On the menu it is boringly called “Baked Beetroot with Feta,” but in reality everything is much more interesting. For hot dishes, I recommend cauliflower soup with salmon from our own smokehouse.

Strong desserts from London chef Suki Maman also cannot be ignored. And don’t let bright cupcakes cloud your mind - order a milk cake. On top there is a layer of light butter cream, and the dense biscuit in it is soaked in boiled condensed milk sauce so that even a light touch with a spoon causes moisture to appear around the edges.

GARDENIA SHEVARDNADZE
Address: Khudadovi Street, Dead-end
Average score: 800 rub.

A visit to Gardenia is an event of an entertainment and aesthetic rather than a gastronomic nature. It is worth adding this place to your list of must-see attractions before visiting the Botanical Garden. You will have to travel deliberately by taxi (15-20 minutes from the center) or by public transport.

Actually, this is a botanical nursery where they sell hundreds of types of flowers and plants in pots. Pragmatism is hidden behind absolutely pastoral pictures of the Garden of Eden, where antiques are buried in greenery. Everything is built and made by the hands of owner Zura Shevardnadze: from long, smooth greenhouses to stacks of vintage plates and forks. Every square meter evokes interest and admiration; you can walk for hours and look at the details.

The cafe was opened for guests to relax: they created a bright veranda with Provençal armchairs, flowers here, flowers there. The menu is compact and consists only of the owner’s favorite dishes (mostly vegetarian). Take a carafe of sea buckthorn or other seasonal compote and “Lunch from Zura”: Gurian mchadi, cheese, eggplant salad. Even easier - fried elarji balls with nut butter.

G.VINO
Address: 6 Erekle II St.
Average score: 1500 rub.

The number of wine bars/shops/tasting clubs in Tbilisi is beyond all possible expectations. Most of them have been working for many years and are absolutely no different from each other. And Erekle Street is purely touristic, so G. Vino, against the general background of drinking establishments here, is like a ray of light in a dark kingdom.

This place is “alive” and devoid of the naphthalene touch so typical of Georgian wine bars. However, he does not overload himself with academic lectures and educational functions about the fate of modern winemaking in the region. Of course, if you wish, you can ask the sommelier for a short tour, but it is better to leave this for another occasion and just come here to drink good natural wine and have a snack.

First of all, decide on the wine: you will have to take a bottle. There are glassware, but they are much more expensive, and the choice is small. You definitely need to take the cheeses: they are made in a private cheese factory that specializes in original flavors: suluguni, aged in saperavi, young tenili and several other names that don’t say anything about the amazing taste. In principle, this is enough for a perfect evening. But for the very hungry, they offer salads and hot dishes: especially worthy of attention are “sulgunela” made from buffalo milk with cherry tomatoes and basil sauce or chicken croquettes in nut sauce.

O MODA, MODA!
Address: 64-66 Vasil Barnov St.
Average score: 1500 rub.

This place has remained fashionable for 4 years since its opening. The cafe and designer items store were opened by designer Nino Nozadze, costume designer Tinatin Kvinikadze and art critic Ketevan Sakandelidze, and the menu was developed by the same famous Tekuna Gachechiladze (Cafe Littera and Culinarium).

The first open kitchen in Tbilisi appeared here: they simply opened the wooden doors into the hall. In autumn and winter, it is pleasant to sit by the fireplace with a cup of organic coffee and a piece of hot chocolate cake, leafing through a selection of glossy magazines. In summer, tables and wicker chairs appear in the miniature courtyard. The place is located a little away from the main routes, so during the day it is quiet and peaceful, and in the evening a DJ appears and a young creative cluster flocks to it.

From 10 am they serve delicious breakfasts: oatmeal with fruit, pancakes, omelettes or eggs benedict on crispy toast. Sandwiches (for example, with vegetables and artichoke), tartines, and quiches are popular. The price tag is higher than in Mukhatsakatukha, and the portions are smaller.

First of all, in O moda, moda! great snacks. For example, you can eat an assortment of dips with different types of beans, vegetable sticks and bread endlessly - they are so delicious. And the portion is huge. For main course, I recommend trout with orange or steak with arugula sauce.

By the way, Lagidze’s lemonades, famous in the post-Soviet space, and carrot cake with a tower of cream cheese, already famous among local guests, are served here.

144 STAIRS
Address: 27 Betlemis St.
Average score: 800 rub.

The name of this cafe was given for a reason: you will have to climb Mount Narikala high, and along the way you will definitely get lost and walk through the old city in search of the right stairs. But as a reward you will get a stunning view of the center of Tbilisi, framed by red roofs.

Initially, it was an art gallery where paintings by contemporary Georgian artists were collected. The interior halls of the cafe remain a gallery to this day, although hookah here has become much more popular than art. It is better to reserve tables on the veranda in advance; there are many who want to drink a glass of cold white while watching the slow flow of the river at any time of the day.

The menu is conveniently divided into two parts: Georgian and European. There is barbecue, there are steaks, there is pizza and pasta too. It’s worth a thorough walk through the Georgian part, ordering pan-fried dishes and ketsi. For example, chicken shkmeruli in an uncompromising amount of garlic or roast meat ojakhuri. The local specialty and pride is gupta lobio - bean balls in nut sauce with Georgian spices. For them you can climb 144 steps and one more time.

Photos: Victoria Dim. Some of the photos were provided by the establishments.