Last updated on April 6th, 2026 at 07:59 pm
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Georgian food is excellent, so when you visit Tbilisi, eating the local food is necessary! I spent a month living in Tbilisi in 2023 and just returned from my second visit. Here are some of the restaurants in Tbilisi I consider the best for local, as well as international food, many of which I have visited multiple times!
Best Restaurants in Tbilisi for Georgian Food
Georgian cuisine is one of my favorites, and after visiting the country twice (once for over a month), most of the best restaurants in Tbilisi serve Georgian food! Here are some of my favorites that I will visit again and again.
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Sofia Melnikova’s Fantastic Douqan
Sofia Melnikova’s Fantastic Douqan is probably our favorite restaurant in Tbilisi for Georgian food. A little way from the center of old town, Sofia Melnikova’s is tucked down a street so you might never know it was there. Dine in the courtyard under grape vines or inside the quirky dining room with a couch and mismatched furniture.
Everything we’ve had there is good. Some of our favorites are the Adjarian khachapuri, rich and creamy center of cheese topped with an egg yolk bordered with soft but chewy bread, ajapsandali, and the pasanuri khinkali. No matter what you order, expect a visit from the resident family of cats!
Sofia Melnikova’s Fantastic Doquan offers beer, wine, cocktails, and non-alcoholic drinks. They are open for lunch and dinner from 12 PM to 2 AM every day.
The King and the Bird
Another one of our favorites is The King and the Bird, conveniently close to the Airbnb we’ve stayed in twice now. The King and the Bird feels more upscale; however, the prices are still reasonable.
Some of our favorite dishes are the chicken in adjika sauce, the flavors of which originate in the Abkhazia region that is now occupied by Russia, and the cheese and curd Khinkali with pesto sauce and pomegranate, which is a unique take on khinkali. The bright flavors in the pesto sauce complement the heavy cheese dumpling well.
The decor is antique and minimal, with some plants. It is a pretty small restaurant with sectioned off rooms, which makes it feel cozy.
The King and the Bird opens at 4 PM every day.
Varazi Restaurant
Varazi Restaurant is more upscale, good for a nice night out, but the food is kept simple and delicious with classic Georgian dishes. The restaurant is modern, all sleek lines, large windows, and greenery.
We went to this restaurant with our Georgian friend, and he chose all the dishes. Everything was delicious, but the highlight was kuchmachi with fried sulgoni balls. This dish is made with internals, but if that isn’t your thing, I challenge you to try it anyway! I am not very comfortable eating internals either, but everyone at the table (including three Americans) agreed it was the best dish.
The chicken skemeruli and the phkali platter were also really good.
Varazi Restaurant is open every day from 10 AM to 11:30 PM for food.
Cafe Daphna
Cafe Daphna is a must-visit when in Tbilisi, but make sure you have reservations because this place is always busy. The khinkali are the highlight here, but everything is good. When ordering khinkali, you don’t have to order in sets like most places, so you can try more types than usual! The mushroom khinkali are excellent, but you can’t go wrong. I really enjoy the salads that I have eaten there, particularly the chicken salad with orange slices and mustard dressing.
The interior is elegantly colorful, pink with turquoise velvet upholstered chairs.
Cafe Daphna is open every day from 11 AM to 2 AM, with extended hours on Friday and Saturday. Definitely make reservations to visit Cafe Daphna.
Salobie Bia
Salobie Bia was the first restaurant that we went to in Georgia, so it will always have a special place in my heart. It is right off Rustaveli Avenue, beneath the Rustaveli Theater, in central Tbilisi, which makes it easy to get to. It is in the basement, similar to many restaurants in Tbilisi, and they have a large collection of antiques on display near the front of the restaurant. I specifically remember walking in and seeing rows of antique knives and guns and unique art looking back at me and thinking, “Where am I?”
We enjoyed the Imeritian khachapuri and the chicken skemeruli. Salobie Bia doesn’t serve khinkali, so if that’s what you’re craving, I would head somewhere else.
Salobie Bia is open every day from 12 PM to 10:30 PM.
Taninni
Taninni is also conveniently located on Rustaveli Avenue. Another basement spot, with colorful classic Georgian-style paintings and folk art adorning the walls, Taninni is approachable. You can order wine by the liter here, which is always fun, and they serve a large variety of Georgian dishes.
Order the crispy eggplant salad, which comes with chunks of fried eggplant, large, juicy tomatoes, dollops of cream cheese, and a delicious sweet glaze. We order it every time, and it is phenomenal.
The khinkali are quite good here too; we’ve tried both the mushroom and meat varieties. They make pretty good khachapuri, too.
Taninni is open every day from 10 AM to 11:30 AM.
Racha
Racha is our favorite low-key spot in Tbilisi. It is named after a region in Georgia, known for beautiful alpine scenery and hearty regional cuisine. The prices are excellent, and the food is of good quality. The service is hit or miss, though. It is owned by a Russian woman who can be unfriendly. At Racha, you order at the counter and pay in cash.
The mushroom khinkali are nicely spiced. The meat khinkali are a bit smaller than other restaurants, but they are extremely affordable. We usually order the pork mstavadi here, which is popular and pretty good. They grill it in a fire pit on the right side of the restaurant, so you can watch. You can also get wine by the liter here.
Racha is open daily from 11 AM to 11 PM.
Pictograma
Pictograma is tucked away near the 9 March Park. The decor is minimal, a rounded brick ceiling creating that distinct Eastern European feel.
The restaurant focuses on dishes from the Khevsureti mountain region of Georgia, offering unique dishes rarely found at other restaurants in Tbilisi. Try kuserbo, a potato and cheese pancake served alongside beef cooked in saperavi or the qadisqveri, minced beef, wild leeks, and cheese baked into a pastry. Pictograma is also great for khinkali, specifically, mountain khinkali made without greens or pork.
We tried the khinkali, of course, and shadsmobi khortsi, marinated beef with cream sauce. It was good and I would definitely return to Pictograma to try more of these regional dishes.
Pictograma is open from 11 AM to 11 PM daily.
Acharulebi Laghidzeze
Another low-key, cheap eatery in Tbilisi is Acharulebi Laghidzeze. It is in a basement on an unassuming corner of Rustaveli Avenue, easy to miss. Apparently, this is reminiscent of the Soviet-era restaurant style, and it holds a bit of nostalgia for some, according to Google reviews.
Acharulebi Laghizeze is a great place to get Laghizde Water, if you hadn’t noticed it in the name. They also make a great Adjurian khachapuri, but it is incredibly rich and buttery, so I recommend sharing if you can. Luke and I each ordered a small khachapuri, but they were still pretty big for one person, and we were stuffed after.
They are open most days from 10:30 AM to 10 PM.
Keria
Keria is another budget-friendly option in Tbilisi. There are a couple of locations, but we went to the one off Rustaveli near the Rustaveli metro area. The interior is minimal, primarily white and grey. Keira is counter service only. The menu is small, focusing on simple, on-the-go food like khachapuri and lobiani.
We tried the Imeritian khachapuri, smoked lobiani khachapuri, and pelmini, which are small Russian dumplings served with sour cream. The dumplings and the Imeritian Khachapuri were good; the lobiani had a smoky flavor that I didn’t prefer.
Keira is open from 10 AM to 9 PM.
Chashnagiri
Chashnagiri is a great restaurant for trying traditional Georgian dishes, conveniently located if you are staying in Old Town. You can try cheese, potato, mushroom, and traditional meat khinkali here, as well as dishes like chicken skemeruli and odjakhuri.
We tried the pork barbecue, or mstavadi, the fat seared to a nice crispness without the pork drying out. The imeritian khachapuri was also good. We tried a version of the eggplant with walnut dish, where red pepper was used instead of eggplant, and it turns out we prefer the former. What a surprise!
Chashnagiri is open every day from 11 AM to 11:30 PM.
Maspindzelo
We visited Maspindzelo because they serve chebureki, the Eastern European version of an empanada that originated with the Crimean Tatars. While not technically Georgian, chebureki has become popular in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. It was not as easy to find as the Georgian staples. We tried a meat chebureki and a cheese chebureki at Maspindzelo. They were both great, but the meat one was a bit too juicy, which made it soggy and therefore hard to eat.
We also tried apkhazura sausage, minced pork and beef with spices, wrapped in caul fat and fried or grilled. The Georgian salad at Maspindzelo had a ton of cilantro; it was a bit too much for us.
Maspindzelo is near the sulfur baths, so this might be a good place to stop after if you are hungry! They are open daily from 10:30 AM until midnight.
სახინკლე
სახინკლე doesn’t seem to have an English name. When you translate the word სახინკლე, Google says it means “Terrible.” So either the joke’s on us English-speakers, or it’s supposed to be ironic. Regardless, this is another affordable option for Georgian food in Tbilisi. It is similar to Racha. Located in an exposed-brick basement with a round ceiling, the prices are great. We prefer Racha, but the food here was pretty good too.
The ojakhuri is enjoyable, with nicely fried pork, potatoes, and onions. We also tried some pickled vegetables, including jonjoli, which was not my favorite. It has a pungent flavor. The Imeritian Khachapuri was enjoyable.
This restaurant is open from 10 AM to 9 PM.
Sheen Aura
Sheen Aura is a little outside of the typical tourist area, but if you are interested in brutalism, it is close to the Nutsubidze Skybridge, which is a good example of Soviet-era architecture. This eclectic restaurant has a cute, covered patio and offers live music occasionally (check their Facebook page).
The food is Georgian with a twist. The chicken pan is reminiscent of chicken shkmeruli, but it has a tarragon cream sauce instead of garlic, and the sauce was a bit thinner. We also tried the pirosmani salad, with classic Georgian ingredients like eggplant, green beans, and bell pepper, but also containing sesame. The salad was our favorite thing at Sheen Aura! The chikhirtma, a simple Georgian chicken soup, was good as well.
Sheen Aura opens at 2 PM every day.
Sakhli #11
Sakhli means “home” in Georgian, and Sakhli #11 is another great place in Tbilisi to taste food that seems home-cooked. The atmosphere is more upscale than some of the other places, with antique decor and warm lighting. It is in a fun neighborhood, good for bar hopping, so this could be a good place to start the night if you are hoping to try Georgian food. They also have a nice patio that allows for people watching.
We tried the ojakhuri, which had good flavor and was a little less oily than other places we tried it. The potatoes were also thinly cut and cooked well. The adjapsandali was also tasty, served cold with eggplant and peppers in a spiced sauce.
They are open from 12 to 11 PM.
Ghebi
Ghebi is across the river from Old Town, so this is a great place to eat if you are exploring that area. It is a no-frills spot with minimal decoration, wooden beams lining the ceiling of a basement, and large, sturdy wooden tables meant to be piled high with food.
What the atmosphere lacks, the food makes up for. This was one of our favorite places for Imeritian khachapuri. The meat khinkali and grilled beef kebab were also good. To wash it down, we ordered a jug of amber wine.
The restaurant is supposedly open 24 hours a day, but I have only experienced it during regular hours.
RIGI
Another restaurant worth trying on the left bank of Tbilisi is RIGI, a self-proclaimed modern gastronomic douqan, or traditional eatery. The restaurant is upscale and modern, with views of the Kura River (locally known as the Mtkvari). The space is open and inviting, decorated in stark neutrals and leafy plants. The open kitchen surrounds the dining room, allowing the diner to become part of the experience.
We tried the pkhali plate (called the khoncha plate), which came with four different types of pkhali and corn chips. We also tried something new here, the Ostri Tbilisi-style stew. The stew included two slices of beef in a thick tomato sauce over mashed potatoes and roasted peppers. It was rich and homey, a good example of how RIGI takes traditional dishes and elevates them for the modern palette.
RIGI is open daily from 12 to 10:30 PM.
Megruli Sakhli
Megruli Sakhli focuses on cuisine inspired by the Samegrelo (Megrelia) region of Georgia, known for rich cheeses and flavorful dishes. The decor is tasteful, with cream-colored table cloths, elegant floor-to-ceiling curtains, and plush chairs. We found the dishes at Megruli Sakhli to be reasonably priced, despite the classy atmosphere.
The mushroom salad with apples and walnuts, covered in a creamy sauce, was a delightful surprise. We also tried the kebab, meat khinkali, and a white kisi wine. Everything was delicious.
Megruli Sakhli opens daily at 11 AM.
Restaurant Pasanauri
Restaurant Pasanauri on Gorgasali Street was incredibly busy when we visited for lunch. It is in the center of the Old Town tourist area, so this is a good spot to try if you are seeing the sights but still want to try good Georgian food. They are particularly known for their khinkali, so make sure you get an order of those! Pasanauri means “from the mountain” in Georgian, so this restaurant focuses on cuisine from the mountainous regions of Georgia.
We tried the cucumber and tomato salad, kharcho, Pasanauri khinkali with meat, potato khinkali, ojakhuri with mushrooms, and adjapsandali. It was way too much food, but everything was delicious. The meat khinkali were the highlight, but we also enjoyed the ojakhuri and the adjapsandali, which both had great flavor. The kharcho was a little light in flavor; I wouldn’t order it again.
Restaurant Pasanauri is open daily from 10 AM to 1 PM.
Best Restaurants in Tbilisi for International Food:
Sometimes you need a break from the local cuisine. Admittedly, Georgia is a place where we ate mostly local food because it is all so good, but even we occasionally needed a break, especially when we lived in Tbilisi for a month during our year of nomadic living.
Cafe Stamba
Cafe Stamba is a trendy retro restaurant located in the historic Stamba Hotel on Rustaveli Avenue, known for its stylish interiors and garden patio. In the warmer months, you can enjoy their patio and the surrounding foliage, popular in the warmer months. While you are there, also check out their lobby, which is lined with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, as a nod to the historic building’s past as a printing press. It is worth a visit to Cafe Stamba for the ambiance alone, but they also serve up great food and cocktails. The food is international, so it is a great place to eat if you are looking for a break from Georgian food.
I ordered the Norwegian salmon and charred vegetables, which hit the spot, and Luke tried the lamb shoulder with mashed potatoes and tarragon. The cocktails tend to be on the sweeter, fruitier side, perfect for basking in the sun on their patio.
Cafe Stamba is open from 8 AM to 12 AM for brunch, lunch, and dinner. I recommend making reservations.
Sulico Wine Bar and Restaurant
Sulico Wine Bar and Restaurant is a quaint restaurant tucked away in a below-ground patio lined with trees and other plants. At night, string lights illuminate the courtyard, and diners enjoy bottles of wine while admiring the mural on the walls. Cats roam freely, looking for scraps or affection, but if you give in to them, prepare to be popular for the rest of your night.
The restaurant serves some Georgian dishes alongside its Mediterranean-inspired menu and extensive wine list. You can order a glass from any of the bottles of wine on hand without having to order the whole bottle.
Sulico opens at 3 PM on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and at 6 PM the rest of the week.
8000Vintages
8000Vintages is an institution in Georgia — they have several locations in Tbilisi and another in Batumi! 8000Vintages is a wine bar, where you can try a plethora of Georgian and International wines. You can taste wines for free in their shop area or make a reservation for a wine tasting at your table to try four Georgian wines with a sommelier. Request a table reservation regardless, because they are extremely popular.
Accompany your wine with one of their specialty boards. Go with the classic Georgian board to try local favorites like sulgoni cheese, lobio, and jonjoli, or try one of their other specialty boards. They even have a Mexican board! We tried both the Georgian board and, on another visit, the Tuscan board, which was also great.
8000Vintages is open daily from 11 AM to 1 PM.
HB Sanapiro
HB Sanapiro is a German-style beer hall in Tbilisi. Inside, you feel like you’ve stepped into Munich during Oktoberfest, but without the crowds. Steins line the walls, and blue and white colors decorate the dining area. The ceiling is decorated with murals evoking Bavaria and Oktoberfest.
HB Sanaprio serves German and Georgian food, but the highlight for me is the German beer. I particularly like the Wiesse because I love a wheat beer. The food is good, too. We have been a couple of times, and we always order the khinkali. The meat khinkali are a little small, but the flavor is good. They also serve khinkali with potato, which are good.
We tried a white sausage, which was good, although it was very finely ground, typical for German sausages, but not my favorite. Recently, I tried the mushroom cream soup, which was delicious and warming on a rainy day. The bread basket comes with shoti puri and German pretzels, which I enjoy.
They are open from 10 AM to 11 PM every day.
Wine Factory N1
Wine Factory N1 is a must-visit destination for every visitor, as it features a Soviet-era wine cellar in the basement, shrouded in mystery. The cellar is closed, but you can peek through the window at the shelves of over 30,000 dusty bottles. This building was constructed as a wine factory in 1896 during the Soviet era, but it was repurposed into a food hall in 2017.
There are a couple of restaurants here, such as Veriko, another option for Georgian food, as well as fast-casual spots along the edge of the property serving a variety of international foods, including German cuisine, boba tea, and more. The fast-casual spots are outside, so they may have modified hours in the winter months. It is a good place to go if you have an indecisive group or if you are craving a different type of cuisine.
Fiesta: Tequila Bar & Mexican Restaurant
Fiesta is one of the few Mexican restaurants we found in Tbilisi, and while it was not exactly authentic, it was not bad. Mexican food is a staple at home, and we were craving it badly after months of living nomadically, so we decided to check out Fiesta. If this is your first time in Tbilisi, I would skip this one, but if you are a digital nomad who desperately misses margaritas with chips and salsa, this might be the place for you!
They are open at 3 PM on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and open at 1 PM the rest of the week.
Bazari Orbeliani
An indoor food hall with plenty of international options, Bazari Orbeliani is a fun place to check out. You can get Italian, Mediterranean, Asian, macaroni and cheese, sandwiches, ice cream, pastries, and more. There is a bar upstairs as well. If you haven’t tried Lagidze Water yet, you can find it here!
Bazari Orbeliani is open daily from 11 AM to 11 PM, but individual shop hours may vary.
New Asia
I don’t know about you, but I always crave Chinese food. New Asia serves mostly Chinese food, and a few other Asian dishes, and it was perfect to curb the craving. We especially enjoyed their dumplings, which came attached with a crusty top. The lo mein is also good! It’s definitely not the best Asian food I’ve ever had, but it is good in a pinch.
Khushi Indian Restaurant
I didn’t expect to love Indian food in Georgia, but Khushi Indian Restaurant hit the spot! We ordered the palak paneer and chicken tikka masala, and both were pretty good. Neither was very spicy, but they had good flavor. We also tried the chile pakora, a chile pepper battered and fried, but the pepper was so spicy.
There are two locations in Tbilisi, one near Freedom Square and one near Wine Factory N1.
PIPES Burger Joint at Fabrika
Another thing I crave constantly is a cheeseburger. Very American of me, I know. After six months of traveling the world, though, I became very suspicious of burgers in other countries. I had some pretty bad ones, but PIPES was different.
I got the signature burger, and it was everything I wanted from a burger: juicy patty, soft bun, good flavor, and a side of fries. As a bonus, the patty was stuffed with the melted cheddar cheese. It was topped with bacon, onion jam, gerhkins, lettuce, tomato, and burger sauce. Delicious!
Tips for Dining in Tbilisi
Keep these things in mind when dining in restaurants in Tbilisi. This will make your visit smoother!
Do restaurants in Tbilisi accept credit cards?
Many restaurants accept credit cards, but always carry cash just in case.
Do you need reservations for restaurants in Tbilisi?
Most places do not require reservations. Reservations can often be made via the restaurant’s website or WhatsApp message, so it is worth having the app downloaded before your trip.
Do you need to tip at restaurants in Tbilisi?
It is not required to tip, but it is appreciated. Tip 10–15% of the bill, and always check whether service has already been added.
What language is used on menus in Tbilisi?
Menus are typically available in Georgian, English, and Russian.
How long does it take to get food at restaurants in Tbilisi?
Georgian meals are made fresh to order, so settle in. The pace is part of the experience!
How big are the portions at restaurants in Tbilisi?
Dishes tend to be large as they are meant to be shared. You can often get a to-go box if you are able (reheated khachapuri makes a pretty good breakfast!).
Reflections on Where to Eat in Tbilisi
My mouth is watering just thinking about all the amazing restaurants in Tbilisi! Hopefully, there are a couple of places on this list you are excited to visit on your next trip.
Have you tried any of these? What is your favorite restaurant in Tbilisi?
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