Best Restaurants in Georgia 2026

Khinkali

Georgia's iconic soup dumplings filled with spiced minced meat, herbs, and broth. The correct eating method is to hold the knot, bite a small hole, suck the soup, then eat the dumpling. The knot is always left on the plate.

Where to try: Pasanauri restaurant, Khinklis Sakhli, Didube area restaurants

Price: 5-10 GEL for 5 pieces

Adjarian Khachapuri

Boat-shaped pastry filled with melted cheese and topped with a raw egg yolk and butter. Stir the egg into the hot cheese filling with torn bread from the edges. The most photogenic of the khachapuri varieties.

Where to try: Any Georgian restaurant; best in Batumi where it originates

Price: 8-15 GEL

Badrijani Nigvzit

Fried aubergine rolls stuffed with a creamy spiced walnut paste and garnished with pomegranate seeds. A perfect example of the Georgian cuisine's sophisticated use of nuts and spices.

Where to try: All traditional Georgian restaurants

Price: 5-8 GEL

Mtsvadi (Shashlik)

Georgian-style pork or beef skewers grilled over vine wood or charcoal, marinated in onion and pomegranate. The vine wood adds a distinctive smoky-fruity flavor unlike any other BBQ tradition.

Where to try: Outdoor grill restaurants (especially Mtatsminda area, Lisi Lake), village restaurants

Price: 10-20 GEL

Churchkhela

Walnut (or hazelnut) threads dipped in thickened grape must (tatara) and dried into a sausage shape. A complete nutritional package used by Georgian warriors. Available everywhere as a snack or souvenir.

Where to try: Dezerter Bazaar, roadside stalls, markets throughout Kakheti

Price: 1-3 GEL each

Cafe Littera

Located in the Writers' House courtyard, chef Tekuna Gachechiladze marries classic Georgian flavors with European techniques. Beautiful garden setting with dishes like chilled sorrel soup, fig carpaccio with Tushetian guda cheese, and veal tartare with local truffles.

13 Machabeli St, Tbilisi

Ethnographer

Authentic Georgian restaurant offering regional dishes from across Georgia with live traditional music and dancing. Full cultural experience with polyphonic singing, great atmosphere, and extensive menu of classics.

11 Nikoloz Baratashvili St, Tbilisi

Pasanauri

Famous chain specializing in khinkali, named after the mountain town considered birthplace of Georgia's best dumplings. Multiple locations, quick service, and authentic traditional khinkali. Tourist and local favorite.

Multiple locations in Tbilisi

Khachapuri Stand - Rustaveli Metro

Popular khachapuri stand outside Rustaveli metro serving fresh, hot cheese bread. Ultra-cheap, authentic, and perfect quick meal. Locals swear by the quality.

Rustaveli Metro Station exit, Tbilisi

Prospero's Books & Caliban's Coffeehouse

Beloved bookshop-cafe with extensive English book selection, excellent coffee, homemade cakes, and cozy reading atmosphere. Cultural institution in Tbilisi. Great for rainy days.

34 Rustaveli Ave, Tbilisi

Shavi Lomi

Innovative restaurant in a historic wine cellar reimagining traditional Georgian dishes with modern presentation. Intimate atmosphere, excellent wine list, and creative seasonal menu using local ingredients.

7 Atoneli St, Tbilisi

Maspindzelo

Cozy restaurant in Old Town near sulfur baths serving consistently excellent Georgian classics. Known for outstanding khinkali, warm atmosphere, and friendly service. Popular with locals and tourists alike.

15 Atoneli St, Tbilisi

Zakhar Zakharich

Nostalgic Soviet-themed cafe serving classic USSR dishes in retro setting. Fun atmosphere, affordable prices, and interesting menu of Russian and Georgian favorites from Soviet era.

9 Leselidze St, Tbilisi

Lobiani

Flatbread filled with seasoned kidney beans and herbs, baked in a traditional tone clay oven. A staple Georgian street food that is hearty, affordable, and delicious eaten hot from the oven.

Find it at: Bakeries throughout Tbilisi, especially near metro stations

Puri (Fresh Bread)

Georgian bread baked in the traditional tone (cylindrical clay oven) comes out with a beautiful char and chewy interior. Shoti puri (boat-shaped) and round round mchari are the main varieties.

Find it at: Traditional tone bakeries throughout Georgia; Dezerter Bazaar area

Kubdari

Svan-style meat-filled bread from the Svaneti region, different from khachapuri with spiced pork and onion filling. A street food you find in Tbilisi markets but is regional to the Svaneti mountain region.

Find it at: Svaneti specialty shops in Tbilisi; Mestia

Corn on the Cob (Grilled)

Street vendors throughout Tbilisi and Batumi grill corn on the cob and serve it with salt and butter. A simple but popular snack especially near parks and tourist areas.

Find it at: Street vendors at Rike Park, Batumi Boulevard, near Fabrika

Dezerter Bazaar (Dezertirebi)

Tbilisi's main covered market is an assault on the senses with mountains of fresh produce, wheels of sulguni cheese, barrels of pickles, jars of tarragon vodka, and vendors shouting their wares. The heart of Georgian food culture.

Hours: 7AM-5PM daily, busiest in morning

Batumi Green Bazaar

Batumi's covered central market selling Adjara region specialties including subtropical fruits (feijoa, persimmon), fresh herbs, adjika chili paste, and Adjarian cheeses different from Tbilisi varieties.

Hours: 7AM-3PM daily

Telavi Market (Kakheti)

Market in Kakheti's regional capital where local farmers sell homemade wine in plastic bottles, walnut spreads, churchkhela from local vineyards, and seasonal produce from the Alazani Valley.

Hours: 8AM-4PM daily