The Short Version
Tbilisi is absurdly cheap for eating out โ you can have a full Georgian feast for what a sandwich costs in Copenhagen. The Georgian food scene is incredible, the international food scene is catching up fast, and Wolt delivers basically everything to your door. Tipping is optional but appreciated. The hardest part isn't finding good food โ it's not gaining 10kg in your first three months.
What Eating Out Actually Costs
If you're coming from Western Europe, Scandinavia, or the US, Tbilisi restaurant prices will feel surreal. A proper sit-down meal with a beer at a good restaurant โ not a tourist trap, not a fast food joint โ runs about 25-40 GEL ($9-15). That's per person, with appetizer, main, and a drink.
The catch: prices have been climbing steadily since 2022. The influx of Russian and Ukrainian relocants, combined with general inflation, pushed restaurant prices up 30-40% in some neighborhoods. Vake and the area around Fabrika have been hit hardest. But even "expensive" Tbilisi is cheap by European standards.
| Restaurant Type | Price per Person | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Street food / bakery | 3-8โพ ($1-3) | Khachapuri, lobiani, shawarma, khinkali to-go |
| Budget sit-down | 12-25โพ ($4-9) | Full meal at a local spot โ soup, main, bread, drink |
| Mid-range restaurant | 30-60โพ ($11-22) | Nice atmosphere, multiple courses, wine, dessert |
| International cuisine | 35-70โพ ($13-26) | Sushi, Italian, Indian โ imported ingredients cost more |
| Fine dining | 80-200โพ ($30-75) | Tasting menus, sommelier service, high-end Georgian |
| Coffee + pastry | 8-15โพ ($3-5) | Specialty coffee, croissant or cake at a good cafรฉ |
| Beer at a bar | 6-14โพ ($2-5) | Draft craft beer 8-14โพ, import bottles 10-16โพ |
The "Two Economies" Effect
Tbilisi effectively has two restaurant economies. The tourist/expat zone (Old Town, Vera, Vake Park area) charges 20-40% more than equivalent quality restaurants in neighborhoods like Saburtalo, Didube, or Gldani. If you're on a budget, eat where Georgians eat โ not where Instagram eats.
Georgian Food: What You Need to Know
You probably moved to Georgia already knowing about khachapuri and khinkali. Within a month, you'll discover that Georgian cuisine is way deeper than those two dishes. Every region has its own specialty, and Tbilisi restaurants have them all.
The portions are massive by European standards. What looks like an appetizer at a Georgian restaurant could feed you for lunch. This is important โ over-ordering is the most expensive mistake expats make. Two or three dishes shared between two people is usually plenty.
| Dish | Typical Price | What to Know |
|---|---|---|
| Khinkali (5 pieces) | 5-8โพ | Eat with hands. Bite, slurp soup, eat. Never use a fork. |
| Adjarian khachapuri | 12-18โพ | Boat-shaped, egg on top. One per person โ it's a meal, not a side. |
| Imeretian khachapuri | 8-14โพ | Round, cheese-filled. Share it as a side dish or table bread. |
| Mtsvadi (pork skewers) | 12-18โพ | Marinated in onions/pomegranate. Best with tkemali sauce. |
| Ojakhuri | 14-22โพ | Fried pork with potatoes in a clay ketsi. Comfort food perfection. |
| Lobio (bean stew) | 8-14โพ | Served in a clay pot with mchadi cornbread. Cheap, filling, vegetarian. |
| Pkhali (walnut-veggie spread) | 6-10โพ | Spinach, beet, or cabbage with walnut paste. Order the sampler. |
| Badrijani nigvzit | 8-12โพ | Fried eggplant rolls with walnut paste. The perfect appetizer. |
Tipping: The Rules Nobody Explains
Tipping in Georgia is a minefield of confusion, even for long-term expats. Here's what you actually need to know.
Many restaurants โ especially mid-range and up โ add a 10% service charge ("แแแแกแแฎแฃแ แแแ" or "service" on the bill). This is automatic and goes to the restaurant, not necessarily to your server. Check the bill before you leave anything extra.
| Situation | What to Do | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Service charge included | Nothing extra needed | Add a few GEL for exceptional service if you want |
| No service charge | 10-15% is generous | Locals often just round up to the nearest 5 or 10 |
| Street food / bakery | No tip expected | You'd look odd tipping at a tone bakery |
| Delivery driver | Not expected, 2-3โพ appreciated | You can tip in Wolt app; Glovo is cash-friendly |
| Bar / cafรฉ | Round up or leave change | Tip jars are becoming more common at coffee shops |
| Fine dining | 10-15% if no service charge | Most upscale places include it automatically |
The Double-Tip Trap
Some restaurants print the service charge on the bill in small text or in Georgian only. If you don't notice it and tip on top, you're paying 20-25% โ far more than anyone expects. Always ask "แแ แแก แแแแกแแฎแฃแ แแแ?" (aris momsakhurebะฐ? โ is service included?) if unsure.
Delivery Apps: Your Kitchen Replacement
Tbilisi's delivery scene is excellent. You can get restaurant food, groceries, pharmacy items, and random stuff delivered to your door in 20-40 minutes, for a delivery fee that's usually 2-5 GEL ($0.75-1.85).
| Feature | Wolt | Glovo |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant selection | Widest โ most popular restaurants are here | Good, with some exclusive partners |
| Delivery fee | 1.99-4.99โพ (subscription drops it) | 2-5โพ, free delivery promos frequent |
| Payment | Card only | Card or cash โ great if your card isn't set up |
| Groceries | Wolt Market + partner stores | Glovo Express + Carrefour, Goodwill |
| App quality | Polished, reliable tracking | Functional, occasionally buggy |
| Subscription | Wolt+ โ 14.99โพ/mo for free delivery | Glovo Prime โ similar concept |
| Coverage | Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi | Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi, Rustavi |
| Best for | Frequent orders, wide selection | Cash payment, free delivery deals |
The Wolt+ Calculation
If you order delivery more than 4-5 times per month, Wolt+ pays for itself. The free delivery alone saves 10-25โพ/month. It also gives you occasional discounts and priority delivery during peak hours. For heavy users, it's a no-brainer.
One thing to know: delivery prices are often 10-20% higher than dining in. Restaurants mark up items on delivery platforms to cover the commission fee. If you're cost-conscious, call the restaurant directly โ some will deliver at menu prices, or you can pick up to save the markup.
International Food: What's Good, What's Not
Georgian food is incredible, but after six months of khinkali and khachapuri, you will crave something different. Tbilisi's international food scene has exploded since 2020, driven by the digital nomad wave and Russian relocation. Here's an honest assessment of what you can find.
| Cuisine | Quality | Price Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkish / Middle Eastern | โญโญโญโญโญ | 15-40โพ | Best international food in the city. Authentic, affordable, run by actual Turks. |
| Japanese / Sushi | โญโญโญโญ | 30-70โพ | Several good spots. Ramekai near Orbeliani is solid. Not Tokyo, but decent. |
| Italian | โญโญโญโญ | 25-60โพ | Good pizza and pasta options. Madre and several newer spots in Vera. |
| Chinese / Asian | โญโญโญ | 20-50โพ | Hit or miss. A few authentic Chinese spots opened post-2022. Noodle places improving. |
| Indian | โญโญโญ | 20-45โพ | Decent but not great. Better since Indian student population grew. Spice levels cautious. |
| Korean | โญโญโญ | 25-50โพ | Growing fast. Korean BBQ spots are a fun experience. Bibimbap widely available. |
| Burgers / American | โญโญโญโญ | 15-35โพ | Surprisingly good smash burger scene. Several dedicated burger joints on Wolt. |
| Mexican / Latin | โญโญ | 25-50โพ | Weakest cuisine in Tbilisi. A few attempts, none truly authentic. Learn to make tacos at home. |
| Thai / Southeast Asian | โญโญ | 25-50โพ | Very limited. A handful of places, but getting ingredients is the bottleneck. |
The Russian Kitchen Effect
Since 2022, a wave of Russian and Central Asian restaurants have opened โ from Uzbek plov houses to Russian dumplings (pelmeni) to Central Asian lagman noodles. These tend to be affordable, hearty, and consistently good. Saburtalo and the area around Marjanishvili have the highest concentration.
Brunch & Coffee Culture
Tbilisi's cafรฉ scene is genuinely excellent. The city has embraced specialty coffee culture with enthusiasm, and you'll find better flat whites here than in most European capitals. The brunch scene has exploded too โ driven heavily by the expat and remote worker crowd.
โ Coffee
Espresso: 4-7โพ. Flat white: 7-12โพ. Third-wave roasters are everywhere โ Tbilisi takes coffee seriously. Most cafรฉs have good WiFi and don't mind you camping for hours.
๐ฅ Brunch
15-35โพ per person for eggs, pancakes, avocado toast (yes, it's here). Weekend brunch is an expat institution in Vera, Vake, and along Aghmashenebeli. Reservations recommended on Saturdays.
๐ฐ Bakeries
European-style bakeries with croissants, sourdough, and pastries: 3-8โพ per item. Georgian bakeries (tone) sell fresh shotis puri and lavashi for 1-2โพ. Both are excellent โ very different experiences.
๐ท Wine Bars
Glass of Georgian wine: 8-18โพ. Natural wine bars have popped up all over the Old Town and Vera. Quality is shockingly good for the price. Georgian wine culture is ancient and still very much alive.
Vegetarian & Vegan Survival Guide
Good news: Georgian cuisine is one of the most naturally vegetarian-friendly in the world. Fasting traditions in the Orthodox Church created an entire category of lean dishes (แกแแแแ แฎแแ โ samarkhvo) that are basically vegan. The bad news: Georgian restaurants often don't think to label these, and servers may not understand "vegetarian" means no chicken broth.
| Dish | Vegetarian | Vegan | Watch Out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lobio (bean stew) | โ | โ | Some recipes add butter โ ask |
| Pkhali (walnut spreads) | โ | โ | Naturally vegan โ walnut + vegetable base |
| Badrijani nigvzit | โ | โ | Eggplant + walnut. Always vegan. |
| Ajapsandali (ratatouille) | โ | โ | Vegetable stew. Some versions have butter. |
| Khachapuri | โ | โ | Cheese and butter โ impossible to veganize |
| Lobiani (bean bread) | โ | โ ๏ธ | Bean-filled bread. Usually has butter on top. |
| Mchadi (cornbread) | โ | โ | Just cornmeal + water + salt. Always vegan. |
| Mushroom khinkali | โ | โ | Most places offer a mushroom filling option |
Several dedicated vegetarian and vegan restaurants operate in Tbilisi, concentrated in Vera and Vake. The quality ranges from excellent to mediocre "Instagram food." The best approach for vegans: learn which traditional Georgian dishes are naturally plant-based, and order those at Georgian restaurants โ they'll be fresher and tastier than most dedicated vegan spots.
Restaurant Culture: Unwritten Rules
Georgian restaurant culture has its own logic, and understanding it makes dining out way more enjoyable. Here's what nobody tells you.
๐ Timing
Lunch: 1-3 PM. Dinner: 8-11 PM. Georgians eat late. Restaurants in expat areas serve all day, but local spots might not have lunch ready until 1 PM. Kitchens usually close by 11 PM on weekdays, midnight on weekends.
๐ Menus
Many local restaurants have Georgian-only menus. Google Translate camera mode works surprisingly well on Georgian script. Tourist-area restaurants have English menus, sometimes with pictures. If in doubt, point and smile.
๐ช Reservations
Not needed at casual spots. Recommended at popular restaurants on Friday/Saturday evenings. Many places take reservations via Instagram DM or WhatsApp โ phone calls often go unanswered.
๐ณ Paying
Card is accepted almost everywhere now, but some budget spots and bakeries are cash-only. Splitting bills is unusual โ Georgians typically fight over who pays. Asking for separate checks may confuse your server.
๐ฑ WiFi & Work
Most cafรฉs have WiFi and welcome remote workers. Speeds are usually 20-50 Mbps. Nobody will rush you. Some places even have power outlets at every table. This is one of Tbilisi's best features for digital nomads.
๐ฌ Smoking
Georgia banned indoor smoking in restaurants in 2018. Most places comply, but enforcement varies. Outdoor terraces are fair game. Some bars still have a hazy atmosphere despite the law.
Eating by Neighborhood
Where you eat matters almost as much as what you eat. Each Tbilisi neighborhood has its own dining personality.
| Neighborhood | Vibe | Price Level | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Town / Abanotubani | Touristy but atmospheric | $$$ | Georgian classics in historic buildings. Wine bars. |
| Vera | Hipster, walkable | $$-$$$ | Brunch, specialty coffee, wine bars, international food. |
| Vake | Upscale residential | $$$ | Fine dining, international cuisine, expensive date spots. |
| Marjanishvili | Diverse, gritty-cool | $-$$ | Turkish food, Central Asian, cheap eats, bar hopping. |
| Saburtalo | Residential, local | $-$$ | Budget Georgian, student eats, CIS restaurants, fast food. |
| Aghmashenebeli Ave | Renovated, European | $$ | Nice atmosphere, good variety, outdoor seating in summer. |
| Fabrika area | Expat hub, creative | $$ | Cafรฉs, quick eats, social scene, accessible everything. |
Monthly Eating Budget: Realistic Numbers
How much you spend on food depends entirely on your eating style. Here are two realistic budgets based on actual expat spending patterns in Tbilisi.
๐ Home Cook + Occasional Dining
$315-510/month. Most home-cooking expats land here.
๐ฝ๏ธ Frequent Diner (Eating Out Most Meals)
$630-1,110/month. Still cheaper than cooking at home in most European capitals.
The Lunch Deal Hack
Many restaurants offer "business lunch" (แแแแแแก-แแแแฉแ) menus on weekdays, usually 12-3 PM. These are set menus โ salad, soup, main, drink โ for 12-20โพ. The quality is the same as the regular menu. It's the cheapest way to eat restaurant food consistently. Check Wolt for daily specials too.
Street Food & Quick Eats
For the days when you want something fast, filling, and cheap, Tbilisi's street food scene delivers. These are the staples that keep Tbilisi fed.
| Food | Price | Where to Find |
|---|---|---|
| Shotis puri (fresh bread) | 1-1.50โพ | Any tone bakery โ look for the clay oven in the ground |
| Lobiani (bean bread) | 2-4โพ | Bakeries, street vendors, Dezerter Bazaar area |
| Khachapuri (bakery style) | 3-6โพ | Every bakery chain โ Sakhachapure No. 1 is consistent |
| Shawarma / doner | 5-10โพ | Turkish spots near Marjanishvili, late-night everywhere |
| Kubdari (meat bread) | 5-8โพ | Svaneti-themed restaurants, some bakeries |
| Churchkhela | 2-5โพ | Markets, souvenir shops, street vendors |
| Fresh juice | 3-6โพ | Juice bars on every major street. Pomegranate is the classic. |
Wine: A Category of Its Own
Georgia has been making wine for 8,000 years โ literally the oldest winemaking tradition on earth. You don't drink wine in Georgia the way you drink wine anywhere else. It's cheaper, it's different (amber/orange wine is the signature), and it's everywhere.
| Wine Experience | Price | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|
| Glass at a restaurant | 8-18โพ | House wine at Georgian restaurants is usually good and cheap |
| Bottle at a restaurant | 25-80โพ | Markup is modest by European standards. 35-50โพ gets you something excellent |
| Wine bar tasting | 30-60โพ | 3-5 glass flights, usually with explanation. Old Town has the best selection |
| Supermarket bottle | 8-25โพ | Perfectly good wine for 12-18โพ. Anything under 8โพ is risky |
| Draft wine (on tap) | 4-8โพ/glass | Available at some bars. Quality varies wildly. Fun to try, not for wine snobs. |
Common Mistakes Expats Make
๐ฝ๏ธ Over-Ordering
Georgian portions are enormous. Three appetizers and two mains for two people means half the food goes to waste. Start small, order more if needed. The kitchen isn't going anywhere.
๐บ๏ธ Eating Only in Tourist Areas
The Old Town restaurants are fine, but you're paying 30-50% more for the same food. Cross the river, try Saburtalo, explore Marjanishvili. The best meals are often in the ugliest buildings.
๐ Defaulting to International Food
It's tempting to stick with pizza and sushi, but Georgian food is genuinely world-class. Push yourself to try regional dishes โ Svanetian, Megrelian, Kakhetian โ each is basically a different cuisine.
๐ธ Tipping on Service Charge
Double-tipping is the most common money mistake. Always check the bill for "service" or "แแแแกแแฎแฃแ แแแ" before leaving extra. It's usually 10% and already included.
โฐ Showing Up Too Early
Arriving at 6 PM for dinner means an empty restaurant and possibly a kitchen that isn't fully operational yet. Georgian dinner starts at 8 PM. Embrace it โ your body adjusts faster than you think.
๐ฅ Expecting "Light" Options
Georgian food is hearty. Salads exist but they're usually tomato-cucumber-walnut situations, not kale smoothie bowls. If you eat clean, cook at home most days and save restaurants for indulgence.
Practical Tips for Daily Eating
| Tip | Details |
|---|---|
| Learn menu basics in Georgian | แฎแแ แชแ (khorci) = meat, แแแแแ (tevzi) = fish, แงแแแแ (qveli) = cheese, แแแกแขแแแฃแแ (bostneuuli) = vegetables. These four words open 90% of menus. |
| Download menus in advance | Check restaurants on Wolt or Google Maps before going โ most have their full menu with photos and prices. |
| Ask for "business lunch" | "แแแแแแก แแแแฉแ แแแฅแแ?" (biznes lanchi gakvt?) โ Do you have business lunch? Saves 40-60% on weekday meals. |
| Water is free (usually) | Most restaurants bring a jug of tap water if you ask. Borjomi or Nabeghlavi mineral water is 2-5โพ per bottle. |
| Bread comes automatically | At Georgian restaurants, bread (usually shotis puri) arrives at the table without ordering. It's usually free or costs 1-2โพ. |
| Doggy bags are fine | No stigma about asking for leftovers to go. Given the portion sizes, you'd be foolish not to. |
| Google Maps ratings work | Unlike some countries, Georgian Google Maps reviews are fairly reliable. 4.3+ stars usually means good. Below 4.0, be cautious. |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does eating out cost in Tbilisi?
A meal at a casual Georgian restaurant costs 15-30 GEL ($5-11) per person. Mid-range restaurants run 40-70 GEL. Fine dining starts at 80-150+ GEL. Street food costs 5-15 GEL. Tbilisi remains one of the most affordable capitals in Europe for dining out, though prices have risen 30-40% since 2022.
Do you tip in Georgia?
Many restaurants add a 10% service charge automatically โ check the bill first. If there's no service charge, 10-15% is generous. Locals often just round up. Delivery drivers don't expect tips but appreciate 2-3 GEL. Street food and bakeries: no tip.
What's the best food delivery app in Tbilisi?
Wolt has the widest restaurant selection and best app experience. Glovo is the main alternative โ good for cash payments and occasionally has exclusive restaurants. Both deliver groceries too. For frequent orders, Wolt+ subscription (14.99โพ/month) is worth it.
Can you find international food in Tbilisi?
Yes โ Turkish/Middle Eastern is excellent and affordable. Japanese, Italian, and burgers are good. Chinese, Indian, and Korean are improving fast. Mexican and Southeast Asian remain the weakest cuisines. The scene has expanded dramatically since 2020.
Is Tbilisi good for vegetarians and vegans?
Surprisingly yes. Georgian cuisine has many naturally vegetarian/vegan dishes thanks to Orthodox fasting traditions โ lobio, pkhali, badrijani nigvzit, ajapsandali, mchadi, mushroom khinkali. Dedicated vegan restaurants exist in Vera and Vake. Vegans will struggle more than vegetarians since Georgian cooking uses lots of cheese and butter.
Written by The Georgia Expats Team
Based in Tbilisi for over five years, we've eaten our way through every neighborhood โ from 2-lari lobiani at tone bakeries to tasting menus at Vera wine bars. This guide reflects actual daily eating habits, not a curated restaurant week.
Last updated: February 2026.
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