The Ultimate Vegetarian Guide to Tbilisi
Vegetarian restaurants or restaurants with vegetarian options are actually not too difficult to come by. You may be surprised, (we were!), that Georgian cuisine is actually vegetarian-friendly, unlike its other Caucasian neighbours.
Traditional Georgian cuisine has many dishes that are naturally vegetarian and even vegan, so there will be no awkward meals where the only items you can order are a salad and some chips. You’ll actually have options to choose from, which is definitely a luxury!
We travelled all around Georgia for six months, spending about two of these in Tbilisi, which definitely feels like a second home to us now! Georgian food really has to be one of THE most underrated cuisines, and while Tbilisi does an excellent job of showcasing its traditional food, it also has some fully vegan restaurants and plenty of really good Thai restaurants.
This vegetarian guide to Tbilisi will show you all the best restaurants for vegetarian and vegan options that won’t break the bank.
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Service Charge and Taxes
Vegetarian Georgian food often has the lower price tags, while the Thai and vegan food will be a little more expensive, but still reasonable.
One thing to be aware of, is that Georgian restaurants usually have a non-negotiable service charge. 10% is the norm, but make sure you check before ordering. We have seen some restaurants with a 20% service, or some with 10% service plus 18% VAT.
Top Tip – ‘The Law of Lobio’
My top tip for determining whether a restaurant’s prices are reasonable is to use ‘the law of lobio’. Lobio is a vegan spiced bean stew which is delicious. I could eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner with some fresh shoti! This is not a proper recognised law (I know, you’re shocked), but it is a great benchmark for prices.
Anyway over the six months we spent in Georgia, we ate our fair share of lobio, and it should cost anywhere between 8 and 12 GEL (as of 2023). If the lobio is wildly more expensive than this, I’d say it’s a key indicator that you’re at a pricey joint.
The Local Spots
Restaurant Ortachala
A little out of the main part of the city, Restaurant Ortachala doesn’t tend to get many tourists. The prices are decent and the food is great. Make sure you order the stewed mushrooms with tarragon. They’re not actually stewed, but are fried until chewy and meaty and, I kid you not, they remind me of salt and pepper ribs from a Chinese takeaway back home! Lobio, khachapuri, aubergine rolls with walnut spread, everything we had was great.
Georgian House
Georgian House looks like a fancy establishment when you walk in, and we were expecting the prices of the food to reflect that. However, the prices seemed on par with other restaurants that we had visited. There was live singing and music and the food was all tasty. Lobio, pkhali and oyster mushrooms with a litre of homemade wine. Yes, please!
Cafe Daphna
Our top pick for the Georgian khinkali (essentially big soupy dumplings) is Cafe Daphna. It doesn’t get much better than the garlicky mushroom khinkali and the dambalkhacho gooey blue cheese crisp khinkali. Lovely.
You’ll find the best value mushroom khinkali (and they’re super tasty) in Kutaisi. Check out our Kutaisi restaurant guide too!
Racha
Set in what feels like a basement wine cellar, Racha is perfect for an inexpensive but tasty meal. Try the punchy ajapsandali, classic Georgian salad with walnut dressing and a lobio. There is no service charge and only cash payment is accepted.
Funicular
Again, another one that looks like it would be dead posh and expensive. And I’m sure if you ordered the meaty dishes, it would be. However, the veggie bakery bits aren’t pricey.
Located in Mtatsminda Park, you’ll need to either earn your meal by hiking up all the steps from town or get the funicular up. Try the donut filled with spiced potato, and the donut filled with cream (known as a ponchiki).
See our other Tbilisi post for all the best things to do in Tbilisi (when you’re not eating and drinking, that is).
Klike’s Khinkali
Another basement restaurant that serves good khinkali filled with mushroom, and cheesy potato is Klike’s Khinkali. The only thing to note here, is that the service is 18%. But even still, a meal of khinkali is inexpensive.
Wine Line Cellar
The least expensive sit down meal that we had during our time in Tbilisi was Wine Line Cellar. Lobio, Adjarian khachapuri and aubergine walnut spread rolls for 20 GEL (less than £7) and it fed the two of us.
Radio Cafe
A relaxed restaurant with streetside seating. Radio Cafe serves up a platter of three mini khachapuri of different varieties, just in case you can’t decide.
Gunda Bakery – temporarily closed
It genuinely makes me sad that this bakery has closed; it was at the very top of my list. I’m leaving it on the list though as I am hopeful that it will reopen!
At the very top of your list needs to be Gunda Bakery. Specialising in the Georgian classic of khachapuri, and all its regional varieties, this is our favourite spot for Georgian cheesy, doughy perfection.
The Brunch/Lunch/Falafel Spots
Bagelin
This is THE place to go. The location in the centre of a car park seems a bit odd, and Google Maps isn’t sure on how to get to Bagelin, but the bagels are outrageous! There is a whole section for vegan bagels, and there are plenty of veggie options too. We went for the ‘brekkie’ and the ‘mushy’ on adjika spiced bagels, and they were both divine.
Darani – temporarily closed
📍 16/2 Dzmebi Kakabadzeebi St.
Darani is a small and atmospheric underground restaurant that is fully vegan serves great falafel and hummus. Try the falafel pita with salad, hummus, pickles and tahini. Beautiful.
Falafel Box
A vegetarian restaurant serving Lebanese cuisine. You’ll find options such as shakshuka, tabbouleh, fattoush at Falafel Box. We tried the falafel wrap and the scrambled egg wrap and both were tasty yet inexpensive.
Brunch and Dine
Brunch and Dine is a small place serves some healthy and tasty food. Chia puddings, sandwiches, salads, brunches. Be wary of the secret 15% service charge.
Tumtum
📍 86/1 Davit Aghmashenebeli Ave
They serves a tasty falafel wrap for a good price.
Iveria Cafe
This cafe has nice views over the city and serves breakfast/brunch at pretty reasonable prices. Scrambled egg, avo toast, good coffee: you can’t go wrong.
The Vegan Spots
Kiwi Vegan Café
We love a place where do you don’t have to double check with the server that your meal won’t turn up with meat in it. Shawarma, burgers, noodles, tofu! Since we have been travelling, finding a restaurant serving tofu is an absolute winner. They are one in a million. And Kiwi Cafe Vegan knows what they’re doing.
The Best Sweet Spot
Uli – temporarily closed
Uli is famous for its croffle, and I am not exaggerating when I tell you that we were both shocked at how delicious it is. The croffle is a croissant dough cooked in a waffle iron. Topped with a pistachio cream, caramel drizzle and raspberries, this was phenomenal.
The Thai Spots
The Thai food in Tbilisi is great, and there are loads of restaurants to choose from. Our favourite spots were:
Serving punchy curries and chewy noodles, you can’t really go wrong with what you order.
Top Drink Spots
Cafe Linville
The entrance to Cafe Linville is enough reason to go. Open the doors and walk up the wonky staircase to the retro/grandma’s house decor. Order yourself a bottle of wine (like we did) or stay for a meal. But, honestly just visiting for a drink is an experience in itself.
Chacha Time
Trying chacha in Georgia is a must. Chacha Time serves the strong local spirit in different varieties and flavours.
Where to Stay in Tbilisi
Magnolia Hotel (£)
We stayed at Magnolia, which is a lovely hotel with beautiful rooms with big windows, so that you can catch the stunning sunrise each morning! They serve a buffet breakfast, and have a roof terrace too.
🛏️ Book Magnolia Hotel 🛏️
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