Planning a trip to Gori? Maybe you’re actually staying in the city for a couple of nights or you’ve got a quick in and out day trip? Here are all the best restaurants in Gori that you need to try!

After staying for five nights (which I believe is unheard of based on locals’ reactions), we managed to try many restaurants in Gori. And, we were so surprised that such a small city has such good restaurants that cater to vegetarians! See our list of top five restaurants in Gori for local vegetarian Georgian cuisine, and a bonus cute little cafe.

And if you want to learn more about things to do in Gori, see our blog post here. And if you’re on the fence about visiting the controversial Stalin museum, take a look at this blog post where we talk about what to expect and whether you should visit.

Erisoni

This restaurant is bright and modern with big glass windows overlooking Kura river. It feels really fancy inside, but the prices are reasonable and food is great. We tried the elarji (stretchy, cheesy cornmeal), and local style mushrooms and potatoes. It was all delicious and we ended up going back again purely for the addictively good elarji!

Shin da Gori

This place is tucked away and has a really traditional feel about it. It’s a small space with a classic, homely décor. Try the classic aubergine and walnut paste rolls, a Georgian salad of tomato, cucumber and onion with walnut dressing, and an Adjarian khachapuri (big bread boat full of cheese and egg). Beautiful.

Berikoni

Now this place has a weird feel to it. Each table is in its own contained space with swinging saloon doors? But, if you can get past the weird, you will enjoy the meal because the food is delicious. Try the lobio (spiced bean stew) served with pickles, the mushroom ojakhuri (mushrooms and potatoes fried with plenty of salt, garlic and herbs) and an Imeretian khachapuri (cheese stuffed bread). They also serve a litre of homemade wine for about £3!

Cafe 22

This was where we had our first taste of Ossurian khachapuri (cheese and potato bread) while on our country-wide mission to try all the variations of khachapuri. We also came back another time for mushroom cream soup. A simple cafe serving good food, perfect for lunch or a snack.

Chinebuli

For a quick and inexpensive meal, Chinebuli is the place. The restaurant is unassuming, and definitely has no frills. But when you’re going out for khinkali, you don’t want frills! Grab a lobio, mushroom on ketsi (clay pan)  and mushroom khinkali (soupy dumplings, but don’t let a Georgian hear you describe them like that!). Tasty food, low prices and no service charge.

Cafe AK

This tiny cafe serves a good Turkish coffee, and it’s right around the corner from the museum. It’s not easy to come by good coffee in Georgia unless you go to a fancy café charging premium prices. Cafe AK will give you an inexpensive Turkish coffee, and has an outdoor seating area overlooking the museum.