Vegetarian in Kutaisi: 21 Retro Restaurants & Cute Cafes
Kutaisi is big on the restaurant and cafe scene, and a lot are in really interesting buildings: retro spaces with high ceilings, vintage decor, unassuming hidden nooks, riverside balconies, artwork from floor to ceiling. But it’s not ‘all style, no substance’. Some of the tastiest meals we have had in Georgia have been in Kutaisi!
After having spent at least two months in Kutaisi over the last three years, we have put together a guide to show you where to find the city’s best food and drink. Georgian, pizza, Indian, coffee, wine; we’ve tried it all (almost!) And eating vegetarian in Kutaisi really is not too tough. Here’s all our favourites:
Disclaimer: This blog post may contain affiliate links, which means that if you click and purchase through a link, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. And if you do choose to do this, THANK YOU so much for supporting us! It means that we can continue to create content for you guys. Full disclaimer here.
Retro Restaurants
1. Story
Another restaurant with quirky interior, almost a 1920s feel about it. Story is situated about a ten minute walk out of the centre of town down the river, and with its lovely outdoor seating area overlooking the river Rioni, it’s the perfect spot for a drink. Probably our favourite meal in Georgia was from right here. The gebzhalia is delicious and creamy and herby. The lobiani with a sulguni stuffed crust is just genius. And the posh wood mushrooms are crispy and chewy. Wash it down with some Tsinandali or an Argo beer.
2. Magnolia
Magnolia is set in another beautiful traditional building overlooking the river. There is an outside seating area with the traditional lacy-style blue balconies – try to snatch yourself a table here, right on the water! The vegetarian food here is really tasty. Try the Adjarian lobiani – the bread boat is really filled with the spiced bean mix and then topped with a variety of pickles. And the beetroot pkhali from here is a must too!
3. El Depo
El Depo has a very local feel about it, and serves our favourite mushroom khinkali for very small prices. As the restaurant is across the bridge from the main part of town, you won’t find many tourists here, which is perfect! If you think you can handle the extra carby, cheesiness, order some Imeretian khachapuri with your khinkali. Carbs with a side of carbs; you can’t really go wrong!
Find our favourite spot for blue cheese khinkali in our Tbilisi veg restaurants guide.
4. El Paso
El Depo’s slightly fancier cousin, El Paso has basically the same menu but is in a more central location right near the main Colchis Fountain roundabout.
5. Pizzeria Dolce
The best pizza in town – no question. I brought my parents here and they could not stop talking about how good the pizzas were. There are several vegetarian options but the absolute star of the show was the quattro formaggi. Thin and crisp pizzas cooked in a proper pizza oven and served with a selection of flavoured oils. You need to go here!
6. The White Elephant
Yes, it’s not an accident that both the pizza place and the Indian have the same address: they are right next to each other so you have a tough choice to make!
Run by Indian students at the local university, this is some of the best Indian food that we have had outside of India. The food is fresh and the flavours are punchy, but not too heavy. The vegetarian machurian is phenomenal; just as good as any we actually had in India. It’s chewy and deeply savoury and spicy. The paneer butter masala and vegetable kadai are firm favourites too. And when you order rice, you get a proper portion of rice that will be enough for at least two people. The restaurant is small so make sure you get there early.
7. Palaty
This is a quirky restaurant covered in post-it notes and full of retro decoration. You’ll find old typewriters and gramophones on the ledges. And if you’re there at the right time, you might even be treated to a piano performance. The staff are friendly and the food is tasty – we recommend the spinach pkhali and the khachapuri!
8. Fleur
Fleur has a large outdoor seating area with huge umbrellas (which is pretty rare for Kutaisi). So, when the sun is shining, head down here for some lobio and an Imeretian khachapuri with a beer.
9. Papavero
A locals’ spot with a large menu of Georgian and European dishes. There is a cosy inside seating area plus a small courtyard. And if you’re here in the evening, they might even have some live music!
10. Cafe Newport
Cafe Newport is located inside a fancy hotel, and it definitely has that fancy feel about it. But the prices of the vegetarian food don’t reflect a fancy price tag. Try the ajapsandali, mushroom ojakhuri and the Adjarian khachapuri with spinach. Lovely stuff.
11. Sisters
Sisters is a beautiful restaurant tucked away on the first floor of what looks like a residential building. The restaurant has high ceilings, retro decor, and has live music (singing or piano playing, or both) in the evenings. Give the pkhali, lobio, and ajapsandali a go. Good food in a characterful setting. It’s definitely on the pricey side, but the building is beautiful!
12. Gala
Not the friendliest of servers here, but the restaurant has a really interesting terracotta/wood theme and the mushroom ojakhuri is really unique! They serve it with cooked tomatoes, a balsamic dressing and pomegranate seeds.
Take a look at this post for all the best things to do in Kutaisi (in between all the eating, of course).
Cute Cafes & Drinks Spots
13. Gardenia
Gardenia is our favourite place to sit by the river in the sunshine with a glass of local Tsolikouri wine! The seating area is exclusively outside which means that the restaurant is only open in the summer months and when the weather is good. Our favourites from here are the mushroom salad (trust me) and the mexican potatoes which both go perfectly with the wine.
14. Wine Vibes
Wine Vibes is a cool underground spot that has all the ambiance. (Anyone else physically incapable of not saying this word like Micky Flanagan?) It has a wall of wine bottles so you can choose whichever you want. And make sure you order the cheese platter. It comes with a few different cheeses, dried fruits, nuts and seeds.
15. Mini Art Cafe (Original)
Across the river, just outside of the main part of town, Mini Art Cafe is a small space covered with art from floor to ceiling. The space has a few tables inside and a few outside, and it is probably my favourite cafe in Kutaisi because of its character! They serve great coffee, and filled croissants to have with it – perfect. Maybe give the veggie breakfast a miss though.
16. Mini Art Cafe (New Branch)
Mini Art Cafe’s second branch has a very similar feel to the first, but it has a slightly different menu. The Turkish coffees are great from here, as are the Imeretian khachapuri and the hash browns! I know you’re thinking ‘hash browns?’. Yep. Trust us. Six crisp hash browns served with a paprika dip is actually the perfect drink accompaniment (I don’t mean the Turkish coffee!).
Savvy Traveller Pro Tips 🇬🇪
After exploring Georgia for nine months, these are our favourite booking tools that we couldn’t travel without!
17. Tea House Foe Foe
This cafe has just opened up as of April 2025 in this new location. The interior is very retro with small nooks in several rooms to sit in, but the balcony is the prime spot! It’s a great spot for wine and some cheese.
18. Bukioti Cafe
This our favourite cute cafe in Kutaisi! The woman that runs the cafe is THE loveliest person. The first time that we visited, we ordered Turkish coffee and I commented on how I loved the cute owl cup that she served mine in. And every time since, she has brought my coffee out in the owl cup with a huge smile on her face! This is also a good spot for remote working because of the strong wifi and many power outlets.
19. Mio
The best ice cream in town! Between us, we must have tried all of the flavours here. We always had to walk past Mio to get to our apartment in Kutaisi, and so naturally, we had to stop in each time.
20. Bakery Sanimusho
Chris’ favourite spot for a ponchiki. Every time we walked past, he stopped in to grab one. This small bakery serves coffee and drinks as well as freshly baked sweet and savoury goods, and has a lunch deli section. Prime location in the centre of town.
21. Bread and Wine
Located inside the Green Bazaar, Bread and Wine serves (you guessed it) fresh bread baked in a traditional tone (similar to a tandoor oven) and wine. The fresh shoti really is perfect from here!
More of Georgia’s Foodie Cities
You’ve got Kutaisi covered, so where’s next?
If you’re looking for underground restaurants, wine bars, and more options than you could feasibly ever get through, head to the foodie capital, Tbilisi.
If you’re looking for the ultimate Adjarian khachapuri in its birthplace, head to Batumi.
If you’re looking for dishes that are little more unique and spicy, head to Mestia.
Plan more of your trip with these:
- Travel Tips for Georgia (Country): 13 Useful Things to Know
- Top 10 Things to Do in Kutaisi (plus day trips)
- Your Georgian Vegetarian Food Guide: 33 Must-Eats
- Georgian Pizza: a Foodie Traveller’s Guide to Khachapuri
- 9 Georgian Drinks You HAVE to Try
- Georgia Transport Guide: Marshrutka Madness
- Is Tbilisi Worth Visiting? Yes! Here’s Why…
- The Ultimate Vegetarian Guide to Tbilisi
- Tbilisi in Winter: the Best European Winter City Break
- Sulphur Bath in Tbilisi: What Is It Really Like?
- 7 Things to Do in Mtskheta and How to Get There
- 11 Great Things to Do in Gori, Georgia
- Should You Visit the Controversial Stalin Museum?
- 25 Weird and Wonderful Things to Do in Batumi
Found this post helpful?
If you would like to support us, buy us a coffee at the link below.
No pressure!
We really do like coffee, though 😉
Like it? Save it!
