Practical information : Eating out Georgia
Timetable
In Georgia, restaurants are generally open from early morning until late evening, from 9am non-stop until 11pm, when the last customer leaves. Outside the tourist season, or in towns that are more touristy during the day but less busy in the evening, we still advise you to dine out before 9pm.
Budget & Tips
All categories of restaurant, of which there are a plethora, offer excellent gastronomy. These range from simple kiosks where you can enjoy the famous khatchapuri, cheese bread, on the go, which stays with you for a while, to high-end fusion restaurants.
At the very least, you can enjoy a khatchapuri to go for a few laris. If you want to take a break in a doukhani, a local restaurant often open 24 hours a day, expect to pay around 15 GEL. In a mid-range restaurant, the price of a main course is 20 - 30 GEL. Khatchapuri and khinkali are the most popular and least expensive dishes (between 1 and 2 GEL for a khinkali, often with a minimum order of at least 3 or 5). Gourmets will need to budget between 50 and 100 GEL per person for a good restaurant, and from 100 GEL for a very high-end restaurant.
In small cafés and restaurants, it's best to pay in local currency; in larger establishments, you can pay by credit card.
What costs extra
Tipping is not compulsory in Georgia, but you can leave an extra 5-10% of the bill if you enjoyed the service. Beware, however, that more and more restaurants in Tbilisi and other tourist towns will automatically charge you a service fee. This is usually clearly indicated on the menu.
The local way
Typical khatchapuri restaurants, the sakhatchapure, will provide you with food at very moderate prices, to be enjoyed on the go. The sakhinkle restaurants specialize in making khingali, the famous ravioli. To soak up the lively, typically Georgian atmosphere, head for a doukani (Arabic for store, but in this case a basement tavern). This type of restaurant, moderately priced and sometimes rather rustic, is very popular with Georgians.
Kids
Georgians love children, and you'll find specialized menus in some restaurants. As the cuisine is very varied, whether you're staying with a local, in a guesthouse or in a hotel, you can ask your host to prepare special dishes for them. In this country, children are king!
And as it's customary to share several dishes at table, you can also simply share your food with the children.
Smokers
Public establishments have been smoke-free since 2018. So, as in France, you have to leave the restaurant to smoke your cigarette.