What to eat Georgia? culinary specialties and gastronomy

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Public establishments have been smoke-free since 2018. So, as in France, you have to leave the restaurant to smoke your cigarette.

All cafés are generally open from 10am to 10pm, and bars are usually open from midday to 2am. During a stay in Tbilisi, a visit to the baths in the Abanotubani district is a must, and opening times are quite late (until 10-11pm).

Expect to pay between 5 and 10 GEL for a drink in a café, and more for a cocktail in a trendy bar. Wine tastings are a must in Georgia and particularly in Kakhetia. Amber wine is one of the specialties to be sampled at this wine tasting. Prices for wine tastings vary according to the venue, the number of wines tested and whether the tasting is accompanied by a meal.

Minors under the age of 18 may not consume or purchase alcohol in Georgia. Identity documents are rarely required in Georgia, so this will be the responsibility of the parents or adults in charge.

Children are king in Georgia, and we love them. They're welcome everywhere, in restaurants... and even bars!

All public places have been officially smoke-free since 2018. That said, tobacco companies still have a bright future ahead of them, as Georgians are heavy smokers, especially men.