updated 01 November 2026

What's on in Tbilisi this week

Monday: English-speaking meetup at Brown's Bar at 8pm
Tuesday: Taco Tuesday at Fiesta with 25% off all tacos - all day
Wednesday: Pub Quiz at Brown's Bar at 8pm; Karaoke at World's End from 9pm
Thursday: Karaoke at So Lucky Bar from 10 pm
Friday: Fiesta Latin Party with DJ Joe C from 9 pm (most popular party in central Tbilisi).
Saturday: PIÑATA PARTY at Fiesta. Get a chance to smash a colourful piñata!
Book ahead to secure the tables.
DJ Malla Nexx at So Lucky from 1 am.
Sunday: English Standup Open Mic at World's End Bar at 8pm

Tbilisi Expat Guide: This guide is created and regularly updated by Dito, who has been living in Tbilisi for the last six years as an expat. It is based on day-to-day experience living, working and running businesses from Georgia, supplemented with information checked against official sources.
This is the guide I wish existed when I arrived: where to live, how to rent a flat, which banks actually work for foreigners, where to eat, where expats hang out, where to party and all the other things you normally discover through six months of Facebook groups.

Just arrived in Tbilisi? Start with these:Eat Georgian food properly at least once: you know, khikali, khachapuri, lobiani, mtsvadi...
Try Georgian wine beyond supermarket Saperavi - I insist on proper natural wines.
Spend an evening around Sololaki.
Explore Vera and then head to Fabrika (that was my first day lol).
Find one recurring event you like. I find it essential because that's how you build your new social circle.
Download Bolt for taxis and Wolt for food.
Learn 5 Georgian words to be polite.
Don't spend every evening on Shardeni Street 😄 I would even say, avoid it at all costs!

Georgian Food Cheat SheetKhinkali are those traditional dumplings every Georgian is proud of. Try mixed meat khinkali; don't miss out on mushroom khinkali, and when you're full, ask them to get your khinkali fried and wrapped to go. Truly delicious!
Adjaruli khachapuri - boat-shaped pastry with cheese and egg on top.
Imeruli khachapuri - round pastry with fresh cheese inside.
Mtsvadi - traditionally, pork BBQ.
Lobio + mchadi - cooked beans and a corn bread.
Adjapsandali - veggie stew normally with aubergines, bell peppers, onions, tomatoes and local spice mix.
Badrijani nigvzit - aubergine rolls filled with walnut paste.
Pkhali - a set of veggie snacks.
Ojakhuri - village-style potatoes with meat.
Shkmeruli - chicken cooked in a creamy and garlicky sauce.

Best of Tbilisi for Expats

Best Georgian Restaurants:
Local cuisine is highly regarded and varied; here are some that I've personally tried and loved.
Salobia Bia: positioned as 'simple Georgian food', it truly delivers on consistency and quality of Georgian dishes. The menu is small, but everything is delicious.
Georgian House: large venue, great for large groups; very well-managed, so everything comes quickly. Tasty classic Georgian dishes.
FARM: When visiting Fabrika, pop in to this contemporary restaurant serving tasty Georgian and International dishes with a small selection of natural wines.
Shavi Lomi: I used to order a selection of dishes when my friends from the UK arrived. It was a treat.
Megruli Sakhli: Megrelian cuisine is generally spicier and I enjoy it very much.

Where do expats actually go for drinks in Tbilisi?Best for beers and an English-speaking crowd: Brown's Bar.
Best for tequilas and a Spanish-speaking crowd: Fiesta - Mexican Taqueria & Social Bar.
Best wine bar: For the largest selection of conventional local wines, I'd say large branches of 8000 Vintages shop; they also operate as wine bars offering sharing boards. But also check out Fiesta, they have recently started upgrading their wine list.
Best natural wine bar: Try Warehouse at Stamba hotel - they offer a range of Georgian and International natural wines.
Best late-night option: So Lucky bar in Sololaki is open till 5-6am.

Various Tbilisi Restaurants:
Chinese: CVC, located near Fabrika.
Indian: Khushi, with two central locations, and I like their veggie options.
Thai: Thai Curry, also has two central locations, and I feel like they do a decent job.
Ukrainian: I used to buy from Kievuri, which has home-style food, but Fork in Saburtalo is also good.
Mexican: Fiesta, try homemade corn tortillas, hot sauces & Margaritas.
Japanese & Ramen: Giraffe is very good, and the ramen is flavourful.
BBQ and Ribs: Bar Number 8.
New small Wine Bar: Winos has a cute outdoor terrace in Sololaki.
Breakfast: Entree (chain) offers freshly baked goods and coffee.

Groceries:
Local shops like Ori Nabiji, Nikora, Spar.
Larger supermarkets: Goodwill, Carrefour.
Local supermarket: Agrohub (expensive, but they carry a lot of local artisanal products).

Delivery:
Apps like Wolt, Bolt Food and Glovo.
Mind you, they charge enormous commissions to restaurants and independent shops, so it's worth taking a short stroll and buying directly from a venue.
On top of commission and delivery charge, they started adding 'service fees' that make regular purchases quite expensive.
Tip: Grocery chains normally feature the same prices on the delivery apps, so if you are going to use them frequently, it's worth signing up for subscriptions like Wolt+, saving on delivery and getting groceries delivered. Wolt Market is an online-only outlet with lots of deals and promotions.

Tbilisi Expat FAQ

Is Tbilisi expensive for foreigners? I find the term 'expensive' to be very personal. We all have our own budgets. You can find the approximate costs on Numbeo. For me, after living in London for 8 years, it is significantly cheaper for most of my expenses. However, there are exceptions: I found good gyms here to be even more expensive than in London. Also, you will see many niche imported products to be expensive. Mind you, Georgia is a small country, so these ethnic products aren't that in demand and hence expensive.
Can I live in Tbilisi without speaking Georgian? I now know just a tiny bit, in order for me to be polite in the most common situations - in the shop, bar, restaurant, and so on. I won't be able to converse, I'm afraid, and I get by just OK.
How much does an apartment cost in Tbilisi? Depending on your chosen area and the quality of the apartment, you can find 1-bedroom apartments in the centre from $500 and slightly cheaper in more remote areas of Tbilisi. I personally chose to live centrally so I wouldn't have to deal with the traffic. Check online on ss.ge and myhome.ge.
What is the best neighbourhood for digital nomads? Again, depends. Many choose to be closer to the action, so Sololaki, Mtatsminda, Vera and Vake are among the usual choices.
Can foreigners open bank accounts in Georgia? Yes, you do not need to be a resident. You will need to have a local mobile phone number and your ID to apply. I personally recommend Bank of Georgia.
Can foreigners buy property in Tbilisi? Yes, I personally bought and already sold an apartment. So you can even apply for a mortgage.
Is it true that Entrepreneurs can pay only 1% tax? Yes, it is true that individual entrepreneurs, provided their activity qualifies, are eligible for Small Business Status, which allows them to pay 1% tax on the turnover.
Is It Easy To Open a Business in Tbilisi? Yes, it is very easy to open an Individual Entrepreneur or LLC entity in Georgia. Incorporation and opening a bank account can be done by yourself, and it takes 1-2 days to complete. You will enjoy all the benefits of modern banking and straightforward procedures. I've done it myself, and you do not need an expensive agency to do so! What I'd suggest is to get the 'helper' just outside of the Tbilisi Public Hall who will assist with certified translation (yes, it is a must now) and they also can provide an address (that's 2 for 1 at a cost of 125-145 GEL reaally)
Is Tbilisi safe at night? I find it safer than London, but usual safety measures apply.
Does Uber work in Tbilisi? There is no Uber in Tbilisi as of yet, but you can use Bolt app for a taxi. It's convenient and affordable. They have raised their prices 12% recently, but it is still very cheap. Install the app and use it from the airport; you will save a lot!
Is Tbilisi good for vegans? Good question, and as a flexitarian myself, I eat a lot of vegan food, maybe like 90%. You can find a lot of veggie options in local Georgian restaurants, and other restaurants also cater for vegetarians and vegans with special dishes. I also buy quite a lot of vegan groceries online via Wolt app. There is a vegan grocery shop Peaceful Butcher that I recommend.
Do I need cash? Honestly, I recently haven't seen a place where you really need cash. Maybe just a small vendor at a market, really. Cards work everywhere just fine.
Can I pay with foreign cards? Yes.
Which Georgian SIM card is best? There are 3 major mobile phone operators: GeoCell, Magti and Cellfie. I choose Magti for the packages and coverage.
How good is Tbilisi internet? It really depends on your setup. Generally, it is OK, but worth asking your landlord what they have installed. Potentially, you can simply upgrade the package.
Can I order groceries online? I haven't seen major supermarkets offering their own delivery services, but you can use the Wolt app to deliver from Carrefour and major retailers. Glovo has an exclusivity agreement with Agrohub.
Can I drink tap water in Tbilisi? Do not treat it as medical advice, but I do drink tap water in Tbilisi and feel just fine. Though I've heard some stories that people sometimes may feel a bit tender during the first few days. I guess there could be an adaptation period.
What time do people eat dinner in Tbilisi? Peak times at restaurants are 7-8pm.
Where can I go alone for a drink? Expat bars that I feature are all great options, and I've tried them all many times being alone: Brown's Bar, Fiesta, So Lucky, World's End.
Do I need to book tables on Friday and Saturday nights? Popular places fill up very quickly, so I'd recommend booking a table, especially if you're arriving with a group of fellow expats.