updated 24 september 2026

What's on in Tbilisi

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 10pm
Friday: Fiesta Latin Party with DJ Joe C from 9pm
Saturday: Latin Dance Party at Fiesta from 10pm
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 lived 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.

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.

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 Restaurant & 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.
Best natural wine bar: Try Warehouse at Stamba hotel - they offer a range of Georgian and International natural wines.
Best for cocktails: The Embassy in Old Town.
Best late-night option: So Lucky bar in Sololaki is open till 5-6am.

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 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.