8 guests

10:30AM

12+ Tastings

From $59

Tbilisi food tour

TBILISI FOOD TOUR - Perched between the Caucasus peaks and sprawling ancient vineyards, Tbilisi is a city where the only thing more dangerous than the local wine, is a Georgian grandmother who thinks you look hungry. It’s a place where a food constitution would be written in flour, cheese, and walnuts. But while everyone claims to have the best recipe, it pays to know the culinary ropes.

Begin in a subterranean bakery where shoti bread is slapped against the walls of a traditional Tone oven. Taste bean-filled lobiani, while hearing how these basements fed neighbours through wars and revolutions. Moving to a local eatery that has stood its ground for over a decade, sample a mosaic of pkhali walnut spreads made with purple beetroot and forest-green spinach. We’d rather not spoil the surprises, but a sneak peek of our 15+ tastings includes some firm favourites. Among our cherished dishes is ostri, a slow-cooked beef stew that honours the heritage of Georgia’s old Dukani taverns.

Visit Dezerter Bazaar, founded in the 1920s by soldiers who fled the Red Army to barter their boots for bread. At this market cathedral, we’ll taste an assortment of artisanal Georgian cheeses paired with a glass of Khvanchkara, a velvety wine favoured by royalty and world leaders alike. See strings of churchkhela, the 'Georgian Snickers' used by ancient warriors, hanging alongside sheets of plum fruit leathers in shades of deep burgundy.

Discover the unique tang of jonjoli pickled flowers before heading to the former ticket office of the Apollo Theatre. Here, history is served alongside chicken kharcho stew, walnut-stuffed eggplant rolls, and the famously elastic elarji, a cheese-laden cornmeal porridge.

No Tbilisi tour is complete without mastering the art of khinkali. Our next stop will teach you the proper way to slurp these national soup dumplings, featuring everything from herb-spiked urban meat versions to earthy mushroom, and molten Sulguni cheese varieties. We conclude at Fabrika, a repurposed Soviet-era sewing factory turned creative courtyard, where the youth of Tbilisi plan their future over syrupy Georgian baklava.

This is more than a food tour; it’s an essential understanding of a city that most tourists never get to experience. While you could attempt this culinary marathon alone, you’d be hard-pushed to find these spots without our tastemaker guides.

Why this tour is awesome

Step away from the standard tourist menus and join our lunchtime Tbilisi food tour in the capital of Georgia. With 15+ handpicked tastings, we navigate a landscape of tucked-away basement kitchens and historic markets that have anchored Tbilisi's local community for decades. Meet the guardians of Georgian flavours: the grandmother preserving baking traditions since the Cold War, and the master chefs who treat every khinkali fold as a work of art.

To ensure an intimate experience, we cap our Tbilisi street food tour at just eight guests. This allows us to venture into the authentic 'hole-in-the-wall' gems that larger tours simply cannot reach. Consider this your insider’s guide to the recipes and rituals that define life for Tbilisites.

Your guide

A native Tbilisite with a deep-rooted passion for Georgian history, Luka is your go-to expert for navigating the city’s complex culinary landscape. He’s a walking map of Tbilisi’s culinary scars and triumphs, serving up history with a side of sharp humour. He navigates the chaotic food scene with the precision of a surgeon and the appetite of a local legend.

Luka - Tbilisi Tastemaker

The food heroes of Tbilisi

Slapping dough onto a traditional Tone clay oven

Freshly baked shoti long bread

Pkhali walnut spreads of beetroot and spinach

Churchkhela warror food hanging from the ceiling

Artisanal Georgian cheese tastings

Khvanchkara wine alongside sheets of plum fruit leather

Our local expert explains the market stalls of Deserter Bazaar

Try the unusual pickled jonjoli flowers

Chicken walnut kharcho stew and eggplant rolls

Stretchy and delicious elarji - cheese-laden cornmeal porridge

A national obsession - khinkali soup dumplings

Includes

Price US $59 per person
Food Tastings 15+ food tastings included, more than any other Tbilisi food tour
Drinks Bottled water included
Start Time 10:30AM
Duration 3.5 to 4 hours depending on the pace of the group
Days Open Open Every Day
Guide Led by one of our superb Tbilisi food hosts
Small group tour Maximum of 8 guests (private tours or groups of 9+, please contact us)
Child Policy Children aged 3-12 years: 50% discount. Infants 0-2 years: free
Instant Confirmation Book instantly on our live calendar. If your date is unavailable, please contact us
Cancellation policy Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Language English
Pick up / Drop off Not included. Easy to find meeting point for all guests

Dietary information

General Advice Many streetside vendors specialise in signature menus, and may not have alternatives. It is not always possible to cater for all dietary requests at every stop
Vegetarian Possible, though meat is used in 5-6 tastings with limited vegetarian alternatives available
Vegan Unsuitable as meat, seafood, eggs and lactose are used in over half the tastings
Pescatarian Possible, though meat is used in 5-6 tastings with limited vegetarian alternatives available. There are no seafood options.
Pork Pork is not typically used in any of the tastings
Halal Possible only if halal certification is not necessary, as non-halal meat is used in 5-6 tastings with limited vegetarian alternatives available
Gluten Intolerance / Celiac Disease Possible, though guests would have less tastings as gluten is used in 5-6 tastings with limited alternatives available. Unsuitable for celiacs.
Lactose Intolerance / Dairy Possible, though lactose is used in 3-4 tastings with limited alternatives available
Peanuts / Tree nut allergy Walnuts are used in 5-6 tastings with limited alternatives available. Possible for mild allergies only, as always risk of traces.
Seafood / Shellfish Allergy Seafood is not typically used in any of the tastings
Severe Allergies Due to the nature of street food cooking, we can never guarantee any dish to be 100% free from allergens, as there is always the risk of traces and cross-contamination. It is unsuitable for severe allergies. Contact us: info@achefstour.com

How to book

To join our Tbilisi lunchtime food tour, use the live booking calendar to select your date and secure your tour. If the date is unavailable, or for special requests and private bookings, please contact us. Safety and comfort of guests is our first priority, so if you have any questions on dietary information or food allergies, please contact us before booking.

What to expect

This tour is designed for adventurous eaters with an interest in discovering the food locals eat. It’s a walking tour where the pace is gentle, the terrain flat and there are plenty of rest (eating) stops along the way. Join us on the best Tbilisi food tour in the city, you won't regret it.

Meeting point

This Tbilisi lunchtime food tour starts from Avlabari Metro Station. It's easily reachable by metro, or taxi. At the end of the experience, your guide can help you find transport back if you wish. More details will be sent upon booking confirmation.

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Why you should book with us

99% 5 star reviews across our tours
Secure payments through provider Peek
No hidden charges - all food tastings included in the price
Authentic food experience, escape the tourist traps

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