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The 7 Best Vegetarian & Vegan Restaurants in Tbilisi, Georgia
When traveling, finding vegetarian or vegan food can be a challenge – especially if you don’t speak the language.
Nowhere is this more the case than the city of Tbilisi, Georgia. While other cities may simply be difficult for vegetarians and vegans, Georgia appears actively antagonistic to the non-meat eaters among us.
In 2016, a vegan cafe in the nation’s capital was attacked by meat-wielding nationalists who harassed guests “wearing sausages around their necks and carrying slabs of meat on skewers,” according to The Guardian.
But that was 2016. Since then, the city has become an emergent cultural hotspot, home to creatives on the cutting edge of art, music, design, and more.
As more tourists pour into Tbilisi, a growing number of vegetarian and vegan restaurants have emerged in response to the increasingly cosmopolitan populace.
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Here are our top seven favorite vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Tbilisi
Irmale’s Cafe
Tarkhnishvili St. 9, Tbilisi, Georgia
One of few true-blue vegan cafes in Tbilisi, Irmale’s ranks high on our list for its eclectic mix of breakfast and lunch options. Of course, you can find normal vegan favorites like avocado toast and a collection of super delicious smoothies, but what really puts Irmale’s over the edge are its sweeter offerings.
Visitors to Irmale’s will be overwhelmed by their treat options. Buckwheat crepes, vegan chocolate, a range of cakes, and so much more make Irmale’s your one-stop shop for both a healthy, wholesome vegan breakfast and an indulgent dessert for when the sweet tooth strikes.
Kiwi Vegan Cafe
No. 6, Ivane Machabeli St, Tbilisi, Georgia
Kiwi was the home of the meat-wielding attack mentioned in the introduction to this piece. But rather than be dissuaded by such an event, they’ve since turned their cafe into both a restaurant and a place for education.
Non-paying customers are encouraged to enter and learn more about veganism and vegetarianism. Those who are not interested in such dietary changes are also encouraged to enter to learn about ways to improve the health and well-being of themselves and their society.
While this would be a good thing in its own right, the real thing that sets Kiwi Vegan Cafe one step above the rest is its food. Everything on the menu is delicious, with options for people of all paletes. We can’t even recommend anything specifically because everything is just that good (though we are quite partial to their veggie burgers and fried tofu sandwiches).
HURMA
Petre Melikishvili 21, Tbilisi, Georgia
HURMA is a kid-friendly cafe serving the healthiest food Tbilisi has to offer – while leaving some room for treats, of course. Not everything in HURMA is vegetarian or vegan so you will have to ask the staff for assistance, but with an English menu and a happy personnelle looking to help, we’re sure you’ll have no problem finding the food you crave in this Georgian cafe.
Try one of their many salads or their tasty falafel. For the vegetarians, we would also suggest one of their veggie waffles. It’s a little different from the whipped cream and maple syrup-heavy breakfast delights we grew up with, but trust us, we’re not complaining!
Mama Terra Veggie Corner
20 Ingorokva Street (Entrance via Chitadze Street), Tbilisi, Georgia
You might not expect Mexican food in Georgia to be good, and we’ll be honest, that’s fair – most Mexican food in Eastern Europe has considerable room for improvement.
But Mama Terra Veggie Corner is one of the exceptions. The restaurant launched in 2018 with the mission of serving healthy vegetarian, vegan, and raw food to the people of Tbilisi, and so far, they’ve knocked it out of the park.
Order a kombucha to go along with your tacos or tamales, or if you’re looking for something different, go for a curry. The menu is constantly expanding, but everything we’ve tried so far has been a dream. We can’t wait to see how Mama Terra Veggie Corner grows in the coming years!
Racha
4 Mikheil Lermontovi St (at Shalva Dadiani), Tbilisi, Georgia
Serving traditional Georgian food with a classic feel, Racha is a must if you’re in the area. In our experience, the staff speaks only a little bit of English, but they will work around your vegetarian diet if you make it clear. This would be a good place to bring your non-vegetarian or vegan friends, as there are options for everyone across the eating spectrum.
The best vegetarian and vegan options at Racha lie in the Fasting Menu, which is primarily vegan. We can also recommend the eggplant and walnut – it’s authentic and some of the best in the city!
While there are many positives to this restaurant, its one major downside is its smokiness. Indoor smoking is still allowed in Tbilisi, and this restaurant, with its limited ventilation, is one of the worst offenders. Still, give it a shot – during our second go-around there was no smoke at all!
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Salobie Bia
Ivane Machabeli St. 14, Tbilisi, Georgia
If you’re looking to have a nice dinner out, there truly is no better place than Salobie Bia. Salobie Bia is not a vegetarian restaurant – their menu offers steak, chicken, ham, and more – but the menu is comprehensive and the staff is incredibly accommodating. Don’t worry – vegetarians and vegans will be sure to find a place in this Georgian eatery.
The tomato and bladdernut salad is to die for, but the true joy of this restaurant is simply being there. Salobie Bia’s environment is one-of-a-kind, and we strongly recommend stopping by, even if it’s just for a drink.
Samikitno
Multiple locations
If you’ve spent the day wandering around Tbilisi and are unsure if you can make it to one of the other places on this list, don’t fret. Samikitno is a chain of restaurants serving traditional Georgian food in Tbilisi, and while only a portion of the options on their menu are vegetarian or vegan friendly, you will still find success if you pop into one of their many locations. In newer locations they’ve even added a “V” to indicate which menu items are vegetarian – though we’d still suggest asking, just to be sure.
We can recommend the Baroma veggie bread boat, the Acharuli eggplant stew bread boat, the Lobiani, the Cold Tasting Menu, or one of the many other options on offer. Be sure to wash it all down with a glass of Georgian wine – it’s some of the finest in the world!
Bonus: HUMMUSBAR
3 M. Kostava, Tbilisi, Georgia
Added by popular demand! We heard good things about Hummusbar while we were in Tbilisi but unfortunately never managed to visit. However, locals insist it’s one of the best places to get vegetarian and vegan food in the city.
The restaurant’s motto is “Take a Bite from Nature,” and with their large menu of Mediterranean food, they allow customers to do just that. Their hummus is an obvious recommendation, but we’ve heard rave reviews of their falafel as well as their lentil soup. Try a bit of everything – you’re sure to be impressed.
The hit list
Irmale’s Cafe | Kiwi Vegan Cafe | Hurma | Mama Terra Veggie Corner |
Racha | Salobie Bia | Samikitno | Hummusbar |
I hope you enjoyed this guide!
Which restaurant is your favorite? Were there any I missed?
Tell me in the comments below!
If you’re going to Tbilisi, support me by booking through my affiliate links: Booking.com, AirBNB
You can also support me directly via PayPal or Patreon.
All photos were used from the restaurants’ social media pages.
If you are the owner of the restaurant or photographer & would like your photo removed, please get in contact.
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