21 Best Bars in Tbilisi for Cocktails, Wine & Craft Beer

Wine Factory No. 1 (Kikodze, Shushabandi, Candy & more)

⚑ 1 Petriashvili St (Vera)

Built at the end of the 19th century, this former wine production facility relaunched in 2017 as Tbilisi’s premier dining precinct. The complex houses multiple bars, cafes and restaurants spread over a series of beautiful dining rooms, courtyards and covered balconies. Perfect for bar hopping.

Kikodze serves breakfast by day and transforms into a swish cocktail bar after 5. The front terrace area is lovely on a Sunday afternoon – just make sure you arrive early to stake out a seat. When at Vera district’s favourite bar, what else to order but the eponymous ‘The Vera’, made with rum, pineapple juice, vanilla and lemon.

Shushabandi, one of my favourite restaurants in Tbilisi, has a stylish bar inside, while Candy Gin Bar specialises in Tanqueray cocktails.

Barbar’a Bar

⚑ 33 Kote Afkhazi St (Old Town)

This restaurant-bar on busy Afkhazi Street in the Old Town is all class, with velvetene bar stools, graphic wall art, and a long bar stacked with top-shelf liquor.

Signature cocktails such as ‘Carrot Spices’ (fresh carrot juice, bourbon and aromats) highlight local flavours and pair perfectly with a meze platter or fresh burrata.

In the summer months, Barbar’a hosts Friday night jazz sessions. Check their Facebook Page for details.

Iasamani

⚑ 33 Lado Asatiani St (Sololaki)

Meaning ‘lilac’ in Georgian, Iasamani is nestled in a heritage building in Sololaki district and combines crisp white table linens and fine-dining service with peeling paint and heritage charm.

The kitchen turns out some of Tbilisi’s finest contemporary Georgian food, while the bar serves classic and modern concoctions, including the city’s best Negroni. For something fresh, try the aptly named ‘Purple Lilac’, made with gin, lemon, Crème de cassis and fresh basil.

Spirit

⚑ 5 Ivane Machabeli St (Sololaki)

Located underneath a historic house on Machabeli Street, Spirit cleverly dubs itself ‘the best bar in Tbilisi that you’ve never heard of’.

The domed brick roof gives this basement bar a super cosy vibe, while the lack of signage (follow the white ghost…) gives it a speakeasy feel. The cocktails are the star of the show, with both classics and bespoke mixes on the menu. The Tarragon and Whiskey Sour with homemade tarragon syrup is particularly good.

The Pink Bar at Stamba

⚑ 14 Merab Kostava St (Vera)

Located on the ground floor of Stamba Hotel, Tbilisi’s famous printing press turned luxury hotel, the pretty Pink Bar is the peak of design perfection – and they do a mean cocktail to boot.

Good luck choosing between ‘The Stamba Mule’ with vodka, blueberry, lavender, ginger and lime, and the ‘Sorrel Smash’ with dry gin, red sorrel and Lillet Blanc. For a soft alternative, they also have chocolate flavoured Lagidze Water on tap.

Rooms Hotel Bar

⚑ 14 Merab Kostava St (Vera)

Also inside the old printing house, the bar at Rooms Hotel has a dedicated cocktail menu with all the classics (Manhattan, Mai Tai, Chili Margarita) plus a special seasonal range. If the timing is right, try ‘The Cactus’ with mezcal, pear liqueur, agave and aloe.

The only thing that beats a cocktail in the cosy lounge at Rooms Tbilisi is a cocktail on the deck at Rooms Kazbegi, this hotel’s mountain-faring sister.

Chacha Time

⚑ 5 Geronti Kikodze St (Sololaki)

If you’ve not yet tasted Georgia’s eye-watering grape pomace liquor, Chacha Time is the perfect introduction. All the cocktails here are made on different Chachas tempered with fruity flavours – or you can simply order a shot from an artisanal bottle infused with blackberry, oak or apricots.

There’s another branch of this popular bar in Batumi.

41 Gradus

⚑ 19 Galaktion Tabidze St (Sololaki)

Born out of a crowdfunding campaign and now feeding part of its profits back into local charities, this is not your average cocktail bar. 41 Gradus (the name comes from an old Tbilisi avant-garde group) seats a maximum of 25 people for an intimate experience.

The seasonal menu is similarly curated and utterly Tbilisi, with creations such as ‘The Left Bank Martini’ (gin, dry vermouth and white wine) and ‘Giorgina’ (tequila, pimento, peach bitter and mezcal) firm favourites.

Bar snacks are supplied by nearby Cafe Chaduna.

Soda Bar

⚑ 20 Shalva Dadiani St (Sololaki)

Just footsteps from Freedom Square, this aperitivo bar serves coffee by day and is perfect for a nightcap after a long day of sightseeing. The space may be small, but the cocktail menu is mighty: Choose from classic, signature or after dinner mixes.

The ‘Georgiano’ with local cherry wine, Campari, chocolate bitter, Dubonnet and soda water is my pick. This being Soda Bar, anything that’s served fizzy is bound to be delicious.

Cocktail Factory

⚑ 1 Petriashvili St (Vera)

Nestled inside the dark underbelly of Wine Factory No. 1 and worthy of a special shout out, Cocktail Factory is where Tbilisi’s best mixologists come to mingle. Guest bartenders from around the world often make special appearances here, too.

If you’re after classic cocktails (Grasshopper, Whiskey Sour, Queens Park Swizzle) done true-to-taste with a local twist, this is the place.

Fabrika Courtyard Bar

⚑ 8 Egnate Ninoshvili St (Marjanishvili)

Everyone’s favourite hostel-cafe-creative-hangout-coworking-space now has an outdoor bar to complement the gamut of restaurants and cafes that call the Fabrika Courtyard home.

Cocktails, wine and beer are all available – funky music and mirrorball included.

8000 Vintages

⚑ 60 Abashidze St (Vake) & 27 Tabukashvili St (off Rustaveli)

Widely considered the best wine bar in Tbilisi, 8000 Vintages certainly has the biggest range of bottles plus some of the city’s best sommeliers in residence. The sit-down wine degustation here is a real experience and a must-do when visiting Tbilisi.

If you’re after something less formal, both branches serve wine by the glass along with incredible grazing platters.

Coco

⚑  29 Revaz Tabukashvili St (off Rustaveli)

A new addition to Tbilisi’s nightlife scene, Coco is a classic underground cellar with a contemporary twist. Neon lights and colourful murals contrast beautifully with the heritage brick arched roof – I guess the acoustics are good because it looks like this place is pumping in the evenings.

Light meals and cheese platters are available, while wines come courtesy of Gida, a cellar in outer Kakheti that uses grapes from the Khashmiri microzone. As well as Rkatsiteli and Saperavi, their semi-sweet Roze also comes highly recommended.

Vino Underground

⚑  15 Galaktion Tabidze St (Sololaki)

A vanguard of Georgia’s natural wine scene, Vino Underground was the first venue in Tbilisi to serve organic and bio wines exclusively. This is the best place in the city to try unusual wines from small family vineyards. Tastings are available, otherwise wine is served by the glass or bottle.

The subterranean tasting room is friendly and warm, and the staff here really know their stuff.

Sheen-Aura

⚑  189 Shalva Nutsubidze St (Saburtalo)

Lunch haunt by day and bar by night, Sheen-Aura is worth the trek to Saburtalo if you want a local drinking experience. The charming dining room and spacious multi-level courtyard are both decorated with eclectic art pieces and antiques, and the family that runs this venue are exceptionally friendly.

A long wine list and a healthy cocktail menu both feature. At its heart, Sheen-Aura is an arts venue, hosting regular events including acoustic performances, poetry readings, meet-the-author sessions and more.

Wine Not?

⚑  6 Petriashvili St (Vera)

Wine Not? is a cosy underground wine bar and an intimate alternative to the buzzing Wine Factory N1 just opposite. There are separate (and very long!) wine cards for amber, red and white – all available by the bottle – plus a selection of Georgian wines by the glass, starting from 10 GEL.

Chacha and dessert wines are also available, so you can spin your evening out for as long as you like (trust me, you won’t want to leave). There’s a 5 GEL discount if you want to buy a bottle to take home at the end of the night.

DecanTer Wine & Shop

⚑  26 Rustaveli Ave

Conveniently located in the heart of Tbilisi, DecanTer is both a bar offering a hand-selected range of wines from across Georgia and a small plate bistro. If you’re looking for a Georgian souvenir, they sell a great range of local wines by the bottle.

Seasonal cheese plates and desserts are delightful, as is the setting on busy Rustaveli Avenue. Outdoor tables are limited so either make a booking or do a walk-by first.

G.Vino

⚑  37 Chavchavadze Ave (Vake)

The heart and soul of Tbilisi’s wine scene, G.Vino is so much more than a bar and a bistro – it’s a place where winemakers congregate and swap notes, where the social nature of Georgian wine shines through.

The outdoor courtyard here is pure heaven, as is the wine menu, which focuses on small batch and artisanal labels. Come hungry because the food here is a stand out (try the G.Vino burger). In 2022, G.Vino moved from its previous location in the Old Town to a new spot in Vake.

9 MTA

⚑  10 Galaktion Tabidze St (Sololaki)

If you’re serious about beer, 9 MTA has 24 brews on tap plus 70-odd bottled and canned varieties. Both international and local breweries are represented, including made-in-Georgia beers from 9 MTA’s own label (the IPA is lovely) and Bayo Brewery (try the blonde ale).

There’s both a brunch menu and a range of bar meals, making this perfect for afternoon or evening drinks. The Khevsuretian-style Khinkali with melted butter on the side are delicious!

Black Dog Bars in Tbilisi

⚑  33 Lado Asatiani St (Sololaki) & 33 Petriashvili St (Vera)

The kind of place where you can grab a stool and while away an hour chatting to the bartender, Black Dog Bar is the perfect casual pub in Tbilisi. Craft beer and cider are on tap, matched with ‘soul food’ bar snacks (chunky fries, pork tostadas).

If you’ve acquired a canine companion in one of Tbilisi’s friendly street pups, this is the city’s first pet-friendly bar. They have two branches plus a pop-up bar inside Wine Factory No. 1.

Svia Craft Beer (Vake Bistro)

⚑  5 Paliashvili St (Vera)

The new-look Vake Bistro houses multiple eateries including much-loved wine bar and restaurant, Poliphonia. They also serve up Svia Craft Beer, made locally in Kakheti at Lost Ridge Inn.

These small-batch brews are infused with local herbs, fruits and florals to create some really interesting flavours – I love the rhododendron and the pomegranate. Svia’s brewer in chief hails from Tusheti region and brings traditional Tush beer-making techniques to the mix.