Forget the mass-produced knickknacks! This guide to the best independent Tbilisi gift shops shows you what to buy in Georgia and where to go shopping in Tbilisi for handmade, authentic and traditional souvenirs.

Like most capital cities these days, Tbilisi is overflowing with souvenir shops. While atmospheric, the popular Meidan Bazaar tends to be very overpriced, as do many of the shops in the Old Town.

Written for anyone who’s seeking unique and authentic souvenirs and gifts, this guide brings together more than 30+ of the best alternative Tbilisi shops, including my favourite independent retailers and artist studio-boutiques.


Please note: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you make a purchase by clicking a link (at no extra cost to you). Learn more.


Different Tbilisi souvenirs.
Clockwise from top: Black Dog, Ceramic Studio 1300, Funduki, Gallery 27.

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What to buy in Tbilisi: Authentic Georgian souvenirs

Before we dive into my favourite souvenir shops in Tbilisi, I first want to briefly introduce the sort of items you should be looking to buy.

Here are just a few of my favourite ‘authentically Georgian’ souvenirs – items that carry the country’s heritage of craftsmanship and embody Georgia’s culinary traditions.

Traditional Georgian Chita slippers at Funduki.
Traditional Georgian Chita slippers are a favourite Tbilisi souvenir.

You can find lots more ideas of what to buy in Tbilisi in my guide to Georgian products from local designers.

Lurji Supra from Gallery 27.
Lurji Supra from Gallery 27.

Lurji supra

Lurji supra ‘blue tablecloths’ are a traditional textile made by block-printing patterns onto cotton fabric. Traditionally used during supra feasts, they are an integral part of Georgian culture.

Most brands now machine-print onto polyester – but there is a lurji supra workshop at the Academy of Arts that hand-makes them with screenprinting.

Shop large tablecloths and smaller napkins, as well as ceramics and accessories decorated with lurji supra ornaments. Indigo blue and white is the conventional colour scheme.

Ceramics from Orkol, Estia, clay ketsi & Hoda.
Ceramics from Orkol, Estia, clay ketsi & Hoda.

Clay pottery & ceramics

Pottery and ceramics made from red and white clay are hugely popular in Tbilisi. Traditional products include wine jugs and shallow drinking bowls, mini clay qvevri (a smaller version of the vessel used to make wine), and clay ketsi dishes and pots that are used for cooking dishes such as shkmeruli and lobio.

There are dozens of contemporary studios in Tbilisi that draw on these traditions to produce modern and traditional tableware and decorative ceramics.

Silk batik scarf from Gallery 27.
Silk batik scarf from Gallery 27.

Silk batik

Batik painting and resist printing on silk is a traditional technique that became popular in Georgia in the 1980s.

It’s used to create beautiful ladies’ scarves, homewares such as cushion covers, and decorative wallhangings.

Enamel jewellery from Ethnodesign.
Enamel jewellery from Ethnodesign.

Cloisonné enamel (minankari)

Cloisonné enamel, known as minankari in Georgian, has been around since at least the 8th/9th century. Silver/copper enamel jewellery is one of the most popular souvenirs to buy in Tbilisi – you can find handmade pieces in almost every gift shop, and there are several specialty studios around the city.

Just outside Tbilisi, social enterprise Ikorta works with women displaced from South Ossetia to produce enamel rings, pins and pendants.

Kilims from Caucasian Carpets Gallery.
Kilim from Caucasian Carpets Gallery.

Carpets & kilims

Hand-loomed floor carpets and wallhangings are popular throughout the Caucasus region. Most textiles sold in Tbilisi are antique, including beautiful Kakhetian kilims that traditionally depict a pair of animals and were woven to celebrate special milestones like the birth of a child.

The quality and provenance of vintage carpets varies widely so it’s best to go through a reputable dealer if you want the real thing. You can find cheaper versions at most markets, including Dry Bridge.

Felt wallhanging from Gallery 27.
Felt wallhanging from Gallery 27.

Feltwork

Felt crafts are popular in Georgia’s mountain regions (particularly in Tusheti, Svaneti, and Upper Racha).

Today you can shop felt wallhangings and dolls, as well as practical accessories such as cosy felt slippers and felted hats.

Box from Ethnodesign & panduri from Hangebi.
Box from Ethnodesign & panduri from Hangebi.

Woodwork

Georgian panduri and chonguri folk instruments showcase the country’s heritage of woodwork. Hangebi is a reputable shop for ordering instruments online (everything is handmade to order from walnut and chestnut wood in their Kutaisi workshop).

Other souvenirs made from wood include jewellery and homewares made with the same carving techniques first developed in Georgia in the 10th century to embellish church doors.

A kisi exfoliating mitten made from burgundy coloured antique Caucasian carpet, sold at a bathhouse in Tbilisi as a unique souvenir.
Kisi mitten.

Upcycled Kisi mitten

These roughly textured exfoliating gloves are used for traditional kisi (kisa) treatments at the sulfur baths in Tbilisi.

Some bath houses including Chreli-Abano and King Erekle’s Bath give you the option to buy your own mit to use for your treatment. Then at the end of the session, you can take it home with you.

Both spas offer plain black mittens – or you can get these special ones made from up-cycled vintage Caucasian carpet offcuts. So cute!

Antiques & vintage.
Antiques & vintage.

Antiques & vintage

Tbilisi is an antiquers paradise, with dozens of flea markets and boutiques dedicated to Soviet memorabilia and retro knick knacks.

Popular souvenirs from this genre include old Russian film cameras and vinyl records, antique Georgian khantsi drinking horns, medals, coins, stamps, and other collectibles.

Poster from Black Dog Studio.
Poster from Black Dog Studio.

Retro posters

Archival film posters, Soviet advertisements and propaganda posters are another popular souvenir to buy in Tbilisi.

There are many contemporary studios including popular Geoposter that design new posters and papergoods inspired by this retro aesthetic. Old Book Story sells vintage posters and the National Archive sells reproductions of classic film posters.

Slippers from Funduki.
Slippers from Funduki.

Woollen slippers & socks

Chita slippers, a traditional indoor winter footwear, are knitted from Georgian wool and have a soft bottom. Hand-knitted chunky wool socks are also popular.

In Tbilisi, you can find handspun versions made by local grandmas and as well as contemporary brands such as Funduki that reimagine these humble designs.

Suneli brand spices.
Suneli brand spices.

Adjika & spice blends

Traditional Georgian spices and spice blends are the perfect souvenir for your kitchen cabinet. Adjika (a spicy rub or paste from Western Georgia), blue fenugreek, barberry powder, marigold, Khmeli-Suneli (five spice) and Svanetian salt (a spiced salt from Svaneti region) can all be found at markets and supermarkets.

Prepackaged specialty spice blends with the flavours of lobio, kharcho and mtsvadi barbecue are also great to have. I recommend either Komli or Suneli brand, which both come in an air-tight foil bag. (I recently sent six bags of spices home to Australia and they made it through customs without any issues!).

Churchkhela from Badagi.
Churchkhela from Badagi.

Churchkhela & dried fruit

Churchkhela (walnuts or hazelnuts threaded on a string and coated in sweet fruit roux) is a hugely popular Georgian snack that travels well. Tklapi fruit leather and dried fruits are also good to buy.

Baia's Wine & ChaChaine Chacha.
Baia’s Wine & ChaChaine Chacha.

Qvevri wine & chacha

Georgian wine is a mandatory Tbilisi take-home. Qvevri wine prepared the traditional way in a clay vessel is a great choice, and you can also find European-style wines made in Kakheti and Western Georgia. Amber wine and Saperavi are both popular.

Chacha, hard liquor made from grape pomace, is a good souvenir for the brave.

Tea from Renegade Tea Estate.
Tea from Renegade Tea Estate.

Georgian tea

Not many people realise that Georgia has a burgeoning tea industry. Green and black tea is grown by small farmers in Guria, while contemporary brands such as Renegade Tea Estate in Imereti make artisanal teas.

Herbal and fruit teas (blackberry is a favourite) are also available in Tbilisi.

Vervelevi preserves, sunflower oil & Poka St. Nino Monastery honey.
Vervelevi preserves, sunflower oil & Poka St. Nino Monastery honey.

Honey, preserves & sunflower oil

Homemade fruit preserves, local honey and jams can be found all over Tbilisi at markets, grocery stores – and no doubt at your guesthouse too.

Look out for special regional products such as acacia honey, spruce honey, walnut jam, pinecone jam, and Kakhetian cold-pressed sunflower oil.

A rolling pin and dough press for making khinkali dumplings, a cute souvenir from Georgia.
Rolling pin and dough press for khinkali.

Khinkali-making set

I’m not entirely sure how traditional these are – most mamas I’ve seen making khinkali use their favourite drinking glass to cut the dough! Still, if you want to recreate delicious Georgian dumplings at home, these wooden kitchen utensils are a sweet souvenir.

I got my set, a tiny rolling pin and extra-large dough press (pictured), for less than 10 GEL at the Dezerter Bazaar (details below).


Where to go shopping in Tbilisi for handmade & authentic Georgian souvenirs

Now that you know what you’re looking for, here are my favourite gift shops in Tbilisi where you can find all the products mentioned above plus much more.

Most of the shops mentioned here are small and independent and directly support local artisans and makers.

Don’t forget to subscribe and get your free Tbilisi Shopping Map to take with you on your retail expedition.

Off to Armenia next? Check out my Yerevan shopping guide.


Overall best souvenirs shops in Tbilisi for variety

Each of these shops has a wide selection of products, including traditional Georgian handicrafts and items from contemporary makers. If you’re short on time, these are the best one-stop shops for both souvenirs and gifts.

Top choice: Gallery 27

Run by local creative and patron of the arts Nino Kvavilashvili, Gallery 27 is Tbilisi’s premier gift boutique. Nino makes full use of her small space to curate and showcase works from almost 100 different local artists.

In her own words, “We try to put together the works of all artists who create with passion – works of artistic value.”

At Gallery 27 you can find batik silk scarves, cotton lurji supra blue tablecloths, wall hangings, knitted items, paintings, ceramics, leather goods and much more.

Lurji supra blue tablecloths.
Georgia’s famous lurji supra blue tablecloths at Gallery 27 in Tbilisi.

Gallery 27 used to be located upstairs at the iconic ‘Kaleidoscope House’. The house is now undergoing vital restorations, so in spring 2023 Nino and her crew relocated to a different space in Sololaki.

Their new (old) house has plenty of space to host enamel, batik and pottery workshops, and they also have plans to launch a small coffee house. Watch this space!


Top choice: Ethnodesign

Ethnodesign shop in Tbilisi.
EthnoDesign, another great souvenir shop in Tbilisi.

The Georgian Heritage Crafts Association was established to safeguard the country’s applied arts, including lurji supra. The Association’s flagship store, Ethnodesign, is a treasure trove of specialty crafts sourced from different regions and makers, including felt from Tusheti, ceramics from Western Georgia and woodwork. It’s also a platform for homeworkers and small co-ops to sell their wares in the capital.

They stock Ikorta Enamel Jewelry from the social enterprise studio that trains and employs women displaced from South Ossetia.

(As a side-note, Ikorta’s studio in the IDP settlement near Mtskheta offers hands-on workshops and a chance to shop for traditional cloisonné enamel earrings, pins and pendants directly from the artisans.)

Most items are accompanied by an information card that tells you a bit about the artist.

All the products here are top-notch in terms of both design and quality. Proceeds go directly to the makers, and when you purchase a souvenir, you’re also supporting the Association’s work to elevate Georgian crafts on the world stage.

As of this year, you can also find Ethnodesign products for sale at Tbilisi International Airport.

  • Address: Corner of Akhvlediani & Nikoladze Streets (near Rustaveli Metro Station)
  • Hours & info

Social Concept Store ESKI (new Tbilisi shop for 2024)

Social Concept Shop Eski, a cute gift shop with children's toys, wool beanies and textiles in Tbilisi.
ESKI stocks products from 25 Georgian social enterprises.

This new gift boutique near Orbeliani Square is a one-stop-shop for products handmade by various social enterprises around Georgia. There are at least 25 different enterprises represented at any one time.

Much of the shelf space is taken up with children’s gear, making this an ideal place to shop for the little people in your life. I particularly like the wooden toys handmade on the grounds of Sameba Cathedral.

There is plenty on offer for adults, too – including a curated range of Ethnodesign ceramics and jewellery, Babale’s fun socks (also see below), Bebias beanies handmade from Tushetian wool (Ross and I both own one!), and felted Georgian hats made in Oni in Racha.

  • Address: 7 Nato Vachnadze Street (near Orbeliani Square)
  • Hours & info

Babale

Social enterprise Babale works with children and adults with Down’s Syndrome to creative clothing and homewares with imaginative, whimsical designs.

I particularly like their collection of home textiles (pictured above) which are inspired by designs found in famous Georgian paintings. For example, you can buy a recreation of the backdrop from a famous David Kakabadze portrait or the cloth from a Petre Otskheli sketch!

The same designs also come in socks, with a little explanation about the work and the artist on the back. I recently picked up five pairs for myself!

Babale also sells Christmas ornaments, Easter decorations, jewellery, magnets, and other small Georgia-themed forget-me-nots.

  • Address: 21 Aleqsandre Diuma St (Old Tbilisi)
  • Hours & info

Tbileli’s Karvasla

Now under new management, Tbileli’s Karvasla (a restored Silk Road caravanserai) houses two unique city museums, the Tbilisi History Museum and the Tbilisi Wine Museum, and a wine bar.

The rooms on the lower level have been converted into small shops, each one with a different theme: Antiques and vintage, textiles and carpets, cheeses, honey and cured meats. You can also find original artworks, contemporary women’s wear, jewellery and leather goods.

The different spaces are meant to represent an old-world bazaar, and each one is beautifully decorated. It’s worth going down for a look (and to visit the Wine Museum and the new Georgian restaurant, Archive) even if you don’t intend to buy anything.


Fabrika Tbilisi courtyard

Flying Painter clothes Shop at Fabrika Tbilisi.
The Flying Painter.

The yard behind Fabrika Hostel is a one-stop-shop for cafes, wine bars, and quirky gifts handmade by young and independent Georgian artists and designers. Some shops double as workspaces: Anyone is welcome to drop in and have a friendly chat with the artist while they work.

Ceramic Studio 1300 is run by two ceramicist friends who make super-fine hand-painted tableware, and The Flying Painter is a fashion boutique that stocks garments and accessories from local designers. Their own range is sewn on site.

  • Address: 8 Egnate Ninoshvili Street (Chugureti)

The Why Not Gallery

This contemporary art space on Aghmashenebeli Avenue hosts special exhibitions by Georgian painters and sculptors downstairs. Upstairs, the small gift shop is an absolute treasure trove of funky, quirky and alternative products.

The range includes framed and unframed prints, cushions and textiles with contemporary designs, Pinadze brooches, and my personal favourite item – brightly coloured candles in the shape of Mother of Georgia.

  • Address: 150 Aghmashenebeli Avenue (Chugureti)
  • Hours & info

Museum Shop at the MFA

Museum Shop at the Museum of Fine Arts, a modern souvenir shop on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi.
Museum Shop at the Museum of Fine Arts.

Most of the top museums and galleries in Tbilisi have a gift shop. While the shop at the National Museum does carry some nice hardcover books, for a wide range of arty souvenirs, my top pick is the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA).

There is a nice range of Georgian-made jewellery, silk scarves, graphic print tees and tote bags plus books on Georgian art and culture, many of them in English.

I particularly like the collection of postcards and unframed posters that bear designs from the private art collection on display upstairs. If you’re looking for a typical Tbilisi postcard, this shop is my top choice.

The shop (and the Museum Cafe, where delicious sweets and some of the best coffee in Tbilisi is served) are both located on the lower level. You do not have to buy a ticket for the museum to visit them.


Galleria Tbilisi

Traditional Georgian tablecloths at the Blue Tabla stand in Galleria Mall, Tbilisi.
Georgian tablecloths at Blue Tabla inside Galleria Mall.

Located adjacent to the Liberty Square Metro Station, this shopping mall houses a number of stalls including Blue Tabla, Beard.ge, Spilow, Alter Socks, and a couple of other Georgian-made brands. You can find their stands in the second and third-level atriums.

  • Address: Next to Liberty Square Metro Station
  • Hours & info

Tbilisi Mall

Located further out on the road to Mtskheta, Tbilisi Mall is one of the city’s main shopping centres. Along with the usual chain and department stores, you can find a number of independent retailers set up in the mall’s atriums. Georgian Memory (2nd floor) sells beautiful silk scarves decorated with Tbilisi-inspired designs (such as the iconic balconied houses) and more subdued, abstract patterns.

My favourite shop, AlterSocks (ground floor), makes funky socks with khinkali and khachapuri patterns, Pirosmani paintings by the famous Kakheti-born artist and other prints.


Specialty shops & artist studios

Here’s where to buy designer jewellery, leather goods and textiles. Some of these shops double as artist’s studios. Many also offer hands-on workshops for adults and kids.

Top choice: Lurji Supra Workshop at the Academy of Arts

This studio should be your first port of call if you’re in the market for an authentic lurji supra ‘blue tablecloth’ printed on cotton and linen according to traditional methods.

Run as part of a special UNESCO project, the small printing workshop is located on the grounds of the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts. I first learned about it way back in 2017, but it took me years to finally visit.

Note that the workshop is only open from spring to autumn, roughly April through to October.

Visitors are welcome to pop in and tour the two small rooms crowded with old-school printing equipment and vats of indigo dye. Everything is done by hand, and if you’re lucky the artists will give you a demonstration.

Blue and white lurji supra tablecloths on a manual printing machine at an art studio in Tbilisi, Georgia.
Lurji supra workshop in Tbilisi.

I am honestly not sure where most of the tablecloths go, as only a few shops in Tbilisi seem to sell them. Perhaps they are exported. Staff always keep a stash on hand at the workshop, and normally they have a good range of shapes, sizes and colourways.

Little English is spoken, so I will briefly explain the process of buying a lurji supra. If something catches your eye, ask to see the cost on the printed sheet. Prices are extremely reasonable, from 18-100 GEL.

Staff will then help you fill out a simple one-page form. You need to take that form down to the TBC bank on Rustaveli Avenue to make payment (cash or transfer). Bring the receipt back up, and they will bundle up your purchase for you.

  • Address: 22 Alexander Griboedov Street (enter through the gate at the north-west end)

Khoperia Studio (batik textiles)

A colourful artist's shop-studio in Tbilisi.
Photo credit: Khoperia Studio.

Irma Khoperia’s studio in Vera doubles as a gift boutique where you can shop the artist’s range of batik on silk wallhangings and scarves and sublimation printed cottons. I challenge you to find a more colourful, cheerful creative space in Tbilisi!

Message or call Irma a day or two in advance to organise your visit.

  • Address: 25 Ivane Tarkhnishvili Street (Vera)
  • Hours & info

Papanaki (Georgian traditional dress)

Traditional Georgian costume from Papanaki souvenir shop.
Photo credit: Papanaki.

Georgia’s national costumes, Chokha, are among the most splendid in the region. At Papanaki, you can shop handmade outfits and wedding attire as well as modern garments, scarves, bags and other accessories inspired by traditional designs. The luxe fabrics and hand-embroidery are something to admire.

If you need an outfit for a special occasion (such as a Georgian wedding), Papanaki also offers a rental service.

  • Address: 37 Platon Ioseliani Street (Saburtalo)
  • Hours & info

Samoseli Pirveli (traditional Georgian garments & accessories)

Samoseli Pirveli (‘first garment’) takes inspiration from Georgian chokha and traditional dress for its clothing, shoes and accessories for adults and children.

The company was founded in 2009 and previously located in Vake. In 2023, they moved to a beautiful new showroom-shop on a quiet street opposite the Rustaveli Metro Station.

Prices reflect the level of craftsmanship that goes into each item. A tailoring service is available for the perfect fit, and they also offer garment rentals for special occasions.

  • Address: 10 Leo Kiacheli Street (near Rustaveli Metro)
  • Hours & info

Istoriali (Georgian jewellery)

Gold Georgian jewellery at Istorali showroom in Vera.
Georgian jewellery at Istorali.

Specialising in fine jewellery inspired by traditional Georgian motifs, mythology and unearthed artefacts, Istoriali looks more like a museum than a shop. Fine gold and enamel accessories carry traditional Colchian forms and symbols and are very contemporary at the same time.


QisaBags (handmade leather)

Artist Kato Ramishvili hand-makes gorgeous leather and suede bags at her workshop-boutique in Tbilisi’s Vake district. Her style and craftsmanship is inspired by traditional Georgian qisa, leather pouches used by Old Tbilisi’s merchants to carry tobacco and coins.


17 Kvadrati (handmade leather)

Wallets and bags on the table in the sunlit workshop of 17 Kvadriati, a great place to buy handmade leather in Tbilisi.
17 Kvadriati, a great place to buy handmade leather in Tbilisi.

Tucked away in the courtyard near Sofia Melnikovas restaurant, behind the Rustaveli Theatre, 17 Kvadrati sells leather bags and clutches made on-site by the owner/artist and other Georgian makers.

The name 17 Kvadrai (’17 squared’) is taken from the tiny room the store started out in. As the space has expanded, so has its offerings – now you can also shop a range of leather bags, wallets, ladies purses and belts plus pins and jewellery, stickers and other quirky gifts from young local designers.

I recently bought a new leather purse from this shop and I love it!

  • Address: 8 Giorgi Chanturia Street (off Rustaveli Avenue)
  • Hours & info

Where to buy Georgian ceramics & tableware

Georgia has such a prolific pottery scene, this traditional craft deserves its own special section. Here are my top choices for beautiful tableware and hand-thrown ceramics.

Top choice: Ceramic Room

The female artists behind Ceramic Room are responsible for hand-crafting and painting the ornate street signs on restored Gudiashvili Square and Atoneli Street. They also installed the decorative steps that lead from Rustaveli up to the Art Academy, a must-see in Tbilisi.

Hand-painted tiles and house numbers with traditional ornaments are sold alongside contemporary pottery, plates and vases at their shop in Vera. I adore their entire range. My dream is to build a house and cover it with Ceramic Room tiles from ceiling to floor!

They also have a workshop space in Mtatsminda.

  • Address: 30 Vasil Barnovi Street (Vera) & inside Bazari Orbeliani
  • Hours & info

Top Choice: White Studio Home

Founded by Nato Eristavi and Nino Kambarashvili in 2013, White Studio aims to modernise heritage Georgian pottery by revitalising unique materials and techniques, including white clay, white porcelain and faïence. Everything they produce is a work of art – literally.

At their new shop, White Studio Home (one of two in Vera), you will find hand-painted tableware and vases, plus small trinkets including hand-painted ornaments.

At the second shop on Petriashvili Street, most of the ceramics are quite big and might be tricky to transport home. If you have room in your suitcase for everything including the kitchen sink, they have a beautiful range of hand-painted ceramic basins!

  • Address: 4 Erekle Tatishvili Street & 18 Vasil Petriashvili Street (Vera)
  • Hours & info

Estia Handmade Arts

I love the range of Georgian ceramics at Estia Handmade Arts, especially the blue and white tea sets with concentric motifs inspired by lurji supra designs.

As well as teapots and saucers, you can find hand-painted beer steins and small souvenirs, such as ceramic magnets.

The space is also used to host art classes and workshops.

  • Address: 60 Mikheili Tsinamdzgvrishvili Street (Chugureti)
  • Hours & info

Where to shop for Georgian fashion designers in Tbilisi

Most local designers have their showrooms in Vake, Vera and Saburtalo districts. Here are a couple of my favourite retail stores that sell a wide range of Georgian labels.

Top choice: IERI Store

Racks of Georgian designers fashion at IERI Store at Wine Factory N1.
IERI Store at Wine Factory N1.

Tbilisi’s premier clothing store for Georgian brands, I E R I is located on the upper floor of Wine Factory N1.

They stock a beautiful range of tailored garments for men and women from Georgian designers Situationist, Chubika, George Keburia, and others.

  • Address: Inside Wine Factory N1, 1 Vasil Petriashvili Street (Vera)
  • Hours & info

Best shops in Tbilisi for posters, books & paper goods

Here’s where to find Tbilisi-inspired posters, postcards and books.

Top choice: Stamba Bookstore

Stamba Bookstore, an English language book shop in Tbilisi, Georgia.
Stamba Bookstore.

Located on the ground floor of the famous Stamba Hotel, a refurbished printing house, Stamba’s Books stocks literary related knickknacks and gifts alongside a wide variety of Georgian and English-language tomes.

You can also find a big selection of graphic posters by Geoposters plus silk scarves and blue tablecloths by Blue Tabla.

Next door, The Shop also sells books and guidebooks as well as homewares.

  • Address: 14 Merab Kostava Street (inside Stamba Hotel)
  • Hours & info

Top choice: Prospero’s Books

This popular bookstore-cafe offers a big selection of English-language books, including translations of Georgian novels. There is a special regional section devoted to books about the history, culture and cuisine of the Caucasus.

You can also find translated folk tales, Georgian poetry books, copies of The Knight in the Panther’s Skin, and resources for learning Georgian language.

  • Address: 34 Rustaveli Avenue & inside Bazari Orbeliani
  • Hours & info

National Archives of Georgia

Georgian Soviet film posters for sale at the National Archives gift shop in Tbilisi.
The National Archives.

Founded in 1920 and located inside a striking Soviet-era modernist building in Saburtalo, the National Archives safeguards thousands of documents, photographs, films and audio recordings that are pertinent to Georgian history.

As well as hosting photographic exhibitions and screening classic films in their onsite cinema, they have a small but sweet gift shop where you can buy print reproductions of Soviet-Georgian movie and propaganda posters, plus postcards and other papergoods with designs from various archival documents.

The range is small but nice. Georgian and English-language specialty books are also on offer.

  • Address: 1 Vazha-Pshavela Avenue (Saburtalo) – enter from the eastern door (the shop is located upstairs)
  • Hours & info

Best gift shops & markets for antiques and carpets

These shops and markets all offer a huge range of vintage and antiques. You never know what you’ll turn up – browsing is half the fun!

Top choice: The Dry Bridge Market

Antique medals, coins and silverware for sale at the Dry Bridge Market in Tbilisi.
Antique medals, coins and silverware for sale at the Dry Bridge Market.

The Dry Bridge Market, Tbilisi’s daily flea market, is without a doubt the best place to rummage for vintage merchandise and collectibles. Stallholders peddle everything from Russian-made film cameras and KGB ID books to Kakhetian kilims, antique chandeliers and brass door fittings.

Underneath the bridge, you’ll find a special section for painters and their easels. New stands were recently built, and more and more designers and artists are setting up shop here every month.

Even if you’re not in the market for anything, it’s great fun to hang out and have a browse. The market is open daily from mid-morning and is always at its biggest and best on weekends. Don’t miss the hidden antiques section.

  • Address: The Dry Bridge & Dedaena Park (near Orbeliani Square)

See my guide to visiting the Dry Bridge Market for more tips.


Top choice: Barakholka

A bust of a soldier at the Navtlughi antique market in Tbilisi, Georgia.
Barakholka antique market in Tbilisi.

The antiques market inside Navtlughi (AKA Samgori Bazaar) is a great alternative to Dry Bridge. It’s less ‘curated’ and it definitely has a more local feel, which makes rummaging for treasure here even more fun.

Barakholka as it’s also known includes a mix of outdoor stalls and more formal shops located inside an old warehouse. It is part of the much larger Navtlughi market, which sells everything from fresh fruit and veg to auto parts.

Find the antiques in the side streets around Mevele Dead End (aim for this point).

There are a couple of excellently curated shops here that sell authentic chandeliers, pottery, tableware and other bits and pieces. If you’re specifically interested in Soviet memorabilia, you will definitely find some items of interest here.

Prices are lower than at the Dry Bridge and at least two of the shops have everything tagged, which makes things a bit easier (haggling is still acceptable, though).

Just when you think you’ve reached the end of the antique market, you come across another side alley with more stalls. Give yourself a good hour to explore all the nooks and crannies – and definitely try to visit on a weekend when there are more vendors in the outdoor section.

  • Address: The Dry Bridge & Dedaena Park (near Orbeliani Square)

Antique Bazaar & antique shops in Chugureti

A cluttered antique Shop on Uznadze Street in Tbilisi, Georgia.
Antique Shop on Uznadze Street.

Chugureti district (AKA Marjanishvili) is known for its jumble shops, antique stores and vintage clothing outlets. The Antique Bazaar on Uznadze Street is a huge market where separate shops sell antique ceramics, porcelain, dinner sets, vases and the like – most of it from the Soviet era.

Second-hand furniture and knickknacks at Retro Bazaari, an antique shop in Chugureti, Tbilisi.
Retro Bazaari, a great antique shop in Tbilisi.

You can find more antique shops nearby around Tsinamdzgvrishvili Street – my favourites are Retro Bazaari and Antique Shop Nino Lebanidze. Most of the furniture and other items are too big to take home, but you can find souvenir-sized ceramics and charming knickknacks here too.

plus plenty of second-hand clothing stores along both sides of Marjanishvili Street.

  • Address: 2 Dimitri Uznadze Street (Chugureti)

Old Book Story

Vintage Georgian film posters for sale at Old Book Story.
Vintage Georgian film posters for sale at Old Book Story.

This tiny basement shop offers a curated collection of vintage film posters, postcards, photographs and other papergoods, plus rare and collectable books in both Georgian and Russian. If you’re in the market for an authentic antique, this place is a good bet.

Prices are a little higher of course, but still reasonable.

  • Address: 30/6 Ivane Javakhishvili Street (Chugureti)
  • Hours & info

Caucasian Carpets Gallery

Caucasian Carpets Gallery in Tbilisi.
Caucasian Carpets Gallery in Old Tbilisi.

If you have the luggage space, an antique carpet or kilim makes for a wonderful souvenir from the Caucasus. Caucasian Carpets Gallery (Origin Carpets) is the best-known and most reputable carpet dealer in Tbilisi, selling authentic Kakhetian kilims and export-quality rugs sourced from across the region.

Many of my favourite boutique hotels in Tbilisi – including The House Hotel – source their rugs from this dealer.

Staff are friendly and knowledgable, and never pressure you into buying. If you do decide to pick something up, you’ll be glad to hear that worldwide shipping is available. Staff will help you with any documentation you might need to take an antique carpet out of the country.


Best shops in Tbilisi for food souvenirs

From spice blends and jams to artisanal tea, these Tbilisi shops have your foodie needs covered.

Tip: I always carry a set of reusable silicone food bags with me for carrying edible souvenirs home – especially for fresh spices so they don’t infuse my entire suitcase! Check out my Georgia packing guide for more handy tips.

Top choice: Georgian Kalata at bazari Orbeliani

Bazari Orbeliani gourmet food shop in Tbilisi.
Easter market at Bazari Orbeliani.

Kalata means ‘basket’ in Georgian – and you’re going to need one when you go shopping here. Part deli, part pantry, this is a one-stop shop for artisanal food products, including all the edible Georgian souvenirs mentioned at the top.

You can find Kakhetian cold-pressed sunflower oil, honey from Poka St. Nino Monastery, jams and preserves, gozinaki walnut candy, a big selection of spices, Stumari wine tea, loose-leaf teas, fresh goat’s cheese from Marleta’s farm in Telavi, wine, chacha, and just about anything else your stomach desires.

Georgian food products for sale at a deli shop in Tbilisi.
Georgian Kalata at Bazari Orbeliani.

Georgian Kalata used to have a storefront on Orbeliani Square, but their main shop has since moved to Saburtalo district (find them at 52 Dolidze Street). It is a bit out of the way, so for convenient shopping in the city centre, I recommend their booth on the first floor of Bazari Orbeliani (find them in the back right corner as you enter).

Having re-launched in late 2021, the top two levels of the historic market hall have been transformed into gourmet food court. Bazari Orbeliani used to have a bigger market section but that has been replaced with a cocktail bar.

You can still buy cheese, cured meats, churchkhela and dried fruits, spices, and other packaged food products at the handful of shops on Bazari’s lower level. Waime Spices and Kona Tea are two more quality brands represented here.

At Easter time, there is a pop-up market devoted entirely to paska cake.

The upper level has a dozen or so fast-food-style outlets serving different regional Georgian and international cuisines. There’s also a bar, a Lagidze Water, and a well-stocked wine shop.

  • Address: Inside Bazari Orbeliani & 52 Dolidze Street (Saburtalo)
  • Hours & info (Bazari Orbeliani)
  • Hours & info (Georgian Kalata)

Top choice: Carrefour supermarket

Six packets of traditional Georgian spices, Svanetian salt, barberry powder, kharcho seasoning and more.
Traditional Georgian spices – Komli brand, sold at Carrefour supermarket.

Many Georgian food brands, including Badagi churchkhela and Komli brand packaged spices, are stocked at Carrefour supermarkets around Tbilisi and beyond. You can also find jams, preserves, honey, sauces and Kakhetian sunflower oil here.

My preferred branch – one of the biggest and the most conveniently located – is on Vekua Street, walking distance from Freedom Square and directly below Bazari Orbeliani (see above).


Top choice: Khurjini

Khurjini food souvenir shop in Old Tbilisi.
Khurjini.

Khurjini is an atmospheric little shop with a great range of local food products to choose from. Everything is natural and locally sourced, including spices, local wine and chacha, churchkhela, jams, honey, compote, preserved fruits, cheeses and teas.

  • Address: 15 Anton Katalikosi Street (Old Tbilisi)
  • Hours & info

Badagi (best churchkhela in Tbilisi)

Churchkhela Georgian candy for sale at Badagi shop in Tbilisi.
The best churchkhela in Tbilisi.

Badagi is one of Georgia’s most popular churchkhela companies and is often name-checked by locals for selling the most reliably delicious rendition of the sweet. This company uses all-natural products with no added sugar. I love the fresh grapey taste and soft texture – exactly how it should be!

Their shop sells individual churchkhela, gift boxes and hampers along with other dried fruit products and tklapi fruit leather.

  • Address: 2 Roman Miminoshvili Street (off Rustaveli Avenue)
  • Hours & info

Bitadze Tea Shop & Museum

Bitadze Tea Shop in Tbilisi.
Drinking tea at Bitadze Tea Shop.

This petite tea shop and museum dedicated to Georgian tea is run by the Bitadze family, who also manage the country’s only tea growers co-op.

Loose leaf green, black and white leaves, plus herbal and fruit teas grown in Guria tea region, Adjara and Samegrelo are all available. If you’re a tea lover, you can even join them for a Georgian tea ceremony on request.

  • Address: 15 Galaktion Tabidze Street (Sololaki)
  • Hours & info

The Dezerter Bazaar

Walnuts and legumes for sale at the Dezerter Bazaar.
Walnuts for sale at the Dezerter Bazaar.

Fresh spices and herbs, huge wheels of Sulguni cheese and homemade adjika and chacha are just some of the offerings available at Tbilisi’s main central food market.

Most people come here for grocery shopping, but all these items make for wonderful edible Tbilisi souvenirs – locally made and straight from the source.

For spices and cheeses, head into the building on the right-side of the market. Herbs and tea can be found outside.

If you’re looking for Georgian spices, there is a terrific stall in the Pasaji part of the market off Abastumani Street. It is called Givi Papa.

You can find wooden utensils (including special rolling pins and dough cutters for khinkali) in the small shops under the arched walkway on Tamar Mepe Avenue (around this point).

If you’re into thrifting, there are dozens of second-hand and vintage clothing shops in the Bazroba market area, too. Dezerter Vintage is one of the best-curated.

A neon sign reads Dezerter Vintage, mounted on a metal fence above racks of second-hand clothing at a trendy thrift shop in Tbilisi, Georgia.
Dezerter Vintage, one of the most popular second-hand clothing shops in Tbilisi.

Cheese house

Georgian cheese shop, Cheese House in Vake, Tbilisi.
Cheese House.

With an estimated 250 varieties of artisanal cheese, Georgia truly is a turophile’s paradise. Cheese House stocks some of the nation’s finest hard and soft qveli, including specialty mountain cheeses such as Tushetian guda and tenili ‘pulled’ cheese, a culinary delicacy from Samtskhe-Javakheti. Everything is sold by weight.

Spices, wines and other natural products are on hand to accompany. Staff at this family-run shop don’t speak much English, but are are clued up on the history and makers behind every wheel. Free samples are abundant.


Where to buy Georgian wine in Tbilisi

Most bars in Tbilisi also sell wine by the bottle. Below are a couple of my favourite dedicated shops for wine and chacha.

Tip: If you plan on buying a few bottles of Georgian wine to take home in your check-in luggage, these leak-proof bottle protector sleeves should come in handy. They also fit Kakhetian olive oil and wine vinegar.

Top choice: 8000 Vintages

Bottles of Georgian wine stacked on a shelf inside 8000 Vintages shop in Tbilisi.
Buy your Georgian wine at 8000 Vintages.

8000 Vintages is one of the best-stocked wine shops in Tbilisi. There are three branches around the city that double as wine bars, hosting formal wine degustations (a must-do activity for anyone interested in wine).

The shop stocks a monumental array of Georgian wines from Kakheti and beyond, plus chacha and wine accessories. They even have a special section dedicated to small-batch family wine cellars for anyone looking to support the little guys.


Top choice: Sasmuri Wine

Inside Sasmuri, a wine shop off Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi, Georgia.
Sasmuri Wine Shop.

This bar-shop off Rustaveli Avenue is linked to the popular Restaurant Margalita across the road. They have a huge selection of fine Georgian wines and represent many of my favourite vintners from Imereti and Kakheti. One of my top picks is Nasrashvili Family wines from Dedoplistskaro.

Everything is labelled, and prices are very reasonable. In the front corner there is a small stand where you can buy jams, muraba preserves, Georgian honey and other accessories for your next wine and cheese board.

  • Address: 4 Mitropan Laghidze Street (off Rustaveli Avenue)
  • Hours & info

Top choice: Chacha Corner

Georgia’s first chacha specialty shop carries more than 200 varieties of locally made liquor, ranging from potent homemade distillations through to fancy modern concoctions such as ChaChaine’s ginger-infused chacha.

  • Address: 11 Giga Lortkifanidze Street (Sololaki)
  • Hours & info

Bonus: Pop-up markets for Tbilisi souvenirs

In the warmer months, vendors set up shop along Rustaveli Avenue. This is a good place to find second-hand books.

There is also a small handicraft market daily on the stairs in front of Coffeesta where you can buy original artworks, Svan hats and knitted socks, and other cute souvenirs. It’s a bit touristy but worth pausing for a look if you happen to be walking by.

In late summer and fall you’ll often see pop-up handicraft markets on Rustaveli Avenue. Dates and times can be found here on the STALL Facebook Page.

Come December/January, Christmas Markets appear in Dedaena Park, Orbeliani Square and on Rustaveli Avenue. See this guide to Christmas in Tbilisi for more details.

Must-read: 9 best markets in Tbilisi.


Shopping in Georgia – beyond Tbilisi

Tbilisi is definitely the best place in Georgia to do your souvenir shopping – the capital has the biggest selection of shops and goods by far. I always recommend giving yourself an extra day at the end of your Georgia itinerary to do last-minute shopping.

Outside of Tbilisi, there are a few places in particular that I recommend:

  • ORKOL Ceramics in Zugdidi – for beautiful red and black-smoked clay pottery with traditional Megrelian designs.
  • Giorgi Tatulashvili Ceramics Studio in Gori – for hand-thrown tableware and ceramics inspired by traditional Georgian drinking vessels.
  • Pesvebi Art-Studio in Dedoplistskaro – for handwoven carpets and leather bags with carpet swatches (Pesvebi is the only studio in Georgia using 100% natural dyes for its wool).
  • Guesthouses in Svaneti and Tusheti – many family run guesthouses in the mountains sell hand-knitted socks, wallhangings and other woollies.

You can find more shopping suggestions sprinkled throughout my city guides:


Georgia essentials

Here are the websites and services I personally use and recommend for Georgia. Check out my full list of travel resources for more tips.

FLIGHTS: Search for affordable flights to Tbilisi, Batumi or Kutaisi on Skyscanner.

TRAVEL INSURANCE: Insure your trip with HeyMondo, my preferred provider for single-trip and annual travel insurance (get 5% off when you book with my link).

SIM CARD: Magti is my preferred provider, with prices starting from 9 GEL/week for unlimited data. See this guide for all the details about buying a Georgian SIM card.

AIRPORT TRANSFERS: Most flights into Georgia arrive in the early hours. For ease, pre-book a private transfer from Tbilisi Airport to your hotel (from $17) or from Kutaisi Airport to Tbilisi (from $90) with my partners at GoTrip.ge.

ACCOMMODATION: Booking.com is the most widely used platform in Georgia. Use it to find family guesthouses, private apartments, hostels and hotels around the country.

CAR HIRE: Find a great deal on a rental car in Georgia – use the Local Rent website to book through a local agent (prices start from $20/day).

DAY TRIPS & CITY TOURS: Use Viator or Get Your Guide to browse a range of day trips and city tours. For off-beat programs, I recommend Friendly.ge (use the promocode wanderlush for 10% off). For in-depth day trips to Georgia’s wine regions, I recommend Eat This! Tours (use the promo code wanderlush for 5% off).

PRIVATE TRANSFERS: GoTrip.ge is a terrific service for booking a private professional driver and car for the day. Use it for A-to-B transfers, a customised round-trip itinerary, or a multi-day trip. You can stop wherever you like for as long as you like without the fixed price going up.

NEED SOME HELP?: Need feedback on your itinerary or personalised travel tips? I offer a one-on-one consultation call service for Tbilisi and Georgia. More information and bookings here.

Over to you! Have you been to Tbilisi and picked up a special souvenir? What did you buy, and where did you find it? Leave your recommendations for other great gift shops in Tbilisi in the comments!


Tbilisi souvenirs: Pin it!


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26 Comments

  1. HinEmily,
    I have previously went to GEORGIAN KALATA – ARISTAEUS and loved it. Is it possible that the shop at the mentioned location has closed or relocated? Either that, or I have walked right past it several times!

  2. Hi Emily.We are a family of four from Jerusalem Israel.We have been traveling all over Georgia for the last three weeks and the majority of the time was spent visiting the places recommended by you on your wonderful and so informative website. I just want to thank you for being such an integral part of our trip .I thoroughly enjoyed using wanderlush whilst preplanning our “itinerary”.Thanks to you we have had a wonderful time .

  3. Emily, first of all, *THANK YOU* for your wonderfully informative and excellently curated site! It has been a great guide on my first (but definitely not last) trip to Georgia. One thing I would note after paying a visit to Old Book Story this afternoon: I don’t know about the provenance their posters, but they are selling forged stamps. So, perhaps a ‘caveat emptor’ disclaimer might be a worthwhile addition. Still very much grateful for the wonderful guide!

    1. Thank you Jonathan! I don’t know enough about antique posters/stamps to comment, but certainly I think it’s a great point that anyone looking for ‘true antiques’ should do their homework. I recommend the same for the Dry Bridge but didn’t think of adding a note for that shop. I will.

      Thank you for the excellent advice! Hope to see you back in Georgia soon!

  4. Hi, could you tell me some regions where textiles are traditionally made outside of Tbilisi? (woven, batik, and block print, if these are specialities of different areas). And whether these crafts still exist in regional areas, or is it mainly artisans in Tbilisi who are re-learning and promoting these crafts? Thank you!

    1. Hi Nancy, batik and block print are definitely centralised in Tbilisi but you can find carpet weaving in the mountain regions, in Dedoplistskaro, and in Azerbaijani communities around Kvemo Kartli, and felting in Pankisi Valley, Tusheti, and Alvani. I have posts on many of these, here are some helpful links:

      https://wander-lush.org/textile-lovers-guide-to-the-caucasus/
      https://wander-lush.org/georgian-wool-handicrafts-kakheti/
      https://wander-lush.org/things-to-do-in-pankisi-valley-travel-guide/

  5. Hi,

    I’m travelling to Tbilisi on the 12th of August and I’m staying there for only 2 days. I need to know a place and a price range for those precious drinking horns. I’m aiming for Dry Bridge Market, but I’m not sure what the price should be.

    Thank you

    1. Hi Angelika! Off the top of my head I would say 25-35 GEL depending on the quality and age. Antique ones will be more expensive. At Dry Bridge you can find the drinking horns inside the park, to the left as you face the river.

  6. Hi.

    In the first picture on your page is one from the Meidani Bazaar in Tbilisi. Looking directly at it on the wall is a wooden carving of a St.Nino’s cross. I would love to purchase one of those. Do you have an contact email or something where I can ask if they will ship to the US? Thanks Loren

    1. Hi Loren!

      Yes that’s right. I don’t have a contact (and I don’t think they’re open just now), but if you can wait a couple of weeks I will go there myself when I get back to Tbilisi and get a business card for you.

      I’m about to re-photograph/re-research this post, so I can keep an eye out for something similar at another store as well.

      I’ll reach out soon 🙂

  7. Hi Emily,

    I’m genuinely impressed by thoroughness of your wonderful articles. I absolutely enjoy reading them.
    Thank you kindly,
    Antoana.

  8. Oh wow what a beautiful set of souvenirs! I really like getting old knickknacks like antique jewellery bits and bobs when I’m abroad, so it’s really nice to see this list of unique places to check out for something a little bit different. Thanks for the great post!

  9. Hi,

    I just bought one of those clay carafe/flask thingies they sell at the souvenir stalls here. I wonder though: as there is not glazing on the inside, are these actually suitable to serve wine from?

  10. Hi:
    I want to buy a map of the country of Georgia that is more than a map. Textile or any other medium, colourful, whimsical, artistic….these are the adjectives that would describe what I am looking for. Eventually, I would frame this map. Do you know of any place in Georgia that produces / sells this kind of thing?
    Thanks
    John

    1. Hi John,

      What a nice idea. I can’t say I’ve seen anything like that for sale in Tbilisi. I just got back from another trip and revisited a lot of shops, but sadly no maps. If I were you, I’d get in touch with Nino at Gallery 27. She is incredibly helpful and ‘tuned in’ to the artistic scene, I bet she could recommend a suitable artist or product.

      Good luck in your quest! Please do let me know if you find what you’re looking for.

  11. Hi,
    I am a keen weaver and am travelling to Georgia next week, is it possible to buy Georgian spun yarn that I could weave when I get home? I am not sure what it is even called in Georgian,
    love the website, very very helpful

    1. Hi Lydia!

      Glad you’re finding the site helpful. I did see spun yarn being sold at markets and gift shops, although I’m not sure if it’s locally produced. Best ask.

      Good luck and enjoy Georgia!

  12. Hi i would like to know where can i buy souvenir necklace from Georgia please.I had got one as a gift unfortunately I lost it.And would like to buy one.

    1. Hi Lovelene—I’m not sure what specifically you’re after (it sounds like something very particular), but you could try any of the boutiques mentioned here. Perhaps if you have a photo or sketch or description, you could try sending it to Gallery 27 via Facebook or email. Staff are very kind and I’m sure they could try to help you out.

      Good luck!

  13. Hello,
    I am looking for a traditional Georgian hat (papakha), do you know where I can buy one in Tbilisi ?
    Thank you !

    1. Hi Flo! I saw these for sale in the Meidan Bazaar and at tourist shops around Abanotubani and the old town. I’m not sure about the providence or quality. It might be worth reaching out to Gallery 27 for tips on where to find an authentic one.

      If you do find a nice one, please circle back and let us know where!

  14. Hi, I just came back from Tblisi and was very disappointed that I was not able to buy the traditional blue Georgian tablecloth with birds imprinted on it. Can you please tell me how I can buy one & have it sent to the United States? I want the tablecloth to be made of natural materials (not polyester) and be 2.5 to 3 meters long. Thank you.

    1. Hi Cynthia,

      Sorry to hear that you missed out! The tablecloths made by Tinatin Kldiashvili at the Academy of Arts are the most authentic being produced in Georgia right now. They are indeed printed on cotton, and some have bird designs. I’m not sure how you can purchase them online, though. I would recommend contacting EthnoDesign, one of the stockists: https://www.facebook.com/ethnodesignsocielshop/about/

      Good luck and please let me know if there’s anything else I can help with.

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