9 Specifically Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants in Tbilisi

Georgia is a haven for food lovers, yet vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Tbilisi were almost nonexistent a few years ago. Luckily, as more people change their dietary preferences, we see a few eateries catering to plant-based choices.

While Georgian cuisine is famous for its hearty, meat-filled dishes, it also offers a surprising variety of vegetarian-friendly and plant-based options. I have a separate post listing some of the must-try traditional vegetarian Georgian food you can try in all the Georgian restaurants serving local cuisine.

In this guide, I cover alternative vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Tbilisi that are exclusive spots for plant-based dining, from creative international dishes to hearty comfort food.

This post, updated in December 2024, includes a few eateries that have unfortunately closed. To avoid confusion—since some other blogs might still list them as open—I’ve kept their names but marked them as closed at the end of the post.

Best vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Tbilisi

Cafe Leila

Cafe Leila stands out as one of Tbilisi’s pioneering vegetarian restaurants. It offered plant-based meals long before they became popular in the city. Located in the heart of Tbilisi Old Town, this beloved spot has been a culinary haven for vegetarians since its inception.

Founded by Chef Meriko Gubeladze, who also owns Georgian restaurants with a modern twist, Shavi Lomi and Ninia’s Garden, Cafe Leila fascinates visitors with its distinctive Oriental decor, featuring intricate stucco carvings and Muqarnas-adorned ceilings. Before becoming a restaurant, the venue was an art gallery and later a Middle Eastern pastry shop.

The menu reimagines traditional Georgian dishes with plant-based alternatives, offering vegetarian versions of Kharcho and Chaqapuli alongside various salads, appetizers, soups, and desserts. Local fresh trout is also available for those who enjoy fish.

It offers plenty of options, but a few are quite distinguished, such as Khachapurito with two types of cheese, mushrooms, and greens baked in lavash bread, fried cauliflower in Bazhe walnut sauce alongside Ghomi grits, and a traditional assortment of Pkhali platter.

On my last visit, I tried Imeretianს style Lobio in a clay pot with mchadi cornbread and assorted pickles. The beans are seasoned with Barbery, adding a very distinguished flavor to the dish.

One of the rare delights here is Orbeliani’s Kaklucha, also known as Royal Candy, an authentic Georgian dessert that’s hard to find elsewhere.

When spring arrives in Tbilisi, the café’s outdoor seating becomes even more charming as cherry blossoms bloom right next door, adding a cozy ambiance.

Kiwi Vegan Cafe

Kiwi Vegan Cafe is a veteran of the vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Tbilisi, as it was the first one to cater to a plant-based lifestyle since 2015.

Their extensive menu offers a good selection of salads, pasta, sandwiches and burgers, soups, and bowls.

I’ve tried their good Tofu shawarma, but it was pretty dry but well-seasoned. The chickpea Tofu burger was much tastier and came with vegan cheese, veggies, pickles, and french fries on the side.

Falafel Box

Falafel Box is one of the best vegetarian restaurants in Tbilisi serving one of the best falafel in town—it’s crispy outside and soft inside, well seasoned, and balanced in flavors.

I tried their falafel wrap, which included a good portion of falafel, lettuce, tomato, and homemade pickles wrapped in pita bread. I paired it with homemade ayran (thin salty yogurt)—the perfect combination!

Falafel Box offers various Lebanese meals, including Fattoush salad, tabbouleh, fatteh, and hummus. They serve Shakshuka, Lebanese breakfast, fried eggs, and egg wrap if you fancy breakfast. I’ll be back to try more of their meals.

Muhudo

Mukhudo is the Georgian word for chickpeas. This small falafel joint behind McDonald’s on Rustaveli offers only one type of falafel wrap in three sizes.

The falafel wrap has good falafel balls accompanied by lettuce, hummus, pickled cabbage, cucumber, and tomato, seasoned with a mixture of tahini, peanut, and chili sauce.

It’s worth noting that the falafel is roughly blended/mashed with bits of chickpea pieces felt when chewing. Although it didn’t bother me, some might like a smoother consistency.

Muhudo mainly offers delivery or takeaway; however, they have a few tables next door where you can enjoy your wrap with various alcoholic or soft drinks. 

Dedaena Bar

Dedaena Bar is one of the go-to bars in Tbilisi for locals. It serves vegetarian food along with evening drinks. The menu has four vegetarian burgers, a falafel wrap, hummus with veggie sticks, a falafel plate, and a few side dishes.

I have tried their Grilled Tempe Burger, which comes with French fries. Tempe or Teh is a traditional Indonesian food initially made from fermented soybeans, although it’s made from other beans and grains worldwide nowadays. The process of fermentation is natural and controlled; during this time, it needs to be shaped into a cake.

Dedaiena Bar makes Tempe in-house, and the burger has iceberg salad leaves, fermented Jonjoli (Georgian cousin of capers), tomato slices, homemade mayo, and red onions.

Ummy – Raw Vegan Cafe

The word ‘umy’ in Georgian means’ raw’, and that’s the main motto and focus of Ummy, offering meals made from uncooked, dehydrated, and sprouted ingredients and making it the only raw vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Tbilisi.

Their menu is not extensive but has a good choice of salads, main courses, appetizers, soups, and desserts. Meals are made fresh with unique methods to keep them nutritionally packed.

Come here to try Pitaya Bowl, made with banana, strawberry, and pitaya and topped with sprouted seed granola and other seeds. Sprouted Wheat Salad combines cherry tomatoes, almonds, arugula, lollo rosso, and dates. And Sprouted Chickpea Dip comes with veggie slices and dehydrated crispy bread.

Vegan Place

Vegan Place is one of the go-to vegan restaurants in Tbilisi among the plant-based diet community. Known for its secret weapon, none other than its mouthwatering seitan dishes, Vegan Place is a discovery that I waited too long to visit.

The menu might be short, but it has an ample selection of vegan food, focusing on street food and bowls. They craft one-of-a-kind bowls that are bursting with intricate, unforgettable flavors.

And if you’re craving something familiar with a vegan twist, they have shawarma, Cheeseburgers, nuggets, and gyros, along with Mac’ n ‘Cheese and French fries.

One of their bestsellers is Bowl #3, with in-house-made BBQ seitan, smoked rice, fresh vegetables, and ranch dressing. Even though it might not look big at first glance, the content inside these bowls are hefty portions rich in flavor. I tried the seitan for the first time, and it’s so delicious that I would love to have it as a snack all day.

After I complimented the staff on the flavorful meal I’d tried, she told me that their shawarma is an all-time favorite among customers. So, I have to try it next time.

They also recently added specials to their menu – Philly cheese steak and Banh mi sandwiches – with their in-house crafted seitan.

The Vegan Place’s interior is charming. The walls are painted halfway in dark blue and burgundy, and dimmed lights create a cozy atmosphere. The doodles on the wall, paintings, and wall-mounted tiled bar table add a distinctive appeal to the venue.

Salobie Bia

If you are looking for a traditional Georgian vegetarian restaurant in Tbilisi, look no further. Known for the black bean dish Lobio, Salobie Bia’s menu offers a good selection of meat and plant-based Georgian cuisine.

Try their main course, Lobio, in a clay pot with various pickles and a cornbread mchadi. Other items on the menu are pickled mushrooms, Lobiani (black bean pie), proso millet (Panicum miliaceum), and quinoa Ghomi with Sulguni cheese.

Before your order arrives, look around. It is like a museum, showcasing a private collection of vintage items, various signs, movie postcards, contemporary art, mosaics, traditional clothes, and toys.

The Cone Culture

If you are looking for vegan ice cream in Tbilisi, The Cone Culture is the place to go. They constantly experiment with flavors and create the most unusual tastes.

While most of their ice cream is not vegan or vegetarian, they make sorbets from local fruits and berries that are vegan-friendly. These sorbets are also gluten—and dairy-free.

Their menu changes according to the seasonal ingredients, but they always have fruity sorbets year-round, depending on the season.

Closed vegan or vegetarian restaurants in Tbilisi

• Mama Terra Veggie Corner – Temporarily closed
• Darani – Temporarily closed
• Living Vino: Vegan Restaurant & Natural Wine Bar – Temporarily closed
• Soup Culture – Permanently closed
• Jekuna – Permanently closed