A WINE BAR COMBINING ART & ROMANCE

In the evening, the streets of Old Tbilisi become quite empty of its daytime crowds. Tourists are in their hotels or dining in fancy restaurants and only locals can be seen. The aura is generally strange, but also somewhat romantic. Strolling along the little backstreets with my partner, I made one of the best discoveries yet in the mesmerizing Georgian capital. Flashing in a soft white light, we saw a sign on which was written “Wine Buffet.” Smooth tunes could be heard beyond the entrance, which was of a natural wooden design. Curious, we stepped in to discover the rest of the bar.

The door from the street leads into a tiny vestibule with a rustic, yet aesthetic Qvevri - a clay amphora for fermenting Georgian wine in the traditional way. Abutting the Qvevri, stairs provided a way up to the main bar area. The interior is done out in welcoming and warm colors, combined with patterned and ornamented furniture. It finds the right balance to satisfy both a desire for arts and elegance. The owners, two actors from the nearby Royal District Theater, offer only two products: wine and cheese, but perfectly fine-tuned to each other. A glass cabinet filled with few cheese varieties offers a guiding taste to the chosen wine.

Wine is celebrated as an art; from open bottles to regional delicacies, the shelf offers everything a wine connoisseur could need. Although prices are higher than the surrounding places, the feeling is unique and private, something hard-to-find in the touristy old town. Guests cluster around their tables and a small balcony serves as the meeting spot for smokers to mingle with other wine drinkers. The entire experience is accompanied by lounge-like music, allowing for a very nice atmosphere to chat. Named simplistically Wine Buffet, tourists and locals are advised to pop in to let a day die away amorously.

 

By Benjamin Music