Georgia has really been put on the map in recent years, and it’s only set to grow even more in popularity. Regardless of our budgets, we all need to drink, be it when meeting a new group of friends, or winding down from the road. For those of you who travel on a tight budget, the Where.ge team has compiled a list of the best bars, from Tbilisi to Batumi, to grab a drink that won’t break the bank.
THE BAR AT PARTY HOSTEL, TBILISI
A man named Nino (you don’t want to know how many times he gets asked if that's his real name!) came from France about a year ago with nothing but a vision (and a few thousand Euros): to establish the coolest bar in Tbilisi.
He’s done a great job- It's a hidden gem of the bar scene of the capital. The carefully curated interior answers to the emerging underground scene, combining the old, classic, and decorative style of the building with paintings and sculptures. Every night, you’ll encounter interesting and welcoming people who are looking to make new friends; some fellow travelers, some locals.
Nino runs the place all by himself, and is a passionate and talented bartender who makes the best Bloody Mary I have ever tasted. “Around 80% of people don’t know how to make a proper Bloody Mary,” he said, handing me one. ‘Bloody hell’, I thought, as the tomato-and-alcohol infused concoction excited my taste buds, ‘He’s right’!
Drinks are priced for the budget traveler because he doesn’t use it to make a large profit, he says, he does it to give something to the city. “I think I've actually lost money, but I love doing it,” he said.
I would describe the establishment as a bar with a hostel, not a hostel with a bar. If you find you've had a bit too much to drink, the hostel downstairs has a laid-back, inviting, and friendly atmosphere, too. It is unlike other properties I have stayed at in the city - It's the kind of place you feel relaxed in, where you could stay for a while.
ADDRESS 24 G.Tabidze Str., Tbilisi
TEL (+995) 593386076
WARSZAWA BAR TBILISI
One of the top places to meet fellow expats, travelers and locals. The small bar upstairs makes a cozy meeting spot, the cellar too, sometimes hosting events, and the outside terrace is perfect for smokers and those who enjoy a drink street-side.
Cheap beer and snacks, and friendly staff. Also makes a great Polish cafe during the day- try their tea!
ADDRESS 19 Aleksandr Pushkin Str., Tbilisi
TEL (+995) 599 91 81 89
OPEN 10AM - 4AM
DIVE BAR, TBILISI
As the name suggests, the floors in this bar are not made of jade marble, nor are the staff graduates of the Jeeves school of service. They are, however, friendly to all and sundry, and serve import beers at about 5 GEL a bottle/can and draught beer at a staggeringly cheap 3 GEL; the price of the latter makes 'staggering' the operative word. Particularly popular with Tbilisi's expatriate community, patrons come from all walks of life; one can find oneself conversing with a journalist, a diplomat, a mercenary, a Bohemian, or a man who claims he works in Hollywood because he once served a cup of coffee to Bruce Willis on a movie set. The bar is also visited by young Georgians looking to escape Khinkali, supras and the toasts of the Tamada.
12 Revaz Laghidze Str.
(+995) 597067473
OPEN 6 PM - 3 AM
GOSTI GASTROBAR, BATUMI
You'll find Gosti Gastrobar away from the noise of the city center. It is different from other places in the city, the owners go out of their way to make visitors feel like they are drinking and/or dining in an old friend’s house. Originally from Russia, they came to Batumi 10 years ago and have been there ever since.
It is a comfortable and low-cost place to eat, drink, meet friends, or even visit alone. Spot the various Soviet antiques which decorate the interior.
16/5, Melashvilli Str.
(+995) 557 61 49 55
OPEN 1 PM - 11.45 PM
HEART OF BATUMI
The centrally-located Heart of Batumi, is highly rated among its visitors. It is often described as a second home, with its fresh, bright, comfortable and welcoming atmosphere. The restaurant’s team are warm and welcoming and will endeavor to make your experience one which you want to repeat.
We recommend their Saperavi wine, which massages your taste buds with 8000 year-old Georgian expertise. It will taste even better when you realize how little it costs. Buy a bottle, because after one glass you will be asking for more – guaranteed!
11 Gen. Mazniashvili, Batumi
(+995) 568 94 05 15
OPEN 11 AM - 11 PM
By Tom Day