Fancy a cup of something strong, dark and fruity? These cafes are ready to serve on a chilly day. Warm up and boost your energy with our favorite tea cafes.
THE COFFEE BEAN & TEA LEAF
You may be familiar with The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. This LA-based chain has locations all over the world, including four stores in Tbilisi. On Rustaveli Ave., there are so many options for coffee and local charm (try Prospero’s or Tea House!) that it’s hard for me to recommend you stop here.
At Turtle Lake or Tbilisi Mall, however, it will perfectly meet your craving for the ice-blended coffee drinks popularized by Starbucks or an expensive but reliably good sandwich or pastry.
20 Rustaveli Ave.; Turtle Lake; Tbilisi Mall; D. Aghmashenebeli Ave.; New Tiflis
(+995) 555 16 28 28
8 AM – Midnight
TEA HOUSE NEAR OPERA
AltHaus Tea House right next to the Tbilisi Opera is equally popular with the young and not-so-young. Bringing the outdoors in, the design is an open-courtyard-within-a-building, clotheslines and all! Floral wallpaper on the ceiling, simple ‘from grandma’s house’ wooden, ceramic and glass details on the exposed brick walls and a menu to satisfy everyone. They have a wide choice of teas (naturally), and on a warm evening, their iced tea alcohol cocktails (9 GEL) go down very nicely.
2 R. Laghidze Str., Tbilisi
(+995) 595 33 20 02
LEGATO
Though relatively young as a brand, Pâtisserie Legato, founded in 2012, quickly became popular among locals for its cakes, pies, pastry, sandwiches, and own-baked low calorie bread. Celebrating this success, Legato has transformed itself from a simple pâtisserie into a café-restaurant offering a full assortment of Italian cuisine to its customers. From a generous pot of tea with your morning breakfast choice to a naughtier choice of shou or cheesecake with a straight-up power coffee- Legato is the place to go!
42 Abashidze Str.; 25 Pekini Str.; 24 Kazbegi Str.
(+995) 322 47 15 15
ALTHAUS TEA ROOM
If you're a tea lover and swoon over intimate decor, Althaus Tea Room is the place to be! Viewed from the outside, there are no so many clues to this, but open the door, climb the wooden staircase and you will discover the paradise for gourmets.
The name of the place comes from the tea they sell, the Althaus German brand. You can choose a seat to suit your style, either in the old, warm room or on the veranda overlooking the square. Then sit back and enjoy your tea and ice tea.
The ice-teas, during the summer, are among the best you can find in Tbilisi. The staff is friendly like all the natives, and like the natives, it takes the time, so do not go there if you're in a rush.
Where.ge recommends you try their red fruit ice tea and banana-chocolate waffle!
4/1 Leo Kiacheli Str., Tbilisi
(+995) 591 80 11 77
10 AM - Midnight
WHITTARD TEA HOUSE
One of the oldest and best known tea houses in the capital, Whittard is everything you would expect from it's name, but with a Georgian twist. The decor is classic wood-glass and it set in a classic neighborhood recently upgraded and cleaned.
The selection of tea is broad and the waiting staff are friendly and professional, knowledgeable in their field; ready and able to tell you about the first teas and the benefits of tea drinking (if you think to ask between mouthfuls of delicate cheesecake of crepe...)
5 Marjanishvili Str., Tbilisi
(+995) 322 94 16 20
10 AM - Midnight