Kutaisi Food Guide: 10 Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in Kutaisi

January 2, 2018 Nicolette Lion

Kutaisi (Georgian: ქუთაისი [kʰutʰɑisi]; ancient names: Aea/Aia, Kotais, Kutatisi, Kutaïsi) is the legislative capital of Georgia, and its 3rd most populous city. Situated 221 kilometres (137 miles) west of Tbilisi, on the Rioni River, it is the capital of the western region of Imereti. Historically one of the major cities of Georgia, it served as the capital of the Kingdom of Georgia in the Middle Ages, and later as the capital of the Kingdom of Imereti. The Parliament of Georgia moved to Kutaisi in 2012, in an effort to both acknowledge the status of the city, and to decentralise the Georgian government.
Things to do in Kutaisi

1. Bar-Restaurant Palaty

Pushkin str. II lane, #1 | Imereti, Kutaisi 4600, Georgia Delivery, Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Street Parking, Television, Highchairs Available, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Digital Payments, Free Wifi, Accepts Discover, Reservations, Waitstaff, Accepts Credit Cards European, Bar, Georgian, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch, Drinks HK$94 +995 431 24 33 80
Excellent
59%
Good
23%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
4%
Terrible
6%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 400 reviews

Bar-Restaurant Palaty

Reviewed By slpb - Cambridge, United Kingdom

Really cute place, with a friendly and homely atmosphere. Staff speak English. I ordered the wrong thing at dinner the first night (beef fajitas were very chewy and under seasoned) but we then returned for 2 lovely lunches over the next 2 days of katchapuri, soup and salads which were delicious. Service not so speedy, but great homemade apple juice is worth the wait!

2. Baraqa

Chavchavadze, Kutaisi, Georgia Reservations, Seating, Waitstaff, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Takeout Barbecue, Eastern European, Vegetarian Friendly Lunch, Dinner +995 431 22 10 22
Excellent
35%
Good
29%
Satisfactory
12%
Poor
14%
Terrible
10%
Overall Ratings

3.5 based on 141 reviews

Baraqa

Reviewed By Mike K - London, United Kingdom

We three British middle aged guys are on our first few days back in Georgia (fourth time) starting in Kutaisi, courtesy of cheap flights from Luton via Whizzair.
We arrived v v late Thursday/Friday 14/15th September emerging from Hotel Brothers at 14:00 to look for 'breakfast'. We were recommended this place by our patronne Mizeu but could not find it as her vague 'go that way' got us to House 11 as we gave up looking.
We left H11 and wandered further into town to find this basic restaurant overlooking the fancy goatee Fountain with tables outside on the pavement Terrace for smokers.
We decided to have another sample of Georgian food on our first day with coffee and a beer.
The menu was presented and had photos of each dish thankfully as we were still getting used to the whacky alphabet!
We chose the aubergine and walnut as it seeks to be a staple. It arrived as four pieces which we happily devoured as it was quite tasty. The coffees and beer went down well too; Americano and Turkish stylee!
We paid up and left happy promising ourselves to return. The bill was 17.05 after tax and service and we left an extra 1 for the waitress service.
We did indeed return after wandering the town, central square, cable car, Cathedral, Our Garden cafe bar for sunset and back to Baraqa at 20:45. The Fountain parade seemed busier with Il Paso having a queue outside and Dagebi being quite empty. We resisted the beer bar.
We planted ourselves outside on the narrow pavement Terrace again by the main door as it was a bit noisy and clattery inside.
Music was at a moderate volume outside but invariable poppy western.
We had already had a bottle of wine at Our Garden and the selection here was half the price, the cheapest Georgian wine being GEL10 (£3!). We ordered that and an atcharuli khatchapuri (egg and cheese in bread boat), ojakhuri (veal on a very hotclay pan/skillet) and a borano (described as a Georgian fondue in some reviews).
The wine came in good time, opened already as usual (also in Our Garden) and poured into the cheap small glasses without a tasting. This proved a problem as the white semi dry wine was quite sweet and warm! Ok it was only £3 before extras but it was like drinking syrup. My friends did not want to make a fuss but I grabbed a waiter and asked him to stick it in the freezer till our food came, which he did, then I ordered myself a cold beer! This turned out to be the more pricey (at gel4 - £1.33) Karva brand as they had run out of the cheaper Natakhtari (£1). It turned out fine as was an unusual rose petal/jasmine flavour!
The Dishes then came at irregular intervals, Atcharuli first, huge vegetable salad, borano and eventually mine by that time I gestured to the waiter to bring back the cooler wine! It was cooler but not cold. He said he could not replace it as it was opened already (they need to work on their etiquette/presentation as I said). I explained the etiquette and he talked about Russians liking it opened before it arrives, oh well. It was only £3 after all!
The food! The Atcharuli was big! My friend struggled and shared it out to us as our dishes had not arrived yet. The vinaigrette on the huge salad was tasty and salty, reminding me of my mum's German 'aromat' that had msg in it. The salad itself was a mound of fresh lettuce, cucumbers and tomatoes and capsicums, all good.
There was no salt and pepper supplied so I asked for some but it never arrived. We all agreed that the food did not need it in the end.
My friend's borano looked great but he is not into omelettes and it was quite ommletty on the outside but got cheesier into the middle which cheered him up! We shared bits and finished it at the end as he could not as it was not quite his style. He admitted it was his mistake and others would be fine with it (as we were, especially me as I awaited my dish!).
Eventually my dish appeared and it was the most expensive between us being meaty as I pushed the boat out on our first proper meal in Georgia! I shared my rosti style fried potatoes with my disappointed borano friend and he loved the, they were piping hot (hence the wait?) and amongst them were seven chunks of veal, although they were very fatty and a bit grisly I wonder which cut they were! Oooops. Not quite their best dish. Maybe it was just too peasanty and cheaply made (for that 12 price!). I was not too happy. It was like a kebab amongst the potatoes.
Overall we finished reasonably happy, given the ordering of wrong dishes in the end.
The total bill was 53.90 including service for the kitchen. We left a separate tip, 1.10 rounded up, for the waitress & waiter as is the custom apparently.

3. Cafe White Stones

Grishashvili St. 3, Kutaisi 4600, Georgia Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Waitstaff, Serves Alcohol European, Cafe, Vegetarian Friendly Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner +995 431 24 42 75
Excellent
49%
Good
23%
Satisfactory
18%
Poor
5%
Terrible
5%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 69 reviews

Cafe White Stones

Reviewed By DutchTourist1829 - Brussels, Belgium

Nice place. My guidebook says that the bar was already frequented by famous Georgian poets in the 19th century. They probably redid the bar completely since. No old charm is left. But the location is great, overlooking the white bridge and the stones. Food is good. I had a gazpacho and a green been salad. The staff doesn't like its job. They are hanging at the bar and seem totally bored serving you.

4. Bungalow Zedazeni

Javakhishvili Str. 24, Kutaisi 4600, Georgia Reservations, Seating, Waitstaff International, Eastern European Lunch, Dinner +995 431 25 30 01
Excellent
63%
Good
13%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
9%
Terrible
9%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 43 reviews

Bungalow Zedazeni

Reviewed By Pavel_Marmalyuk - Moscow, Russia

First of all, the location of the place is displayed incorrectly! Be careful, the true location is about 300 meters from the spot indicated on the TripAdvisor map!
The food was delicious, from bread and fries to Phali assortie (it's a Georgian salad) and trout. Young and smily waitress was very polite, helped us to select dishes and answered some questions about local wine. The service was very fast and in the right order (soft drinks and salad first, then main course and wine). Atmosphere was not very exciting: loud music and karaoke singer, but we liked the village design and overall impression from Georgian style.

5. Cafe Rennes

Agmashenebeli square, 2, Kutaisi 4600, Georgia Seating, Waitstaff, Reservations Cafe, Bar, European, Pub, Vegetarian Friendly Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner +995 431 23 01 78
Excellent
46%
Good
33%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
8%
Terrible
5%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 36 reviews

Cafe Rennes

The Cafe Renne is a small full service restaurant located in the heart of Kutaisi. We have established ourselves as a popular local eatery by offering hearty and healthy Local and International style entrees, always providing the best customer service. We are known for the best live music. We are serving famous Georgian wine and big variety of drinks. You are all invited!

Reviewed By eilonglen - Ashkelon, Israel

Having eaten a mediocre meal at our hotel, we needed something light and tasty as compensation, so strolled in the direction of Agmashenbeli Square, which dominates the center of the town and displays the most amazing Fountain embellished with replicas of archaeological antiquities.
We happened upon Cafe Rennes and after swallowing our antipathy towards eateries that permit smoking on the premises, enjoyed one of the tastiest Apple pie dishes ever! Slathered in fine ice-cream, accompanied by two glasses of excellent Georgian white wine and the mandatory espresso, this snack really hit the spot and easily made up for the desultory hotel meal. Pity we were unable to try their other choices...

6. Caffe El Paso

2 Agmashenebeli Str, Kutaisi 4600, Georgia Seating, Waitstaff, Serves Alcohol, Takeout Vegetarian Friendly Lunch, Dinner T: 0 790 656 576
Excellent
49%
Good
33%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
5%
Terrible
4%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 87 reviews

Caffe El Paso

Reviewed By Ana L - Boliden, Sweden

Simple place, with good food, and quite some options to choose from. Staff is friendly and English is spoken.

7. Bar-Restaurant Kaiser

Shota Rustaveli Ave., 133, Kutaisi 4600, Georgia Reservations, Seating, Waitstaff, Serves Alcohol, Takeout Bar, Eastern European, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options Lunch, Dinner HK$16 - HK$63 +995 431 29 29 51
Excellent
76%
Good
12%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
3%
Terrible
9%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 65 reviews

Bar-Restaurant Kaiser

Reviewed By maka k

I am frequent guest of this restaurant, and I can freely say that they have the most delicious dishes in Kutaisi. If you want fresh and healthy food, it is the best place to visit. Staff is friendly and atmosphere is pleasant in every season of the year.❤️

8. Bar-Restaurant Almano

Fanjikidze st. 12, Kutaisi 4600, Georgia Reservations, Seating, Waitstaff European, Grill, Georgian, Bar, Pub, Eastern European, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options Lunch, Breakfast, Dinner, Brunch HK$16 - HK$157 +995 551 55 07 77
Excellent
66%
Good
22%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
8%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 36 reviews

Bar-Restaurant Almano

Reviewed By jopparocks - Edinburgh

Food was excellent and service on the first night we went was great. However on returning service was very slow. The first night we went a guitarist and pianist were playing - really fantastic. Lulled into a sense of security, on our return there was really loud music and the most awful singers which spoiled our night as the food was very good.

9. Tea House Foe-Foe

Rustaveli street 5, Kutaisi 4600, Georgia Seating, Takeout, Waitstaff European, Georgian, Cafe, Vegetarian Friendly Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch +995 592 13 21 21
Excellent
61%
Good
24%
Satisfactory
11%
Poor
4%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 45 reviews

Tea House Foe-Foe

Reviewed By 70ava - Beijing, China

We loved the place. This is a great teahouse to relax at the end of the day. Do not expect super quick service - but their selection of teas and the presentation of tastes are amazing. The place itself is very inviting and rustic and prices are amazingly cheap. We also enjoyed the crowd and the music.

10. Papavero Restaurant

Tsisperi Kantselebi Street, Kutaisi 4600, Georgia Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Waitstaff, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Free Wifi European, Georgian, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch HK$63 +995 593 45 65 45
Excellent
45%
Good
29%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
10%
Terrible
10%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 110 reviews

Papavero Restaurant

You'll enjoy the excellent Georgian-European kitchen, very big choice of drinks and especially wines, really comfortable situation and live music. seats are placed in a main hall, in Terrace and in the garden.

Reviewed By Rozafa - Cetinje, Montenegro

Good location, looks very nice with a nice garden but service is very slow and average food. I will come back but only for beer because I like the garden. Shame that the food is just not that good.

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