Location: Signagi
Top Restaurants in Signagi
Where to Eat in Signagi: The Best Restaurants and Bars
Signagi or Sighnaghi (Georgian: სიღნაღი) is a town in Georgia's easternmost region of Kakheti and the administrative center of the Signagi Municipality. Although it is one of Georgia's smallest towns, Signagi serves as a popular tourist destination due to its location at the heart of Georgia's wine-growing regions, as well as its picturesque landscapes, pastel houses and narrow, cobblestone streets. Located on a steep hill, Signagi overlooks the vast Alazani Valley, with the Caucasus Mountains visible at a distance.
Things to do in Signagi
1. Art Cafe Qedeli
Overall Ratings
5 based on 5 reviews
Reviewed By Azeriexplorer - Baku, Azerbaijan
The Qedeli Cafe in Sighnaghi, located on the opposite side of the street from the well-know Pheasant’s Tears Winery, will not offer you loud traditional music or succulent khinkali, nor you’ll see big groups of locals and travelers feasting and drinking famous Kakhetian wine.
But you will be able to use the free wireless internet, chat with your friends and new acquaintances over a cup of coffee or tea and even nibble on a delicious cheese cake. You can choose from a wide variety of hot and cold non-alcoholic beverages, salads, soups, some traditional dishes (such as khachapuri or lobio) or the few pizzas listed on the menu.
However, it is not the absence of alcohol and other Georgian culinary staples that makes this cafe unique. Nor it is the fact that you can purchase unique woolen, wooden or clay hand-made souvenirs here. It is because of the slightly different personnel that work there that makes this place so unique. Of the team of six people that work there daily, two of the waiters (Gvantsa and Rusiko) are residents of the Qedeli Community for mentally and physically challenged people.
In total, 21 people reside in this community and spend their days working in the garden, the farm or the bakery learning different crafts, from carving wood to weaving or knitting during their social therapy sessions. Amongst the staff there are 2-4 volunteers from Germany who come each year.
The idea of the cafe where mentally challenged people could work and therefore reintegrate into society came years ago when Lali Khandolishvili saw such examples in the Netherlands where she travels frequently to attend social workshops in handicapped communities.
“Every day we get one or two of our residents to work here depending on how many customers we expect. Later we’ll have up to 4 of our residents help here,” explained the manager. He said that the waiters are selected not only according to their ability to bring customers their orders but also their ability to work surrounded by unknown faces and strangers who come and go.
“And now is the first such cafe in the whole country where handicapped people work. The general opinion has changed – people see that they are capable of working and nobody says that this is bad for them,” says the Café manager and adds that he hopes for even more changes in the future.
2. Pheasant's Tears
Overall Ratings
4 based on 187 reviews
Here at Pheasant's Tears, our philosophy is simple: Local, seasonal, fresh produce, cooked in a modern Georgian style, served alongside our wines. Our chefs go down into the market every day or two and find what is fresh. We only have an example menu, as the actual line up changes every day.All our wines are Organic, our vineyards are Bio-Dynamic and we make what is known as Natural wine. All our wines are made in Qvevri, traditional Georgian clay vessels buried in the ground. We use no oak, no steel. Just Qvevri.As a boutique winery, we pride ourselves on the quality of our wine, and with our ultra seasonal food, we get many guests, about 50% Georgians and 50% foreign visitors. We speak Georgian, Russian and English all fluently and so hopefully can meet the needs of anyone who comes along.
Reviewed By malcolm853 - Canberra, Australia
What a fabulous night. The Restaurant provided us with a wine tasting set dinner which was absolutely fabulous. My aversion to fashionable organic products was completely dispelled with very good wines and an amazing array of delicious, fresh food. Don't miss it.
3. Nikala Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4 based on 152 reviews
Reviewed By jana040 - celje
but terrible air condition just close to the two outdoor tables making it difficult to enjoy the eating outside; plus the constant noise of the trafic that make Signagi's streets inbearable ...
4. Restaurant Pirosmani
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 10 reviews
Reviewed By EleanorStoneham - London, England, United Kingdom
This is the restaurant of the hotel of the same name in the square in Sighnaghi. We were a large coach party (36) and we had a very good traditional Georgian lunch here. They even made some more chips just for me, a veggie, at our guide's request, because the chips came soaked in a pork casserole. Service was very friendly and efficient. A slight problem was the single unisex toilet for a large party, especially as the light bulb had gone. But they soon provided a candle and the facilities were pristine clean and modern, a welcome surprise! Because we were a prebooked package group I cannot comment on value for money. There was some limited outdoor Seating on a narrow Terrace in front of the hotel/restaurant looking onto the square so a pleasant enough view.
5. Restaurant Burji
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 35 reviews
Burji restaurant is located on the highest site in Sighnaghi, under the church of St. Stephen. Georgian restaurant with traditional cuisine, with stunning views of the city and the old fireplace in the hall. You will enjoy the situation, Georgian wine, gifts and the most hospitable staff.
Reviewed By Daniel A - Cancun, Mexico
This restaurant is located on the hill behind Hotel Sighnagi. You can choose to sit either outside on the Terrace or inside, either way you’ll have amazing views of the surrounding Mountains and valley. I believe that the place is family owned and the staff is really amazing and welcoming.
The food is the best we had in town. We ordered khinkali, a Greek salad and Mexican potatoes. The portions were huge and everything was very delicious. It felt like a homemade meal. We even got a chance to dress up with the traditional clothing that they have lying around!
A meal for two people cost us 20 lari. Can’t recommend enough!
6. Pancho Villa in Sighnaghi
Overall Ratings
5 based on 57 reviews
Reviewed By Daniel A - Cancun, Mexico
As two Mexicans walking around a small town in Georgia, we never expected to find a Mexican restaurant, so we were very surprised to see Pancho Villa! It was my wife's birthday, so we thought it would be a good place to have lunch. We loved Georgian food but we wanted something different for the day, so we entered Pancho Villa! It was an excellent choice! First, the owner is super friendly. He knows a lot about Mexico, its food, music and culture. It was amazing to find a Georgian man who knew so much about Mexico! The decoration was really awesome too. We ordered two delicious margaritas, a big bowl of nachos and a tasty dessert. The food was really good! He learned to make several dishes from his Mexicans friends while he lived in the US. He knows a big deal about the ingredients and techniques for making not only some classic Tex Mex dishes, but authentic Mexican dishes like mole! He makes everything from scratch. We had a nice talk with him and enjoyed a wonderful view from the windows. It is definitely a great place to eat in Signagi!
7. Kabadoni Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4 based on 26 reviews
Reviewed By Ariel857 - Israel
This is an upscale restaurant in a scenic town of Signagi. The restaurant has a Terrace offering an absolutely stunning views on the town itself and the valley below.
The menu is split into Georgian and international cuisine sections.
We opted for the former and didn't regret it. Excellent quality dishes with full blown Georgian flavours and rich taste. Coupled with superb indigenous Georgian wine, it's a killer combination.
Both the starters (braised forest mushrooms and aubergines with walnuts) and the mains (both of us had lamb) proved as winners. The Kharcho soup was another highlight.
The apple pie was somewhat of a disappointment but it was more than offset by exemplary service. Kudos.
8. Shio's Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4 based on 38 reviews
Reviewed By JGDynamo - Halifax Region, Canada
Shio’s Restaurant in Signagi was a meal point for us one afternoon last week while in the area. Nice service, good food, excellent wines and not bad pricing overall, all kinds of menu items for any tastes but you should not be disappointed as it is all very good.
9. Old House Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4 based on 13 reviews
Reviewed By Brian C - Gorey, Ireland
We ate here twice. The first time, we were almost on our own. The next night, there was a family party, so they kept topping up our wine & including us in some of the chat.
A lot of outdoor Seating, but a bit more limited inside. Still comfortable and has a good atmosphere.
The food was great. I especially liked the full roast chicken, which cost 12 GEL, app €4.80. A litre of really good red wine was 10GEL.
If I was in Sighnaghi, I'd eat there again tonight!
10. OKRO'S Natural Wine Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 50 reviews
Reviewed By ahpincis - Kuwait City, Kuwait
This was a great discovery, thanks to our trusty guide. We went for the '5 wine' taste and a great meal. With each wine came an explanation of age, grape and method; from a white, through the amber, rosé and red. The 'amber' wines (for want of a better description) were quite complex in flavour, one bottle of which we drank with our meal of Georgian delicacies with cha-cha (a grappa-like spirit, ubiquitous in Georgia). Lovely atmosphere to the place and a wonderful view of the valley, far below. Prices were (in London terms) laughable for the quality that went into the cooking and indeed the wine itself.
On the way out we bought an miniature amphora (as used on a much bigger scale for wine production) and of course a bottle to take home.
It should be noted that in Britain and maybe elsewhere there is a 'Natural' wine movement or trend. Georgian wines are 'natural' by definition as they still use the traditional methods that have remained unchanged for millennia.
