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Few cities are as gleefully chaotic as Tbilisi, the capital of the Black Sea nation of Georgia. A onetime Silk Road capital, this sprawling city of 1.1 million is as eclectic as it is dynamic. The Old Town — also called Kala — with its traditional pastel houses and wooden balconies, flows seamlessly into the Art Nouveau neighborhood of Sololaki, where every ezo (courtyard) seems to reveal a new speakeasy bar or tucked-away café. You can spend the day hitting the museums and theaters housed in the impressive neoclassical architecture along Rustaveli Avenue, or spend your nights dancing until dawn at powerhouse nightclubs like Bassiani, located underneath a historic soccer stadium. While the city is small enough to be covered in a weekend, its architectural eclecticism, thriving restaurant and bar scene, and wealth of cultural offerings make it worth a much longer stay.

Here are just a few of the best things to do in Tbilisi if you only have a weekend:

Visit Tbilisi’s repurposed factories

In the past few years, Tbilisi has been undergoing something of a bohemian renaissance. Several of its midcentury disused factories have been repurposed into hotels, bars, galleries, and vintage concept stores that act as cultural hubs for trendy young Tbiliseli. The first — and most famous — of these was the Rooms Hotel, intentionally reminsicent of the ornate Art Nouveau grand hotels of Europe and is as famous for its high-end cocktail bar and European-fusion food, as it is for its upscale accommodation. Later, the slightly more modern (but no less whimsical) Stamba Hotel, which is located in a former printing house, opened next door (there are also plenty of international-branded hotels here, including the Sheraton, Radisson, and Marriott). A five-minute walk away, the labyrinthine Wine Factory N1, is quickly establishing itself as the new must-go complex in Tbilisi. Located in a 19th century winery that was closed to the public for most of the past century, Wine Factory N1 offers outdoor cocktail bars and some of the city’s most innovative Georgian food. (If you can, get a tour of the cellars, which boast wine collections that, according to local legend, once belonged to Stalin and Napoleon. )

Across the river, the slightly younger-skewing Fabrika complex — as the name suggests, located in an old sewing factory — boasts a hostel, a slightly more upmarket boutique hotel, several bars, and the Impact Hub co-working space. Grab a cold local beer (bohemian restaurant Shavi Lomi has just debuted what it calls “Georgian’s first craft beer”) or glass of delicious red Saperavi wine and people-watch into the wee small hours — or at least until you head to the all-night raves at Bassiani nightclub nearby.

Eat, and eat, and eat

Georgian food has long been storied throughout Eastern Europe for its freshness and delicate balance of herbaceous flavors — here, coriander is often used as a salad green rather than a garnish. This fame has only intensified now that Tbilisi’s has undergone a culinary renaissance over the past few years, with a cornucopia of local restaurants reimagining Georgian classics like grilled meats in sour plum sauce, salty khachapuri cheese breads, and red bean lobio stew. The most famous of Tbilisi’s culinary impresarios is easily Tekuna Gachechiladze, whose Culinarium Cooking School and Café Littera launched a craze for Georgian-fusion cusine (Gachechiladze’s most famous dish is her chakapuli: a sour-plum-and-tarragon stew, traditionally made with lamb, that she reworks as a base for Black Sea mussels). Gachechiladze’s culinary empire also includes the hipster comfort-food joint Khasheria, just across from the city’s natural sulfur bathhouses, and the kitschy Mexican-Georgian crossover Taqueria Teko's Tacos, located in the Wine Factory Complex. Don’t miss the similarly-innovative Keto and Kote — named for characters from a Georgian opera, and located in a hidden 19th century palace that once belonged to the Bagrationi princes — which offers modern-fusion Georgian fare in a garden with panoramic views of the city center.

Go shopping at the Dry Bridge

Few places showcase Tbilisi’s history as a cultural crossroads as neatly as the sprawling flea market at the Dry Bridge, an overpass located a few streets behind Rustaveli Avenue. The daily market (weekends tend to have more vendors) sells everything from 19th century European porcelain to modern Dagestani jewelry to Georgian enameling, antique musical instruments to wolf pelts, to works by contemporary artists. Come prepared with a few phrases of Georgian, and receive a history lesson from the usually-friendly vendors about anything from Soviet-era medallions to Khevsur embroidery. Haggling is expected, even welcomed, but prices are generally fair.

Take an architecture tour of the city

Each of Tbilisi’s neighborhoods — from the imposing neoclassical buildings of Mtatsminda to the warren-like Kala — has a completely different history and feel. Make the most of these contrasts by taking an architectural walking tour to learn about different stages in the city’s development. Numerous Art Nouveau tours have sprung up to explore the ornate buildings and intricately-painted entrance halls of Sololaki, many of which have been recently restored, while tour company Brutalist Tours takes tourists to the city’s suburbs and outskirts to engage with monuments of its 20th century past.

Find all the speakeasies

Ubiquitous in cities like New York and London, speakeasy culture has also made inroads in Tbilisi. Some of the city’s best bars and restaurants are either wholly hidden or at least sparsely marked. Check out Sofia Melnikova’s Fantastic Douqan, in the rear courtyard of the city’s literature museum (but only accessible by following several narrow alleyways into what looks like an abandoned parking lot, then daring to step through an unprepossessing garden door). Or head to Woland’s Speakeasy — named for a character in iconic Russian novel The Master and Margarita, and located underneath a kitschy American-style bar in Sololaki — which sells cocktails named after characters in Russian novels. Or visit the subtly-signposted but still discreet Cafe Le Toit, Pur Pur and Linville — three Victorian-chic cafés in Sololaki located on the upper floors of their respective Art Nouveau mansions.

15 REASONS TO VISIT GEORGIA – THE AMAZING EMERGING DESTINATION

My first Georgia trip, back in 2011, changed my travelling forever. It was the first country in former USSR I’ve ever been to, the first of the (then) unknown destinations I’ve decided to visit.

My trip happened shortly after the war with Russia, before the low-cost airlines started flying there and before Georgia got into the radar of mass tourism. I didn’t know what to expect from the place and I was even reconsidering my decision to visit Georgia as I felt I’m not ready for such an adventurous solo trip.

But I went, full of fear, and it turned out to be the best trip ever. I felt in love with Georgia right away and since then I’ve been visiting Georgia over and over again., it’s been over 10 times now. Even if the tourism in the country has changed recently, not in the best way, I still enjoy every single trip to Georgia and whenever I see cheap flights I can’t resist and book them.

Reasons to visit Georgia

There are so many reasons why Georgia is among my favorite countries and why you should visit Georgia too. From delicious food to hospitable people, from incredible landscape to vibrant cities – Georgia has it all! It’s one of these countries where, within a short span of time, you can swim in the Black Sea, go skiing in the Caucasus mountains and in between enjoy a bustling city life.

If you’re still wondering if you should visit Georgia or not below are some convincing reasons why yes, it’s an excellent idea!

Georgian food is the best

Georgian food is hands down the best. This already is a solid reason why I keep returning to Georgia. We do have few Georgian restaurants and bakeries here in Warsaw too that I visit frequently but it’s still not as good as in Georgia.

The best thing about the local cuisine is that, even if there are numerous meat dishes, vegetarians will be really happy there too. I know I am! I start each visit in Georgia with a real feast and the goodies I’m always most looking forward to are badrijani (fried eggplant with walnut sauce), khachapuri (cheese-bread), lobio (very thick bean soup), khinkhali (dumplings), ajapsandali (vegetable stew) and few more.

But my absolutely favorite food in Georgia is just a simple salad made from cucumbers and tomatoes. It’s a pure heaven, the ingredients are so fresh, so crispy like nowhere else. Just writing this made me miss Georgian food!

Beautiful, diverse landscape

Georgian landscape is breathtaking and there is no exaggeration in this statement. It’s a relatively small country but offer so much: Black Sea beaches (mostly full of stones but still decent enough to spend some relaxing time at), high Caucasus and lower lush mountains, incredible caves, green valleys and more. I don’t think there is a boring part of Georgia, everywhere you go you will be in awe of the amazing landscape around you.

Long and turbulent history

The area of Georgia was an important place already in the ancient world (then it was known as Colchis and Kingdom of Iberia) and for centuries it has been a strong an independent country. The peak of prosperity happened between 11th and 13th century, especially when Queen Tamar ruled the country (until today she is a role model of many Georgian women but then how many badass queens you know from the history?).

Since the end of the 18th century Georgia was under the Russian rule, it was also part of the Soviet Union (btw, did you know that Stalin was born in Gori, Georgia and his full name was Ioseb Besarionis dze Jughashvili?).

On April 9th 1991 Georgia regained its independence but that’s when the turbulent history has started again – if you follow world’s news you might remember the civil war or the 2008 short war with Russia. Now finally the peace and stability came to Georgia.

Excellent wine

While everyone is raving about wines from such exotic destinations like New Zealand, South Africa or Argentina it’s Georgian wine that deserves the attention. Not only it’s really good, it also has a long history. Did you know that the wine was produced in the area already in the 6th century BC (however the oldest winery in the world can be found in the neighboring Armenia)?

These days the main region to taste Georgian wine is Kakheti in the eastern part of the country, 75% of the production comes from there. What’s more you can get an excellent homemade wine just about everywhere, you can buy it in the restaurants or at local markets where they are sold in the Coca-Cola bottles (it’s actually part of the charm of the markets).

Hospitable people

Georgian people are among the nicest and most hospitable I’ve ever met. Even if over the years tourism has ruined the encounters a bit and now scams happen more and more often I still think very highly of local people. During my first trip to Georgia I could have experienced some incredible hospitality, including the famous kidnapping when locals didn’t take no for an answer, invited me to their homes and feed me delicious food. Fortunately I was prepared and had some small souvenirs from Poland with me so I could at least pay back this way.

Now I still keep meeting nice people everywhere around who do their best to welcome me in their country. Just a small hint: if you decide to visit Georgia try to learn at least some basic Russian as it helps tremendously when talking to the locals, especially older generation.

Vibrant cities

I love the buzz in main Georgian cities. All three of them: Tbilisi, Batumi and Kutaisi are busy, vibrant and worth a visit.

You should travel to Tbilisi to see beautiful yet crumbling capital with numerous attractions that will keep you occupied for at least 2-3 days. Old Tbilisi, the main touristic spot, looks like from a fairy tale really!

Batumi, the seaside resort, is more than just the beach and funky architecture. The city has a charming old town, amazing botanical garden, some good street art around and lush mountains surrounding the city.

Kutaisi is often overlooked by tourists but second biggest city in Georgia is worth your time too, it’s such a pleasant and offbeat destination. These cities are a perfect example than Georgia is more than its beautiful nature.

Interesting abandoned spaces

If you’re fan of exploring abandoned places and would like to visit places like Chernobyl(or maybe you’ve already been there) then Georgia might be an interesting destination for you. Due to the recent conflicts and weak economy there are numerous places that once, in full glory, were impressing masses and now are decaying, forgotten by many.

The perfect example here is Tskaltubo, a former spa town located just a short ride away from Kutaisi. Back in the golden times even Stalin used to come here for the treatment, now the fancy sanatoriums, a stunning example of Soviet architecture, are either abandoned or home to IDPs from Abkhazia. You can even find lots of old abandoned houses in the Old Tbilisi and even if they are slowly being renovated it still breaks my heart to see how damaged some of the beautiful houses are. But on the other hand they are part of Old Tbilisi’s charm…

Great Soviet architecture: concrete + mosaics

There are not too many fans of Soviet architecture but for those who admire it (and I’m one of them) Georgia is like a big playground. During my last visit in Tbilisi I spent the whole day chasing Soviet architecture and mosaics and I’ve seen only a small part of what I was hoping for.

I bet you’ve seen the building that looks like the real life Tetris – that’s The Bank of Georgia headquarters (former Soviet Ministry of Roads) located in Tbilisi, a real gem of brutalism architecture. But there are many more concrete wonders around, like gaining bigger and bigger fame Chronicle of Georgia monument. If you like colorful Soviet mosaics you will find plenty of them around too, including in one of the Tbilisi hotspots – Fabrika.

The hipster place to be

Speaking of Fabrika – you might not expect it but Tbilisi is one of the most hipster cities you will see in Europe (and definitely in the former Soviet Union) and Fabrika is the heart of it. A former sewing factory is now full of cafes/bars, start-ups and artists’ studios. But that’s not the only place where you will find cool and funky places, they are spread all over the city.

Young Georgians are stylish and with a great taste, looking at them makes me often feel jealous as I’m far from being fashionable. I can’t decide which city is more hipster-ish, Kiev or Tbilisi. If you like alterative spots include Tbilisi in your bucket list!

Perfect adventure destination

Thanks to diverse landscape Georgia can be a great destination for adventure lovers. You can go skiing here in Gudauri, climb Mt. Kazbek (5047 meters above the sea level), go horseback riding in numerous valleys or paragliding in Caucasus mountains. Even such a random thing like riding a cable car can be thrilling when you do it in Chiaturawhere cars remember 1950s and are called “moving coffins”.

Don’t forget about Georgian drivers who are a bit crazy and you say good bye to your life every second marshrutka ride. Georgia is full of adventures!

Interesting monuments

Georgia might not be too big on monuments (minus churches but more about them later) but those you can find around are surely impressive. Some of the best monuments in Georgia include fortresses (like the one in Tbilisi or Gori) and castles (Ananuri, Rabati) as well as incredible cave towns like Uplistsikhe or Vardzia.

There are also some random monuments in the middle of nowhere – when you travel to Kazbegi you will spot on your left side a concrete monument of Georgian-Russian friendship that is located in the most random place ever, on the side of the road, surrounded by beautiful Caucasus mountains.

Religion

Georgia is the second country in the world, after Armenia, that took Christianity as a state religion, in the 4th century. All over the country you will find beautiful and one of a kind churches, some of them as old as from the 6th century (like the one in Mtskheta, the “holy city” of Georgia).

Georgian monasteries have a distinctive shape, you will recognize them everywhere (only Armenian churches are very similar but more round) with their raw architecture. However as soon as you go inside your jaw might drop a bit after seeing the beautiful old paintings. If you’re lucky you can even witness a magical play of light pouring in through the small windows.

Georgia is safe

I remember how afraid I was of visiting Georgia prior my first trip – already on my first day I learnt that there is nothing really to worry about, it’s just a regular country and besides using the common sense like everywhere else there are no extra safety precautions you should take.

Of course crime happens there, like in numerous other places around the world, but if you’re worrying about Georgia safety you can stop now. The biggest risk there is travelling around as Georgian drivers are just crazy!

Affordable prices

The good thing about travelling to Georgia is that it won’t drain your wallet. Everything is very affordable in comparison to Western European standards. 1 lari is currently around $0,38 or €0,33.

To give you some examples of prices: marshrutka from Kutaisi city to Tbilisi is 10 lari for over 3 hours journey (230kms), metro ride in Tbilisi costs 0,50 lari, you can get khachapuri in the bakery for 2-3 lari, lunch for even as little as 10-15 lari and a decent accommodation for 50 lari/night.

If you’re looking for a low-cost destination that offers good standard for little price Georgia is your answer!

Visit Georgia before it’s too late

Even if there are more and more tourists visiting Georgia each year (it was on the fourth place of the UNWTO’s 2018 list of fastest growing tourism destinations) the country still is a bit undiscovered. While most of the tourists focus on the highlights and visit Georgia in the summer time you should travel there in the off season when everything is much calmer and nicer.

It’s a matter of time when tourists will really overflow Georgia and the country will change forever so now is the best time to go, before it’s too late!

Visit Georgia – practical information

How to get to Georgia

There are three international airports in Tbilisi, Kutaisi and Batumi – most likely you will fly into the second one as it serves low-cost airlines from numerous destinations all over Europe and offers really good prices. I always search for flights at SkyScanner – click here to find your own flights to Georgia!

If you do arrive to Kutaisi airport there is no need to worry about getting out from there – a local company Georgian Bus has shuttle buses to Tbilisi, Batumi and Kutaisi, connected with all the flights. You can get the ticket online or after arriving – their stand is right in front of the exit from the arrivals hall, you can’t miss it. One way ticket from Kutaisi airport to Tbilisi is 20 lari and to Kutaisi city is 5 lari. In Tbilisi buses arrive to Liberty Square in the very center of the city.

If you fly to Tbilisi there is a local bus no 37 running 24/7 that connects the airport with the city (Liberty Square, Rustaveli metro station and train station), the ticket is 0,50 lari.

How to get around Georgia

There’re very few train lines that can get you from Tbilisi to Batumi or Zugdidi (and from there you can catch marshrutka to Svaneti) as well as some local destinations. Most likely you will just use marshrutkas – Soviet style mini buses that are not very comfortable but they are fast, cheap and often your only option. In Tbilisi they depart from few places, depending on the destination, you will most likely use the Didube station for places in north and west of the country and Samgori station for Kakheti.

If you are short of time or the whole process of finding the right marshrutka is overwhelming you can go for organized tours – there are plenty of them and they are often affordable. Click here to find and book some of the best tours.

What to see in Georgia

You can already see a lot in few days if you base yourself in Tbilisi and go for day trips around but of course the more time you have the better. Some of the places you can’t miss are:

Tbilisi – the amazing capital
Kazbegi with Gergeti Triniti Church – on the way you should stop in Ananuri and Mtskheta
One (or all) of the cave towns: David Gareja, Uplistsikhe, Vardzia
Spa town Borjomi
Kakheti wine region
Kutaisi, with day trips to Chiatura, Tskaltubo, Prometeus Cave, Gelati monastery or Okatse Canyon
The Black Sea resort Batumi
Svaneti for some amazing mountains view

Where to stay in Georgia

There’s a whole range of accommodation to choose from, from hostels and guest houses to boutique hotels – you can choose whatever you like! Just keep in mind that sometimes the standard, especially in the cheaper places, might not be the best – Georgia is still learning the tourism industry and many people try to earn from a sudden flow of visitors, offering their places to rent that might not really be ideal in Western standards. Before booking the accommodation take a minute to read the reviews and see pictures to know what you’re getting.

I always find my accommodation at Booking.com and never had any major issues in Georgia. Click here to find your accommodation in Georgia!

Language in Georgia

Georgia has its own alphabet that is just the prettiest but you understand literally nothing. It took me a while to recognize the name “Tbilisi” written in Georgian (თბილისი) and that’s about it. Getting around with English only is doable, especially in touristic areas but often knowing some Russian is a life-saver, even if it’s just enough to ask where is your marshrutka and what’s the price for the ride.

It’s also good to know few Georgian words, that always brings smile on people’s faces. Those I use most often are didi madloba (thank you) and gamarjoba (hello) – don’t confuse it with “gaumarjos” (cheers) – I did it once at Kutaisi airport and got friendly laughs from the border officer in return.

Don’t travel without a travel insurance! I’ve learnt my lesson that you never know what might happen and I don’t leave the house without being insured. Click here for more info and best rates on travel insurance at World Nomads!

Batumi named as europe's leading emerging tourism destination

Georgia's Black Sea town of Batumi received the title of ‘Europe’s Leading Emerging Tourism Destination’ at the World Travel Awards (WTA) ceremony held in Madeira, Portugal last night.

The organisers of the awards ceremony reported that “the captivating mix of Belle Époque meets contemporary splendour helped Batumi, Georgia, lift the title”.

"Our inaugural ceremony in Madeira has proved an incredible success. We have had the privilege of recognising the leading destinations, hotels, resorts, airlines and travel providers from across Europe and my congratulations to each of our winners”, Graham E. Cooke, the Founder WTA stated.

Baku (Azerbaijan), Derry (North Ireland), Kutná Hora (Czech Republic), Ljubljana (Slovenia), Matera (Italy), Mostar (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and Sofia (Bulgaria) were competing Batumi in this nomination.

World Travel Awards, often referred to as the Oscar of tourism awards, were established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all key sectors of the travel, tourism and hospitality industries.

The world’s most unique dining experience now available in Georgia!

The world’s most unique dining experience now available in Georgia !

A flying fine dining restaurant that offers the most unforgettable dining experience in a breathtaking setting that offers amazing 360 degree views of the Tbilisi skyline.

It's a franchise restaurant available in 70 countries for more than 12 years and now it's launching in Tbilisi, Georgia !

The Sky platform is suspended by a crane 50 meters high in the sky of Tbilisi, while you indulge in unique scenery and luxurious dining.

Selected by Forbes.com in its list of the 10 most unusual restaurants in the world, Dinner in the Sky is one of the most unique dining experiences one can ever have!

"Operating From May 15 to June 15" For anyone who wishes to transform the ordinary into into a magical moment with a lasting impression!!

Georgian wine Festival 2019

In the last several years month of May in Tbilisi feels great not just because of blooming nature and splendid weather, but also because the New Wine Festival is held in the city. End of spring is the time to unseal huge clay vessels called qvevri, filled with pressed grapes and buried under the ground according to the traditional Georgian winemaking technology. The young wine is ready and waits for the moment when wine lovers come to taste it.

Usually the festival is held in one of green areas in Tbilisi in the beginning of May. Travellers, bloggers, journalists, winemakers and sommeliers from all around the globe enjoy tasting more than 60 varieties of excellent Georgian wine of the last harvest. Traditional Georgian barbeques and fresh bread are available at the festival to try keeping you sober. Accompanied by Georgian dances and songs performances, the festival lasts the whole weekend. Outdoors, under the warm May sun the wine tastes gorgeous!

dinner in thesky

A unique experience in the heart of Tbilisi, Georgia.

The world’s most unique dining experience now available in Georgia !

A flying fine dining restaurant that offers the most unforgettable dining experience in a breathtaking setting that offers 360 degree views of the Tbilisi skyline.

Dinner In The Sky Georgia will give you a whole new perspective on dining in Georgia. So strap in and join us for indulgent food and unlimited Georgian wine.

Whether you’re after a romantic date night or a chance to family, friends, or clients to an unforgettable experience, Dinner In The Sky Georgia is definitely the highlight of your Spring and Summer.

Georgian gastronomy hits new height. Have you ever had a better selfie opportunity?

Up in the Sky, we offer a number of fantastic flight sessions, including Lunch in the Sky, Wine tasting in the Sky, and Dinner in the Sky. Our chef and sommelier will prepare your fancy meal and Georgian wine in the pop up kitchen in the sky while you sit back, relax, and take in the spectacular Tbilisi panorama.

The sky is the limit, this fancy experience is exclusively for anyone who wishes to transform the ordinary into into a magical moment with a lasting impression! Put simply, Dinner In The Sky Georgia is the one place you need to visit.

Martvili Canyons, heaven in georgia

Martvili is located in Samegrelo region of Western Georgia, 280km from Tbilisi. On its highest hill there is a Monastery. The site upon the hill where the monastery stands today was used in ancient times as a pagan cultural center and was a sacred site. There once stood an ancient and enormous oak tree that was worshipped as an idol of fertility and prosperity. Infants were once sacrificed here as well. After the conversion of the native population to Christianity, the ancient tree was cut down so as not to worship it anymore. A church was originally constructed in the late 7th century upon the roots of the old oak tree and was named in honor of Saint Andrew who preached Christianity and converted the pagans across the Samegrelo region. The main Martvili-Chkondidi Cathedral was reconstructed in the 10th century after invasions that destroyed the prior church. Preserved in the church are frescoes of the 14th to 17th centuries.

Martvili canyons used to be a bath place for Dadiani family. Now people visit it to enjoy the scenery, its waterfalls and take a boat trip in the river with deep green color.

Top 10 Georgian Dishes

Situated at the crossroads of East and West, Georgia has fallen within the orbit of many cultural influences and empires. One of the earliest Christian civilizations, Georgia has endured its share of invasions and Georgian cuisine is well reflective of its past. In the times of peace, as merchants carried goods and spices along the Great Silk Road, Georgians embraced new seasonings and methods, adopted and incorporated foreign ingredients and styles into their own. Throughout the centuries, Georgian food has been influenced by the Mediterranean world, Arab and Mongol flavours, Persian and Ottoman kitchens, the link stretching as far as Northern India. Today’s Georgian cuisine is a rich interplay between Mediterranean and Middle Eastern tastes. Georgian food and wine culture is best observed through Supra – traditional feast featuring a wide array of assortment of dishes always accompanied by large amounts of wine, lasting several hours.

1.Khinkali

Khinkali is a popular dumpling made with a variety of fillings. In the mountains, this much praised dish is made with lamb, which comes in abundance, elsewhere, mixture of minced beef and pork is used. The origins of Khinkali can’t precisely be traced; some accounts point to Tatar influence, others claim khinkali to be an indigenous product of Georgia’s primordial mountain culture.

2.Khachapuri

No Georgian feast in ever complete without Khachapuri. According to many, it is the Georgian classic, cheesebread par excellence. It’s form, as well as texture vary from region to region: it can take a thin or thick crust, it can contain single or many layers, Khachapuri can assume round, triangle or rectangle form of all sizes and even come boat-shaped with an egg in the middle, as is the case of Khachapuri from Adjara – Georgia’s coastal region on the Black Sea.

3.Mtsvadi

A skewer of meat, be it veal, lamb or pork is symbol of true celebration à la géorgienne. While choice of meat varies from region to region and also according to seasons, the grilling method is more or less the same throughout. Out-of-age grapevine is considered to be noblest among the choice of wood. Once grilled, meat cubes are removed from skewers and shaken in a pot of thinly sliced onions and pomegranate juice. Sizzling meat slightly caramelizes the onions, while pomegranate juice forms a mild, acidy sauce with the meat juices.

4. Georgian Cheese Plate: Sulguni, Smoked Sulguni, Guda

Georgians rely heavily on their cheese and each region makes its own variety. Sulguni, specialty of Western Georgia is perhaps the most admired semi-soft Georgian cheese. Its high moisture content is reminiscent of Mozzarella. Guda is a pungent mountain cheese from Tusheti, traditionally made with sheep’s milk and aged in sheepskin.

5. Mixed Mushroom Stew in clay pot

Georgian cuisine features a wide range of slow-cooked meat stews such as Kharcho or Chaqapuli (see below). While the meat remains a prime ingredient, some vegetarian versions are mastered increasingly, especially during the lent. Key mushroom variety is Khis Soko, cultivated on tree trunks. Its characteristics include distinctly strong flavour, wet woodland tones and firm texture, resistant to slow cooking.

6. Kharcho with Gomi

Kharcho is a slow-cooked thick meat stew with tomatoes, spices and aromatic herbs. Its distinctive aromatic feature owes largely to the use of Khmeli Suneli- a marigold rich Georgian counterpart of Indian curry blend. Gomi is a staple food of Samegrelo – region in the west and breeding ground for some of the most savory and elaborate dishes (Kharcho also originates from Samegrelo). For centuries Megrels made Gomi with millet – an indigenous crop to be subsequently replaced with maize, which proved to be more stable as a culture.

7. ChaKapuli

Compared to Kharcho, Chaqapuli is a light and liquid stew, redolent of springtime herbs, pungent with fruity flavors of white wine and tkemali sauce. (Tkemali sauce is an universal condiment made with wild plums and aromatic herbs). Although Chaqapuli echoes some similar dishes of neighboring Iran, such as Ghormeh Sabzi, this springtime stew, for many admirers captures the essential taste of Georgia.

8. Assorted Pkhali

Pkhali is a cold vegetarian appetizer, popular Georgian tapas. A mélange of spice-rich walnut paste, fresh herbs and vinegar is added to vegetables, fried or boiled. Pkhali is often garnished with pomegranate seeds, which enhances the mild acidity with a sour, fruity finish.

9. Assorted Georgian pickles: Jonjoli, Peppers

Georgians enjoy wide variety of pickled vegetables, such as cucumber or courgette, ripe or unripe tomatoes and even leeks and garlic cloves. Most unfamiliar of these would perhaps seem pickled flowers of Jonjoli – a medium sized bush producing long stemmed flowers, which are harvested just before they flower in May and consumed throughout the year.

10. Ricotta Cornets

These rolls provide a good example of how Georgians mix several dairy products together to come up with a tasty snack. Ricotta kneaded with mint is rolled into thin slices of Sulguni cheese to make these mildly salty, aromatic mint-mingled cornets.

Why Georgia (the Country) Belongs on Your Travel Wish List

When I began telling friends that I was going to Georgia—a country that had been on my wish list for a long time—I got all sorts of responses. Some thought I meant the state. Some asked if it was safe. (Yes.) Others had their eyes light up with envy or happy memories of their own trips to the country. And one gave me some useful packing advice: Bring loose-fitting clothes and pants with elastic waistbands.

The food in this former Soviet republic, at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, is superb. And wildly abundant. The word for a Georgian meal is supra, which is best translated as “feast.” This is no joke. There is also a saying that “the guest is a gift from God,” meaning hospitality is valued—and largely expressed through cooking.

At some restaurants, servers put plates of food on top of other plates of food because there is no more room on the table. The bread, which is made in an unusual, traditional style using a clay oven, is addictive. The tomato and cucumber salad that shows up at every meal is consistently delicious. In fact, all the fresh vegetables are extraordinary. There are pies filled with cheese and meat, sausages galore and dumplings stuffed with all sort of things. And there is always more.

I didn’t have a single bad meal during a nine-day trip (as a guest of the tourism board), but the standouts were at the cozy Poliphonia in Tbilisi and at Pheasant’s Tears, a boutique winery in the charming town of Sighnaghi, known as the “city of wine and love” (thanks the 24-hour availability of civil marriages).

My companions and I laughed at that name, because all of Georgia is a place of wine and love. The latter is seen in that genuine hospitality. As for the former, the country is considered the birthplace of wine, with evidence of viniculture stretching back more than 7,000 years. There are more than 500 varieties of grapes grown all around the country, and winemakers making traditional wines in clay jars and adventurous ones with contemporary techniques. Many are natural or organic, and most are delicious. (And the quantity of the wine tends to keep pace with the quantity of food at those meals.)

Food and wine are the main draws for Georgia—and a primary reason that visitor numbers have doubled since last year—but hardly the only one. The High Caucasus are stunning, dotted with picturesque villages and ancient churches. (The country was also one of the world’s first to adopt Christianity, in 337 A.D.) They’re also ideal for hiking. There are natural hot springs and sulfur pools, especially the ones near Borjomi Park.

And then there’s Tbilisi, a city that has been sacked 27 times but emerged as a distinctively cosmopolitan place with contemporary architecture mixed in with the historic buildings, a rich café culture and a boom in wine and cocktail bars. It is one of the few cities left in the world that feels like absolutely nowhere else. I saw one Wendy’s and one Dunkin' Donuts, but that was it for globalization.

At the massive Saturday flea market, you can buy a gas mask, Soviet military paraphernalia, random taxidermy or beautiful enamel jewelry. From there, you can stroll through the trendy neighborhood of Plekhanov, with its old-style houses, its lively Agmashenbeli avenue and the multifunctional Fabrika, in which cafés, bars, ateliers and boutiques fill a former Soviet sewing factory.

Speaking of cool, the boutique hotel scene is something of a surprise. While the old-school, five-star Ambassadori makes a perfectly lovely home base (with a gorgeous cocktail bar), I swooned when I saw the new Stamba, a Design Hotel in a 1930s publishing house, where the original printing presses still squiggle overhead and giant trees soar in the five-story “living lobby.”

It’s right around the corner from the Rooms Hotel, an outpost of a homegrown brand that’s gaining something of a cult following among hotel nerds like me. It’s likewise trendy and stylish. The Rooms Hotel Kazbegi is no less chic while being suited to its mountain environment.

After all, it’s important to have a nice place to nap after that midafternoon supra.