Taste of Tbilisi

General information

Destination
Tbilisi, Georgia

Program details

We hope that you’re hungry! This culinary tour is all about the best Georgian comfort food; we’ll enjoy a hearty and traditional meal together, learn about local food traditions, take part in a tea tasting ceremony and drink a special toast to Georgia the way the locals have been doing for centuries. Foodies rejoice, this is the Tbilisi food tour that you’ve been searching for!



Part history tour, part Home Cooked experience, this taste of Tbilisi’s got it all! We’ll show you just why Georgians are so famous for their hospitality with a home cooked meal (and glass of homemade wine) with a local family. But before you eat, you see! Wander the streets of Tbilisi, and hear the ancient tales that were born under your feet.



You’ll start your Tbilisi tour at the point where the city’s history began. Your guide will tell you the legends and tales of the ancient town, setting you up for your day exploring some of the city’s most iconic sites.

We’ll cross the Metekhi Bridge and head first to the sulphur baths, natural hot springs that are one of the most popular places to visit in Tbilisi. (If you would like to book a room at the bath for later during your trip, your guide can help you to make arrangements). From there, we’ll tour some of Tbilisi’s most significant sites. We’ll stop at the tamada sculpture and learn why it’s a symbol of Georgia’s ancient wine-making and tamada (toastmaster) traditions. We’ll also visit a local carpet shop, the Great Synagogue, Sioni Cathedral, and Anchiskhati Church — the oldest church in Georgia — and pass by the Spiritual Seminary where Stalin studied.



Once we’ve finished touring you through Tbilisi’s history, we’ll follow the old narrow streets to Freedom Square, where we’ll hop on public transit for the second half of our adventure: lunch! You’ll be dining with a local family and getting a true taste of Georgian hospitality. Local custom dictates that guests are blessed gifts from God, so prepare to be welcomed into the family like a long-lost relative!



Your hosts will show you how to make popular Georgian dishes such as khinkali and khachapuri (dumplings and cheese-filled bread — yum!), letting you lend a hand in the kitchen if you like. In addition to the mains, your lunch will include salads, homemade jam, and Georgian wine, made using the traditional qvevri method of storing wine in clay jars underground. Stuffed and satiated, we’ll put you back on transit and return you to Freedom Square, where you’re free to keep exploring on your own.



Highlights

Taste the traditional staples of Georgian cuisine; such as khinkali (dumplings) and a selection of delicious cold appetizers, washed down with a glass of local wine or maybe chacha

Experience a unique Georgian tea tasting

Visit foodie heaven, a gastronomic shop full of spices and cheeses, and discover the city’s best edible souvenirs to take home for friends and loved ones!

Stroll the backstreets of the charming Old Town and spot some hidden gems you’ll want to visit later



Languages

English.



Others

When visiting churches, please remember that women are requested to cover their hair and wear either long dresses or long trousers. Shoulders need to be covered. Men should remove their hats avoid wearing shorts.