Georgian restaurant in Avlabari, Tbilisi
Vakhtanguri was founded in 1993 and has remained a steadfast keeper of Georgian hospitality and culinary tradition ever since.
Our kitchen is best known for its signature chebureki, prepared to the same recipe and with the same unchanging taste for many years. Yet Vakhtanguri is far more than a single celebrated dish: guests can also try authentic Georgian khinkali, mtsvadi and kebab made from top-quality meat, traditional khachapuri and many other dishes. Because every guest's preferences matter to us, the menu also offers a wide range of vegan and vegetarian dishes in which traditional flavours are reinterpreted.
Vakhtanguri awaits you in the heart of old Tbilisi, in Avlabari, at 4 Lagodekhi Street. Two minutes from the metro station and ten minutes on foot from the Holy Trinity Cathedral, it is equally suited to gatherings with friends and family dinners.
- Address
- 4 Lagodekhi Street, Avlabari
- Opening hours
- Every day, 11:00-02:00
- Nearest metro
- Avlabari, 2 minutes on foot
- Telephone
- +995 574 804 804
Location
Avlabari occupies the raised left bank of the Mtkvari, opposite the Old Town. One of the oldest quarters of Tbilisi, it is now dominated by the Holy Trinity Cathedral, consecrated in 2004 and one of the largest Orthodox churches in the South Caucasus.
Both the metro station and the cathedral are within walking distance of the restaurant, so a meal at Vakhtanguri fits easily into a visit to the district.
The kitchen
The menu is built around the dishes that Georgian guests order most often and that visitors usually come to try. Everything is prepared in the restaurant's own kitchen, part of which is open to the dining room.
Chebureki
Chebureki are fried half-moon pastries with a thin, crisp shell and a juicy filling. The dish took shape among the Crimean Tatars and spread across the Caucasus during the twentieth century.
In Tbilisi it is closely associated with Vakhtanguri: travel guides and map services frequently list the restaurant as Vakhtanguri's Chebureki. Alongside the classic meat version, the kitchen prepares chebureki with cheese, potato and mushroom.
Khinkali
Dumplings from the Georgian highlands, gathered into a knot at the top and traditionally eaten by hand. Prepared with meat, cheese, potato or mushroom.
Kebab
Seasoned minced meat grilled on a skewer and served with thin lavash bread.
Mtsvadi
Pieces of meat grilled on skewers, a fixture of the Georgian table on ordinary days and at celebrations alike.
Adjarian khachapuri
Boat-shaped bread from the Black Sea region of Adjara, filled with melted cheese and finished with egg yolk and butter.
Vegetarian and vegan dishes
A meal without meat does not mean leaving the core of the menu. The restaurant's two best-known dishes are also prepared with meatless fillings, and the menu includes further vegetarian and vegan options.
- Cheburekicheese, potato or mushroom
- Khinkalicheese, potato or mushroom
- Assorted pkhali
- Aubergine with walnut paste
- Mushrooms baked in a ketsi
Guests following a vegan diet are advised to ask their server which dishes are suitable.
The interior
The dining rooms combine exposed brick arches with velvet upholstery, green marble and brass details. A statue of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and festivity, stands in the main hall and serves as the restaurant's emblem; the reasons for this choice are discussed in Dionysus: The Eternal Symbol of Vakhtanguri's Cultural Legacy.
The history of the restaurant, from its opening in 1993 to the present day, is told in Vakhtanguri: A Story That Begins in 1993.
Practical information
- Address
- 4 Lagodekhi Street, Avlabari, Tbilisi
- Opening hours
- Every day, 11:00-02:00
- Telephone
- +995 574 804 804
- Reservations
- Online, by telephone or at [email protected]
Frequently asked questions
Answers to the questions guests ask most often before a first visit. For anything else, call +995 574 804 804.
How far is Vakhtanguri from the Holy Trinity Cathedral?
About ten minutes on foot. The cathedral and the restaurant are both in Avlabari, so they are easily visited on the same walk.
What are the opening hours?
The restaurant is open every day of the week, from 11:00 to 02:00.
Do I need to book a table?
Tables can be booked online or by telephone. Booking ahead is advisable for groups and for evenings.
Are there vegetarian and vegan dishes?
Yes. Chebureki and khinkali are prepared with cheese, potato or mushroom, and the menu also includes assorted pkhali, aubergine with walnut paste and mushrooms baked in a ketsi. Vegan guests are advised to confirm suitable dishes with their server.
What is the restaurant best known for?
Above all for chebureki, which is why many guides list the restaurant as Vakhtanguri's Chebureki. Khinkali, kebab, mtsvadi and Adjarian khachapuri are also among the most frequently ordered dishes.
Is there outdoor seating?
No, all tables are indoors.
Plan your visit
Vakhtanguri is open every day from 11:00 to 02:00, at 4 Lagodekhi Street in Avlabari.