Generally speaking, many Georgians don’t eat breakfast at all, opting for caffeine instead. A typical Georgian breakfast includes tea or coffee with a slice of bread with a spread of butter or eggs or oat porridge for those who are trying to stay in shape or shifting to healthy eating. As there’s no proper breakfast custom in the country, Tbilisi doesn’t boast many spots for breakfast lovers, and cafés often open up late; however, be sure to check out the following places.
For early birds and proper breakfast lovers, local French bakery and coffee shop chain Entrée offers a couple of varieties to jump-start your day. If you are in a hurry, you can grab a coffee and any pastry for a very reasonable price. If you’d like to sit down, then grab your favorite book or newspaper and enjoy your morning meal.
Similar to Entrée, Coffeesta is another local coffee shop chain that offers simple breakfast options for those who like to have breakfast early. You can take a coffee with a muffin, cookies or a croissant for 5 GEL ($2).
Fabrika is a former Soviet sewing factory turned into a multipurpose complex adorned with modern yet straightforward and sophisticated design. There are many things that make Fabrika a trendy place in Tbilisi, and breakfast is one of them. Here you can experience an à la carte buffet with pretty much everything you desire for only 21.34 GEL ($8). You’ll find salads, fruits, pastries, homemade yogurt and jams on the counter, while chefs will make an omelette on request right in front of you.
This trendy dining place is almost always reserved days in advance. What makes Barbarestan so popular is the fact that a family with 10 children has revived recipes from a 19th-century cookbook written by chef and feminist Barbare Jorjadze. Barbarestan, which translates to “at Barbara’s,” has a very diverse breakfast menu as well. Here, you can eat three different breakfast combos for 25 GEL ($9) or try out variations of scrambled eggs, pancakes, pies, salads, or various dairy products.
This Austrian-style bakery with a cozy atmosphere offers a couple of meals for breakfast lovers. You can either have toast with three ingredients of your choice, an omelet or scrambled eggs, a chicken sandwich or bruschetta with salmon. And if those options don’t call out to you, Brotmeister also offers porridge, cheese patties, a muffin with bacon or quinoa porridge.
Café Rustaveli, situated near Freedom Square, offers a vegan and vegetarian breakfast and brunch beginning at 7:30 am. Besides typical breakfast meals, Café Rustaveli also provides regional options. The interior of the venue is unique as well. The mixture of Asian and European cultures with a Georgian touch creates a unique, warm and friendly atmosphere to start your day on a positive note.
If you are a coffee lover like many Georgians are, then head to the Coffee Lab to drink dozens of different coffees, including specialty ones such as V60, Aeropress coffee or vacuum pot. You can have oat porridge, rice pudding, granola, fruit salad with strained yogurt or Belgian waffles with your hot beverage.
Rooms Hotel Tbilisi is another trendy place where locals love to hang out, and with good reason. The weekend brunch menu is excellent, with a couple of options from which to choose. But if you are craving something hearty, try their burger for only 15 GEL ($5.50), which comes with fries and sauce. It’s one of the best in town!
