Tbilisi Private Food and Wine Tour with Lunch and Tastings

Come hungry, leave happily stuffed. This private Tbilisi tour ties Georgian food to the city itself, moving from the Old Town and Mtatsminda to Liberty Square for soup, khachapuri, natural wine, dumplings, and plenty of local conversation. I like the private vehicle and hotel pickup, and I like the relaxed pace, which gives you time to eat without feeling pushed from table to table. The main consideration is the seven-hour schedule, which can stretch closer to nine hours if your group settles in and enjoys the meals slowly.

The food is more than a series of samples. You get a useful introduction to dishes such as chikhirtma, acharuli khachapuri, and khinkali, while the guide helps connect each stop to daily Georgian eating habits. The route covers several parts of Tbilisi, but this is not a walking tour, so you will spend part of the day riding between restaurants.

Key points to know before booking

• Chikhirtma near Tbilisi’s Old Town: Start with Georgian chicken soup, sometimes welcomed as a hangover remedy, and a possible taste of chacha.
• Funicular ride to Mtatsminda: Ride above the city to a high point and try acharuli khachapuri with a view-oriented change of scene.
• Natural wine at Liberty Square: Sample Georgian wines in a dedicated natural wine bar, with time to discuss local varieties and styles.
• Khinkali to finish: End with Georgian dumplings, beer, and possibly another small chacha tasting.
• A genuinely private day: Pickup and drop-off are available at any hotel or apartment in Tbilisi, and only your group takes part.
• Allow extra time: The planned duration is about seven hours, but a friendly, unhurried group may spend nearly nine hours on the road and at the table.

Why this Tbilisi food tour works so well

Tbilisi is a good city for a food tour because its pleasures are spread out. The Old Town, Mtatsminda, Liberty Square, restaurants, wine bars, and traditional dining rooms each give you a different view of the city. This route uses a private vehicle to connect them, saving you the trouble of arranging taxis or guessing which restaurants are worth your time.

I like the balance of movement and sitting down. You are not simply taken to one restaurant for a long lunch. Instead, the day breaks the meal into several parts, with sightseeing and short rides between them. That keeps the food interesting and gives you a sense of Tbilisi beyond the central streets.

The tour is offered in English and includes a professional guide. Captain Z and Tso are names associated with the guiding team, and the strongest praise centers on an easygoing manner, good conversation, and the ability to adjust the pace to the group. That matters here. Food tours work best when the guide explains what is on the table without turning dinner into a lecture.

The private format also changes the mood. You can ask questions, linger over a wine, decline a second shot of chacha, or make a small adjustment to the pace without worrying about a busload of strangers. The guide can also return you to your Tbilisi hotel or apartment at the end.

Chikhirtma in the Old Town

The first food stop takes place in an upscale restaurant near Tbilisi’s Old Town, close to the sulphur bath area. The specialty is chikhirtma, a Georgian chicken soup known for its comforting, restorative quality.

This is a smart opening dish. After a late night, a bowl of hot soup is easier to face than a heavy platter of cheese and bread. The soup also introduces you to a less famous side of Georgian cooking. Many visitors arrive knowing khachapuri and khinkali, but chikhirtma gives you a taste of the country’s home-style comfort food.

A small pour of chacha may accompany the soup. Chacha is a strong Georgian spirit, often compared to grappa or a very powerful homemade brandy. You can accept it as part of the local welcome, but you do not need to force yourself into a second shot. The food continues for several hours, so pacing yourself is sensible.

You receive about an hour here, including the meal and the guide’s explanation. The setting near the sulphur baths makes this more than a restaurant stop. You begin in one of Tbilisi’s best-known historic areas, then move on before the day becomes too heavy.

The funicular and Mtatsminda khachapuri

Next comes one of the tour’s most memorable changes of scene: a funicular ride up to Mtatsminda Park. The park sits at one of the highest points in Tbilisi, giving this part of the day a welcome break from restaurant interiors.

The food focus is acharuli khachapuri, the boat-shaped version of Georgia’s famous cheese bread. It is typically served with a soft egg and butter in the center, though the supplied tour details do not specify the exact preparation at this venue. You can expect a filling dish, so this is a good place to slow down rather than treat the food as a quick taste.

A funicular ride adds real sightseeing value. You are not simply driven to another address. The climb changes your view of Tbilisi and makes the route feel like a city tour as well as a meal plan. The stop lasts about an hour, though transport and restaurant timing can affect the total.

One detailed account of the day included red wine and a local licorice-flavored soft drink alongside the khachapuri. The drink was considered interesting, though not everyone will love its unusual taste. That is part of the fun of this kind of tour: you get to try a few things you would probably skip on your own.

Natural wine at Liberty Square

The wine portion takes place around Liberty Square, at a natural wine bar regarded by the tour team as one of the city’s best. You receive a chance to taste Georgian wine in a setting focused on small-production and natural styles.

Georgia is closely associated with qvevri winemaking, in which wine is traditionally made in large clay vessels. The tour information does not promise a specific grape, qvevri demonstration, or producer, so you should think of this as a tasting and conversation stop rather than a formal winery visit.

That distinction is useful. You are in central Tbilisi, not out in the countryside, and the appeal is convenience. You can sample local wine without giving up a full day to a distant vineyard. In one version of the route, the wine stop included a couple of bottles and lasted around an hour and a half. Wine purchases were also made during the visit, with the guide later helping transport them back to the accommodation.

The broader day may include an earlier wine tasting with simple Georgian appetizers such as smashed walnuts and eggplant. Since the precise order can vary, do not assume every group receives the exact same sequence. The important point is that wine is not an afterthought. It gets enough time to make comparisons and ask questions.

If you are not a heavy drinker, tell the guide early. Alcoholic beverages are included, but you control how much you consume. With chacha, wine, and possibly beer later in the day, moderation will make the final dumpling stop much more enjoyable.

Khinkali at the final table

The last major food stop is devoted to khinkali, Georgia’s famous soup dumplings. These pleated parcels are generally eaten by hand, with the top knot used as a handle. You bite carefully, sip the broth inside, and leave the tougher knot aside if that is your preference.

Khinkali makes a fitting finale because it is social food. You order several, pick them up one at a time, and learn quickly that rushing can send hot broth in an unfortunate direction. The supplied details describe about an hour and a half for the final stop, though one day ended with roughly an hour at the dumpling restaurant.

Beer and another shot of chacha may appear here. Again, you can choose your own pace. A private guide should make it easy to say no without making the moment awkward.

The detailed route account describes five venues in all: soup, wine and appetizers, khachapuri, a longer wine cellar visit, and khinkali. The formal plan identifies four broad stops, so the exact number of restaurants and the order may vary. You should book this for the overall style of the day, not for a guaranteed restaurant-by-restaurant script.

What the private vehicle adds

Pickup begins around noon, with collection from any hotel or apartment in Tbilisi. The private vehicle is a practical advantage because the food stops are spread across the city. One detailed account used a Nissan Pathfinder, though you should not treat that specific vehicle as guaranteed.

The guide handles the driving and transfers, leaving you free to watch the city and talk. A route that might feel confusing when arranged independently becomes simple: Old Town, Mtatsminda, Liberty Square, then the final meal and return to your accommodation.

The private arrangement also helps with luggage-sized purchases. After buying Georgian wine, one group returned briefly to its accommodation to drop off the bottles before continuing to a casino. That extra favor was not listed as a standard tour feature, so you should not count on the same detour, but it shows how a private day can be adjusted when time allows.

The tradeoff is that you are not walking continuously through Tbilisi. If your main aim is street photography, architecture, and long stretches on foot, a dedicated walking tour would suit you better. Here, the city is the setting and the link between meals.

Price, pace, and overall value

At $120 per person, the price is not simply paying for lunch. It includes a private guide, private transportation, hotel pickup and drop-off, food tastings, lunch, nonalcoholic drinks, and alcoholic beverages. The funicular ride and admission to the stated stops are included as well.

That package can offer good value for couples or small groups who would otherwise hire taxis, book several restaurants, and pay separately for tastings. You also avoid the risk of wasting an evening on a mediocre restaurant. The guide’s local choices are a central part of what you are buying.

The value is less clear if you are a very light eater or do not drink alcohol. Much of the appeal comes from tasting several dishes and wines, and the day is built around a generous amount of food. Still, you can usually manage portions by explaining your preferences before the tour begins.

The scheduled duration is approximately seven hours, starting at noon. A detailed account lasted almost nine hours because the group enjoyed talking with the guide and lingering at the venues. If you have evening plans, leave a cushion. If you prefer a faster schedule, tell the guide at the start.

The tour is often booked about 14 days ahead. That is useful planning information, especially if you are visiting Tbilisi during a busy period. Confirmation arrives at booking, and free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Who should book this food and wine day

I would choose this tour for a first or second day in Tbilisi, when you want someone else to handle the restaurant research and transportation. It gives you a practical introduction to Georgian dishes while placing several neighborhoods and viewpoints on your mental map.

It is especially suited to couples, families with adult members, and small private groups who enjoy sitting down for conversation. The easygoing guiding style described for Tso and Captain Z is a strong match for people who prefer a flexible day over a rigid timetable.

You should think twice if you want a formal cooking class, a countryside vineyard visit, or a strict list of named wines. Those are not promised here. This is a city food crawl with a guide, not a technical wine seminar.

Dietary restrictions should be shared at booking. The tour provider specifically asks for food restrictions in advance, which gives the team a chance to assess what can be adjusted. Because Georgian food often features bread, cheese, meat, walnuts, and dumplings, early notice is important.

Should you book it?

Book this Tbilisi private food and wine tour if you want a relaxed, food-first introduction to the city with transportation taken care of. The strongest reasons are the private format, the spread of locations, the mix of classic Georgian dishes, and the guide’s willingness to let the day breathe.

The best practical tip is to arrive hungry but not empty, pace your chacha and wine, and keep your evening open. You may finish in seven hours, but a long lunch, a good conversation, or a wine purchase can stretch the outing. For $120, the tour makes the most sense when you value local guidance and convenience as much as the food itself.

FAQ

Where does the Tbilisi food and wine tour take place?

The tour takes place in Tbilisi, Georgia. Stops include the Old Town, Mtatsminda Park reached by funicular, and the Liberty Square area.

How long does the tour last?

The scheduled duration is approximately seven hours. The day can take longer if the group spends extra time eating, drinking, and talking with the guide.

What time does the tour start?

The stated start time is 12:00 pm.

Is hotel pickup available?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are available from any hotel or apartment in Tbilisi.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates, and the tour includes private transportation and a professional guide.

What food will I taste?

The planned food includes chikhirtma, Georgian chicken soup, acharuli khachapuri, and khinkali dumplings. Additional food may include Georgian appetizers such as walnuts and eggplant.

Are drinks included?

Yes. Beverages and alcoholic beverages are included. The day may include Georgian wine, beer, and chacha.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The tour is offered in English.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not eligible for a refund.