In 2001 the Kurasbediani family was running an ordinary Georgian restaurant on Aghmashenebeli Avenue. Then they found a carved wooden box at the Dry Bridge flea market with an 1874 cookbook inside — 807 recipes written by Barbare Jorjadze, Georgia's first female cookbook author. Barbarestan is what they built from it: chef Levan Kobiashvili cooks Jorjadze's dishes for modern tables, and the restaurant now sits on the World's 50 Best Discovery list. Mains run ₾28–48, and a full dinner with Georgian wine lands near ₾90–130 a head — remarkable value for cooking this distinct.
The Kitchen
Barbarestan's premise is unlike any other restaurant in Tbilisi: the menu is drawn from a single 1874 cookbook, Barbare Jorjadze's collection of 807 Caucasian recipes, adapted for the modern table by chef Levan Kobiashvili. That gives the kitchen dishes most Georgian restaurants don't serve — rabbit wrapped in ham, pumpkin patties, a cherry soup finished with mint, and a deep bench of duck preparations. The cooking is rooted and seasonal rather than nostalgic re-enactment; Kobiashvili treats the book as a source, not a museum. The family runs the room, the desserts are a genuine strength, and the wine list leans hard into Georgian qvevri bottles that pair naturally with the old recipes. Mains sit at ₾28–48, which makes the whole thing one of the best-value serious meals in the city. The World's 50 Best Discovery listing recognised the obvious: there is nowhere else quite like it.
The Room
Barbarestan occupies a warm, antique-filled townhouse on Aghmashenebeli Avenue in the Marjanishvili district, spread over two floors and seating around sixty. The dining room is dressed like a 19th-century home — old portraits, dark wood, candle-low light — and the mood is intimate and convivial rather than formal. Sound sits at a happy hum when full, the lighting is dim and flattering, and tables suit both couples and larger groups. Dress is smart-casual. The family's presence in the room is part of the experience.
Best for Team Dinner
Book Barbarestan for a team dinner because Georgian dining is built for the table, and this kitchen does the communal feast better than almost anywhere in Tbilisi. The 19th-century menu gives a group dishes nobody has tried before — the rabbit in ham, the duck, the cherry soup — which turns the meal into a shared discovery rather than seven people eating in parallel. Order family-style, let the qvevri wine flow, and use the upstairs room for a larger party. The bill stays gentle even for a big group, which matters when you are hosting. Few rooms make a team dinner feel this generous for the money.
Not for
Not for diners who want familiar khachapuri-and-khinkali standards — the menu is drawn from an 1874 cookbook, so expect rabbit, duck and cherry soup, not the usual Georgian greatest hits.
Frequently Asked
Is Barbarestan worth it?
Yes — it is one of the most distinctive restaurants in Tbilisi and a strong value. The kitchen cooks from an 1874 cookbook of 807 recipes, so you eat dishes no other Georgian restaurant serves, and the World's 50 Best Discovery listing reflects that originality. With mains at ₾28–48 and a full dinner around ₾90–130 a head with wine, it is inexpensive for cooking this singular. For familiar Georgian standards, our Tbilisi dining guide lists other rooms.
How hard is it to book Barbarestan?
Booking is moderate. Weekday tables are usually available a day or two out, but Friday and Saturday evenings and the upstairs room for groups book out, so reserve ahead for weekends and larger parties. The easiest route is to call +995-551-12-11-76 or message the restaurant directly. For a team dinner, book the upstairs room early in the week before the weekend rush.
What is the dress code at Barbarestan?
Smart-casual. Barbarestan is an antique-filled townhouse with an intimate, convivial feel rather than a formal one, so neat casual is perfectly comfortable and there is no jacket requirement. Most guests dress a notch up for dinner, especially for a celebration, but the room never feels stuffy. Come dressed for a relaxed, sociable meal.
What should I order at Barbarestan?
Order from the historic dishes that set Barbarestan apart — the rabbit wrapped in ham, the duck preparations and the cherry soup with mint are the signatures drawn from Barbare Jorjadze's 1874 book. Eat family-style so the table can share, and let the staff steer you to the qvevri Georgian wines, which pair naturally with the old recipes. Save room for dessert; the pastry work is a real strength here.
