"The artist-built room beside Gabriadze's clock tower makes this Old Town cafe Tbilisi's most atmospheric Georgian table for a first date."
About Gabriadze Cafe
Gabriadze Cafe sits at 13 Shavteli Street in Tbilisi's Old Town, beside the marionette theatre and its famous leaning clock tower. It opened in 1995, designed down to the smallest detail by the late artist, playwright and puppeteer Rezo Gabriadze, and it remains one of the most charming tables in our Tbilisi guide.
The cooking is traditional Georgian, and the wine list leans on Georgian producers, but the setting is the headline: hand-painted interiors, theatrical detail and a terrace under the clock tower, where a puppet show marks the hour. It is more atmosphere-first cafe than a fine-dining room. For what separates a place worth the trip, see our guide to the signs of a great restaurant.
The Kitchen
The menu runs through Georgian classics: khachapuri, khinkali, grilled meats and seasonal salads, with dish names written in the playful, humorous style of the artist who designed the place. Georgian wines from qvevri and modern producers fill the list. Prices are moderate for the setting, and the food, while not the city's most refined, is honest and made to share before or after a show next door.
The Room
The interior is a small museum of marionettes and figures from Gabriadze's plays and films, every surface considered, while the terrace looks straight up at the clock tower with its hourly automaton. It runs warm and theatrical, busiest around show times, and works as well for a coffee as a full meal. Service is friendly and used to a steady stream of theatre-goers and visitors.
Best for an atmospheric first date or a quiet solo afternoon
Take a terrace table at dusk for a memorable first date under the clock tower, or set up a proposal in the painted interior; it also suits an easy afternoon of solo dining.
Not for
A refined gastronomic dinner judged on the cooking alone: this is an atmosphere-led art cafe where the room and the theatre, not technical food, are the draw.
Frequently Asked
What is Gabriadze Cafe?
Gabriadze Cafe is an artist-designed Georgian cafe at 13 Shavteli Street in Tbilisi's Old Town, beside Rezo Gabriadze's marionette theatre and its landmark clock tower. It has been open since 1995.
Who designed Gabriadze Cafe?
The cafe was designed in full by Rezo Gabriadze, the Georgian artist, playwright, sculptor and puppeteer who founded the neighbouring marionette theatre, from its painted interiors to its furnishings.
What food does Gabriadze Cafe serve?
Traditional Georgian dishes such as khachapuri, khinkali, grilled meats and seasonal salads, alongside a list of Georgian wines, with menu names written in a playful, humorous style.
Where is Gabriadze Cafe?
It is at 13 Shavteli Street in Tbilisi's Old Town, beside the Gabriadze marionette theatre, under the famous leaning clock tower that performs a puppet show on the hour.
Is Gabriadze Cafe worth visiting?
Yes, above all for its setting. The hand-built interior, the terrace beneath the clock tower and the link to the theatre make it one of Tbilisi's most atmospheric tables, especially before or after a show.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Gabriadze Cafe
Book ahead around theatre show times and for terrace tables in summer.
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
Address13 Shavteli Street, Old Town, Tbilisi
NeighbourhoodShavteli Street, Old Town
CuisineGeorgian · art cafe
Price$$ · moderate, Georgian classics
RecognitionOpen since 1995; designed by artist Rezo Gabriadze, beside his marionette theatre
SignatureKhachapuri and khinkali under the landmark clock tower
