Quick answer
Tbilisi's specialty coffee scene has exploded in the past few years, transforming Georgia's capital from a Nescafé-and-Turkish-coffee town into a legitimate third-wave destination.
- Best overall
- Coffee LAB
- Top pick
- Coffee LAB
Top verdicts
- Coffee LAB: The Saburtalo branch has power outlets at every table and is the better pick for working.
- Shavi Coffee Roasters: No-laptop policy after 11 AM — come early if you wanted to work, otherwise treat it as a quick stop.
- Lui Coffee: Open at 4 AM is rare in Tbilisi — useful for jet lag or early flight departures.
Area map
All 12 spots at a glance
| # | Name | Style | Price | Area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coffee LAB | specialty-roaster | mid | Tbilisi |
| 2 | Shavi Coffee Roasters | specialty-roaster | mid | Tbilisi |
| 3 | Lui Coffee | specialty-cafe | mid | Tbilisi |
| 4 | OKRO Coffee Roastery | specialty-roaster | mid | Tbilisi |
| 5 | Tsvari Roasters | specialty-roaster | mid | Tbilisi |
| 6 | Santino Modcoffeebar | international-coffee | mid | Tbilisi |
| 7 | Pulp | specialty-cafe | mid | Tbilisi |
| 8 | Daily Grind Coffee & More | specialty-cafe | mid | Tbilisi |
| 9 | Café Leila | heritage-cafe | mid | Tbilisi |
| 10 | Prospero's Books & Caliban's Coffee | bookshop-cafe | mid | Tbilisi |
| 11 | No More Mondays | specialty-cafe | mid | Tbilisi |
| 12 | Plant Lovers | specialty-cafe | mid | Tbilisi |
1Coffee LAB
Specialty RoasterQuick comparison
- Best for
- Tbilisi specialty-coffee origin story
- Strengths
- Known for Specialty Roaster · Tbilisi
- Why it made the list
- Coffee LAB was one of the first true specialty roasters in Tbilisi and now supplies several other cafes — the city's third-wave starting point.
- What to order
- A pour-over of the current single-origin and a flat white made with their house espresso.
2Shavi Coffee Roasters
Specialty RoasterQuick comparison
- Best for
- Espresso-focused Sololaki roaster
- Strengths
- Known for Specialty Roaster · Tbilisi
- Why it made the list
- Shavi roasts in a converted Sololaki garage and pours some of the most respected espresso in the Caucasus — a barista's barista shop.
- What to order
- An espresso or cortado from whatever single-origin is on bar that day.
3Lui Coffee
Specialty CafeQuick comparison
- Best for
- 24-hour specialty coffee
- Strengths
- Known for Specialty Cafe · Tbilisi
- Why it made the list
- Lui Coffee runs 24 hours, which is unusual for Tbilisi and makes it the default night-owl and red-eye-arrival cafe for traveling specialty drinkers.
- What to order
- A late-night flat white or filter coffee from the rotating menu.
4OKRO Coffee Roastery
Specialty RoasterQuick comparison
- Best for
- Light-roast pour-over session
- Strengths
- Known for Specialty Roaster · Tbilisi
- Why it made the list
- OKRO is one of Tbilisi's newer in-house roasters, leaning toward lighter, fruitier roasts and a quieter cafe than the bigger-name Coffee LAB or Shavi.
- What to order
- A V60 of the lightest roast on the bar.
5Tsvari Roasters
Specialty RoasterQuick comparison
- Best for
- Hidden Chugureti roaster
- Strengths
- Known for Specialty Roaster · Tbilisi
- Why it made the list
- Tsvari is a small Chugureti roastery with a near-perfect rating from a tight following of local specialty drinkers — a hidden gem in Tbilisi's emerging coffee neighborhood.
- What to order
- Whatever they're brewing on aeropress today.
6Santino Modcoffeebar
International CoffeeQuick comparison
- Best for
- Italian-style espresso program
- Strengths
- Known for International Coffee · Tbilisi
- Why it made the list
- Santino brings an Italian-inflected espresso program and a more polished cafe-bar look to Tbilisi — the place locals take an out-of-town friend.
- What to order
- A cappuccino and a cornetto from the morning pastry case.
7Pulp
Specialty CafeQuick comparison
- Best for
- Vera digital-nomad work cafe
- Strengths
- Known for Specialty Cafe · Tbilisi
- Why it made the list
- Pulp is Vera's reliable digital-nomad cafe — solid specialty coffee, fast Wi-Fi, and laptop-friendly hours that make it one of the most-recommended work spots in town.
- What to order
- A flat white and one of the brunch plates if you're settling in for the morning.
8Daily Grind Coffee & More
Specialty CafeQuick comparison
- Best for
- Old Town third-wave stop
- Strengths
- Known for Specialty Cafe · Tbilisi
- Why it made the list
- Daily Grind serves third-wave coffee in a small Old Town storefront, useful for travelers who want something better than tourist-strip espresso while sightseeing.
- What to order
- A pour-over and a slice of whatever cake the counter has that morning.
9Café Leila
Heritage CafeQuick comparison
- Best for
- Heritage cafe with Turkish coffee
- Strengths
- Known for Heritage Cafe · Tbilisi
- Why it made the list
- Cafe Leila is the heritage/Persian-room option — coffee is secondary to the painted-tile interior and the all-day mezze menu.
- What to order
- A Turkish coffee and a piece of baklava; pair with the eggplant-walnut roll if it's mealtime.
10Prospero's Books & Caliban's Coffee
Bookshop CafeQuick comparison
- Best for
- Bookshop courtyard cafe
- Strengths
- Known for Bookshop Cafe · Tbilisi
- Why it made the list
- Prospero's is the English-language bookshop on Rustaveli with a courtyard cafe — Tbilisi's classic 'reading and a cappuccino' spot for over two decades.
- What to order
- A cappuccino and a paperback off the table by the window.
11No More Mondays
Specialty CafeQuick comparison
- Best for
- Locals-only Vera specialty pour
- Strengths
- Known for Specialty Cafe · Tbilisi
- Why it made the list
- No More Mondays is a small Vera-area third-wave cafe whose tight rotation and very high ratings make it a regulars' shop more than a tourist one.
- What to order
- An espresso tonic on a hot day, or whatever the brew bar is featuring.
12Plant Lovers
Specialty CafeQuick comparison
- Best for
- Plant-based specialty cafe
- Strengths
- Known for Specialty Cafe · Tbilisi
- Why it made the list
- Plant Lovers is a vegan/plant-forward cafe on Rustaveli that takes its specialty coffee seriously — useful for travelers who want a non-dairy menu and a real flat white.
- What to order
- An oat-milk cortado and a slice of the avocado toast.
Frequently asked questions
Is Tbilisi good for specialty coffee?
Yes — Tbilisi has one of the fastest-growing specialty coffee scenes in the Caucasus. In the past few years, dozens of third-wave roasters and cafes have opened, many roasting their own beans in-house. Places like Coffee LAB, Shavi Coffee Roasters, and OKRO Coffee Roastery rival top European specialty shops. The city is increasingly popular with digital nomads, which has further accelerated the cafe boom.
How much does coffee cost in Tbilisi?
A cappuccino at a specialty cafe in Tbilisi typically costs 7–12 GEL ($2.50–$4.50 USD). Pour-overs and single-origin coffees may run 10–16 GEL. Compared to Western European or US specialty cafes, Tbilisi is extremely affordable — you can get world-class coffee for under $4.
Can I work from cafes in Tbilisi?
Absolutely. Tbilisi is one of the most popular digital nomad destinations in the region, and many cafes are laptop-friendly. Coffee LAB (Saburtalo branch) has power outlets at every table, Lui Coffee is open 24 hours, and Pulp is known as a reliable coworking-friendly spot. Note that some places like Shavi have no-laptop policies after 11am.
Which Tbilisi neighborhoods have the best coffee?
Vera and Vake are the epicenter of Tbilisi's specialty coffee scene, with Coffee LAB, Shavi, OKRO, and Pulp all located nearby. Sololaki and the Old Town have great options like Daily Grind and Café Leila. Chugureti (around Marjanishvili) is an emerging neighborhood with Tsvari Roasters and the newest Shavi branch. Rustaveli Avenue has Prospero's Books for a classic bookshop-cafe experience.
Do Tbilisi coffee shops roast their own beans?
Several do. Coffee LAB was one of the first to roast in-house and now supplies many other cafes around the city. Shavi Coffee Roasters has a dedicated garage roastery in Sololaki. OKRO, Tsvari, and newer entrants all roast onsite. You can buy freshly roasted beans to take home at most of these spots.
What is Georgian coffee culture like?
Georgia has a long tradition of Turkish-style coffee and instant Nescafé, but the specialty coffee scene is relatively new — most serious cafes opened after 2018. Tbilisi's coffee culture now blends European third-wave sensibility with a distinctly Georgian social atmosphere. Cafes serve as gathering spots, and many double as wine bars in the evening. Expect a relaxed, unhurried vibe — Georgians take their time over coffee.
Is Tbilisi safe for tourists visiting cafes?
Yes, Tbilisi is very safe for tourists. The central neighborhoods where most cafes are located — Vera, Vake, Sololaki, and the Old Town — are walkable and well-lit. Locals are famously hospitable. Petty theft is rare, and violent crime is very low. You can comfortably cafe-hop on foot without concern.