Summer in Tbilisi is hot! Our colourful city feels like it’s melting sometimes, I have to admit. Out of everyone I know living here, only my Thai friend Lili enjoys it. According to her, a summer evening in Tbilisi feels like winter in Bangkok. The rest of us dream about cool water and ice-cold lemonade – not the factory-made ones, but real homemade lemonade. I have a couple of tips for you to help you cool down in Tbilisi this summer.
1. Acid Bar – Leonidze str. 9/1
I drink their lemonade even in winter – it’s full of vitamins! It’s made with lemon and tarragon, which are real Georgian classics. Don’t confuse it with the spinach soup in the picture! By the way, the soup is also delicious.
2. Cafe Le Toit – Kote Aphkhazi 22
Located on the corner of Kote Aphkhazi (Leselidze) and Anton Katolikosi streets, this café is stylishly decorated with old porcelain statuettes, thin lace curtains, mismatched chairs on the balcony… It’s a really nice place to enjoy your lemonade in the summer!
3. Cafe Gabriadze – Shavteli Str. 13
Situated near the famous Marionette Theatre, this famous café serves transparent ice-cold lemonade made with lemons and tarragon. I also recommend the matsoni (similar to yogurt) soup in hot weather. If you like dairy products, you’ll definitely enjoy it.
4. Sofia Melnikova’s Fantastic Doucan – Tabukashvili Str.
This is one of my favourite spots in Tbilisi, located in the yard of the Literature Museum. I could drink at least one litre of their lemonade, no joke! It’s so refreshing, with fresh minced tarragon, mint, lemons and ice. By the way, they also have a great summer soup – yogurt based okroshka, Russian style.
5. Iveria
Don’t confuse it with the Radisson Blu Iveria Hotel! This café is located almost next to it, near the bicycle sculpture. Their lemonade is very light and tasty, and their cookies are very delicious and quite big.
6. Factory 27 – Zandukeli 27
I love this place. It reminds me of Berlin. They have a wide range of lemonades on offer. If you’re fed up with lemon, try the strawberry!
7. O, Moda, Moda! – Barnovi 68
This is another great summer spot. It’s so pleasant to sit in the yard in one of the round armchairs and drink ice-cold beverages in the shade of jasmine bushes!
Bonus tip 1
At the beginning of this post I mentioned that factory-made lemonades don’t really fit into my picture of a perfect summer. Lagidze Waters are an exception! Both children and adults love them, especially the chocolate and vanilla flavours. If you visit Tbilisi and want to try something truly local, be sure to try Lagidze lemonades.
You can taste them at the café in the yard of Sameba Cathedral (open until 18:00) and at Rhea’s Squirrels opposite the funicular building. Otherwise you can take the funicular up to Mtatsminda and enjoy Lagidze lemonade and local doughnuts at the restaurant Puri Guliani. It’s a very Tbilisi thing to do!
Bonus tip 2
If you happen to visit the Tbilisi Flea Market (not the one near Dry Bridge, but an event that takes place once or twice a month in Dedaena Park), try to find a place selling a wonderful drink called Meoba. It has a white wine base, but there’s another mysterious ingredient that the creator keeps secret. Currently you can meet the creator in the bar of the Rooms Hotel Tbilisi. If you stop by to taste it, say hello for me!
For more local recommendations read:
What locals like to do in Tbilisi
Where locals like to eat in Tbilisi
Where locals like to party in Tbilisi
Special tip: For a more authentic Tbilisi experience, get the Like A Local mobile app
Living by the motto “have love, will travel”, Ukrainian-born Daria moved to Tbilisi after falling head over heels for the city when visiting friends. She enjoys both the feelings of wanderlust and homesickness, and tries to keep them balanced.