When the chef Meriko Gubeladze opened Shavi Lomi, she recalled that Tbilisi was “starving for small, homey restaurants with good food.” That was 2011, and the quality of Georgian cuisine — known for its lavish use of spices and aromatic herbs influenced by travelers along the Silk Road — wasn’t the problem, but the uninviting establishments and menu selections — hangovers from the cookie-cutter days of the Soviet era — were. Artery-clogging khachapuri, the cheesy bread often likened to pizza, still tempted.

Shavi Lomi was one of the very first restaurants to offer traditional cuisine with a modern twist. This cozy venue is adorned with vintage tableware, old carpets, and utensils Georgians used dozens of decades ago in their household. If you’d like to taste a bit of everything from local cuisine, order Gobi—a big plate of various Georgian pkhali, mchadi (cornbread), pickles, and cheese.

At Shavi Lomi, white-linen cloths and chandeliers are replaced by car-boot-sale furniture and flea-market china, meaning an evening at this inconspicuous little restaurant is an experience akin to eating at your best friend’s house (albeit if they were an award-winning chef). Opened by a local celebrity chef and three of her friends, what was once a secret kept among Tbilisi’s in-the-know has become a culinary hotspot, making its 10 tables some of the most covetable seats in the city. The cellar restaurant pays homage to Georgia’s beloved artist, Niko Pirosmani, renowned for his plentiful, hearty feasting scenes, appropriately plating up meals to match.

It is an amazing restaurant hidden in a big house, in a non-touristy part of the city. They are serving new and traditional Georgian cuisine cooked with great quality products,” explains Chasserot of what can only be described as a truly hidden gem, filled with candles and furniture that doesn’t match. Designer Tamara Kopaliani also lists the restaurant at the Stamba Hotel, which has everything from a casino and a coffee shop, to a cocktail lounge and a rooftop pool, hoiused in a seriously beautiful former publishing house, as one of her favourite places, while The Kitchen and Keto & Kote rank high on her list when it comes to traditional Georgian food.

Serving traditional Georgian meals with a modern twist, Shavi Lomi or the Black lion in English, is your next port of call when looking for the best places to eat out in Tbilisi. Paying homage to one of the country’s favourite artists, Niko Pirosmani, the cellar restaurant is decked out in flea-market furniture, interesting table cloths and unique china. Since its opening in 2011, the eatery has earned a reputation for plating up never before seen dishes like green grits, massive wooden bowls filled with appetisers and khachapuris (cheese filled bread).

This is another wonderful Tbilisi restaurant, with both indoor and outdoor seating in an old Georgian home in the Marjanishvili neighbourhood. You won’t find a sign, but a black lion painted on the side of a brick building – Shavi Lomi means ‘black lion’ in Georgian. On the menu, you’ll find a selection of Georgian favourites, including the ubiquitous khachapuri (also available with beans instead of cheese), a sharing platter with pkhali (walnut dips) and pickled vegetables, and a delicious shkmeruli, chicken in garlic and cream sauce.

Georgia’s greatest gift to plant-based cooking is pkhali, the family of colorful vegetable spreads made with everything from spinach to leeks to beets to carrots. If it’s kicking around your vegetable drawer, you can probably pkhali [verb] it. At Shavi Lomi, a candlelit Tbilisi institution where the floorboards creak and cats roam the courtyard, you get the full pkhali experience: multiple spreads rainbowed alongside one another, plus all the traditional accoutrements (cheese, corncakes, and pickled bladdernut blossoms called jonjoli).

Shavi Lomi (or Black Lion), which is named after the famous painting of the same name by Georgian painter Niko Pirosmani, is housed in a historic building with dining tables positioned in a light-filled dining room, beneath the basement’s sweeping arches and in the adjoining garden. When the well-known chef Meriko Gubeladze opened this restaurant in 2011, her approach to reinterpreting classic Georgian dishes began what is now a widespread culinary trend of modernising traditional Georgian recipes.

For the best kinkali (dumplings) and khachapuri (Georgian cheese bread) in town, Café Daphne is a must, while Shavi Lomi (The Black Lion) in Sololaki specialises in modern local dishes, served in a magical garden. Chocolaterie Artisan’s hot chocolate – so thick the spoon stands up – is without a doubt the most decadent hot drink you’ll ever sample, while Chocotella is where to head for exquisite gift boxes of handmade chocolate jewels that look too pretty to eat.

Shavi Lomi is an institution within Tbilisi and a favorite among both locals and tourists seeking authentic Georgian cuisine with a modern twist. Nestled in the quaint district of Old Tbilisi, Shavi Lomi offers a charming garden setting and an interior filled with quirky antiques and art. It’s the perfect spot to sample reimagined Georgian classics, such as their famous ajapsandali (vegetable stew) or chakapuli (lamb stew seasoned with tarragon and plum sauce).

There’s no denying that Shavi Lomi serves great food in one of the quirkiest and uniquely retro Tbilisi settings one can find in the city. Chock full of Tbilisi antiques and a vintage-chic feel without being pretentious, the decor magnifies rather than distracts from the food. The dishes are consistently good, drawing various CB contributors back again and again over the years, following the restaurant across the river once it shifted to a new location.

If you're looking for an authentic Georgian dining experience, look no further than Shavi Lomi in Tbilisi. This restaurant offers some of the best Georgian food around, with a menu that's packed full of traditional dishes and modern twists on old favorites. At Shavi Lomi, you'll find dishes like khinkali (dumplings), khachapuri (cheese bread), and chakhokhbili (chicken stew) – all made using fresh, locally-sourced ingredients.

Shavi Lomi, or “Black Lion,” is a popular spot that redefines traditional Georgian cuisine with a modern twist. Nestled in a quiet street, it offers a cozy and artsy ambiance that perfectly complements its innovative take on Georgian food. Here, you can enjoy classic dishes like khachapuri (cheese-filled bread) and khinkali (Georgian dumplings) prepared with fresh, local ingredients and presented in a contemporary style.

Imagine a Georgian house with a huge garden, which is a little hard to find in the back streets of the new city. At first, you say we came wrong, but when you open the door, you are shocked by the wonderful ambiance that appears before you. The decoration of the house and the originality of the plates on which the food service is served, almost open the doors for another experiment in Shavi Lomi.

A hidden gem in Tbilisi, Shavi Lomi is a fusion of art, culture, and gastronomy. Set in a colorful, eclectic garden, the restaurant offers a relaxed atmosphere and a creative menu that merges local ingredients with international inspiration. Embark on a culinary expedition through Tbilisi’s finest restaurants, and you’ll uncover the vibrant flavors that make this city a true gastronomic paradise.

Shavi Lomi specialises in interesting contemporary versions of many Georgian classic dishes. From taking the big heavy staple khachapuri (Cheese stuffed flat bread) and turning it into a lighter version stuffed with almost impossible to find aged cheese from the mountains. To the best phkali dips (different veg, like spinach, red peppers, beetroot, blended with traditional walnut paste).

If you’re looking for something special, make sure to check out restaurants such as Café Stamba (best acharuli khachapuri), Keto & Kote (beautiful setting with amazing views), Café Littera (nouveau Georgian cuisine in a beautiful mansion with garden), Shavi Lomi (Georgian fusion), Ezo (young restaurant that also organises food tours) or Chveni (try their Georgian croquettes!).

Black Lion (Shavi Lomi) is the one you’ll come across most often. They’ve only got two actual locations (a restaurant around the Marjanishvili area and a bar in Saburtalo), but their large swing-top bottles have become a staple at any vaguely hip restaurant or bar. You’ll typically have a choice between an IPA, APA, Hoppy Pilsner, or Black style, and they’re all fairly good!

One of the best restaurants in Tifls, Shavi Lomi (Black Lion), is located in the upper neighborhoods of Old Tbilisi. They used different types of old tables, lamps, and chairs to make the interior, which blends traditional and modern, attractive. Thanks to its fireplace during the winter months, and thanks to its garden, it is very popular in the summer months.

O Moda Moda–a nineteenth-century townhouse turned bar/restaurant/vintage clothing store–is marked only by some subtle Georgian script on what looks like a residential door; Sophia Melnikova’s Fantastic Douqan is hidden in the courtyard of the city’s Literature Museum; and Shavi Lomi (Black Lion) is denoted only by what looks like graffiti of the titular beast.

As we walked down a quiet backstreet to find the Georgian fusion restaurant, Shavi Lomi, we thought Google Maps must have led us astray. We ended up in front of a large graffiti-laden steel door. We opened it thinking we must be in the wrong place, but to our surprise, we were greeted by a large courtyard filled with greenery and dining tables.

Georgian for “Black Lion”, Shavi Lomi is famous among locals and tourists for putting a modern spin on ancient Georgian dishes. Everything on the menu is excellent, but they are great at bozbashi. The charming and eccentric atmosphere combined with a great wine list, and famous Black Lion beer makes for a memorable and delicious dinner.

Translated as Black Lion in English, it is one of the favorite Georgian restaurants in Tbilisi for many locals and foreigners. Their modern twist on local traditional Georgian cuisine is the key to their success and popularity. I have been here several times, and they always maintain their standards and service.

Shavi Lomi is nowadays one of the best Georgian restaurants in Tbilisi. Located in a large house near Chugureti district, this place is not easy to find if you’re not familiar with the area. As you come in, there’s a large garden with plants and large trees, where you’ll find plenty of tables.

Shavi Lomi is a popular restaurant in Tbilisi that offers a modern twist on traditional Georgian cuisine. The restaurant’s atmosphere is cozy and intimate, with exposed brick walls and flickering candlelight. Some of the must-try dishes at Shavi Lomi include the khinkali and the chakapuli.

Beautiful restaurant with moody indoor and patio seating and some of the best service we had dining in Tbilisi. The menu is elevated Georgian style, a little pricier than most similar restaurants but worthwhile nonetheless for the delectable flavors and pleasant, intimate environment.

Shavi Lomi (Black Lion) presents a certain naïve, simple, but conceptual cuisine; an interesting correlation of spices and taste arranged on your plate: green millet, vegetarian stew, kohlrabi sauce. Chef Meriko Gubeladze adds color to the Georgian cuisine.

Shavi Lomi means Black Lion, which is a favorite among locals who love traditional Georgian food with a modern twist. It is located on a quiet street. They have transformed a rustic house into a restaurant with a lovely garden and artistic decor inside.

Shavi Lomi is another Georgian restaurant with modern twist. "Shavi Lomi" means black lion in Georgian, inspiration of the name is painting of famous Georgian artist Niko Phirosmani. You will see this painting in the entrance of the restaurant.

Description: If you want to admire Georgian dishes in a creative presentation and at the same time study the interior details in the spirit of an old Georgian mansion, Shavi Lomi restaurant will give you a lot of interesting impressions.

Shavi Lomi is one of the most interesting restaurants we visited in Tbilisi. It’s a bit out of town, but still really worths the extra effort. Shavi Lomi means “black lion”, like the one they have painted in the outside of the building.

If you're thinking, as we said, Khasheria, Sormoni, Shavi Lomi, Salobie Bia, those sorts of places. Yes, they do do traditional food, but they've just got a little bit of a modern twist and we felt that they deserve their own episode.

She spent five years working at La Palapa, in the East Village, before returning to Tbilisi to open Shavi Lomi, a beloved modern Georgian restaurant where she once stuffed lavash bread with cheese and called it a “khachapurito.

Afterward, enjoy a gourmet dinner at Shavi Lomi, known for its elegant ambiance and innovative Georgian dishes. End your day with a leisurely walk along the Kura River, taking in the beautiful views of the city.

Shavi Lomi or ‘Black Lion’ is one of Tbilisi’s most talked-about eateries. It’s not necessarily my favourite restaurant – I prefer the team’s new venue, Ninia’s Garden – but it’s still very popular.

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account. ცოტა ნაწყენი ვარ, ბოლო დროს ინსტაგრამული ფოტოები რომ მომაკელით. Foodhiker's Guide to Tbilisi

Shavi Lomi is the eponymous restaurant of Georgias best-known craft brewery and has been instrumental in transforming Tbilisis culinary scene in the past decade.

Shavi Lomi Murals: You will find these quirky cat and phone booth murals tucked all over corners of Old Tbilisi. My personal favourite!