In Tbilisi, the Holy Trinity isn't just an orthodox religious concept. If you aren't eating the trio of flour, cheese, or walnuts, you’re in another country. Forget the touristy restaurants of Shardeni Street; this Tbilisi food tour is the real deal. A stone’s throw from the Old Town, we cut through the noise and lead you directly to the atmospheric backstreets, within hidden courtyards and historic taverns. Our evening tour of 12+ tastings invites guests on a culinary experience around old Tbilisi led by our team of professional foodie guides. Before we get started, our tour reflects the local cuisine and the limitations of street food vendors means we unfortunately cannot cater for every dietary restriction. Here's an honest appraisal for the tour so no-one is disappointed: ✖️ Gluten intolerance diets have 5-6 less tastings due to limited alternatives. ✖️ Unsuitable for severe allergies, halal and celiac diets due to risk of traces and cross-contamination.

Start with a refreshing glass of electric-green tarragon lagidzis soda, paired with the boat-shaped khachapuri bread and a molten pool of cheese that requires its own set of eating instructions. Stop by a local store for sun-dried persimmon, before eyeing up churchkhela - grape and nut-filled candies that hang from the rafters like edible candles. Duck into Shale’s Colorful Yard, an Italianate courtyard adorned with street art murals, nearby to a ‘Batcave’ bakery whose subterranean workshop reveals shoti long bread slapped against the walls of a traditional Tone oven.

Our evening edition is an intimate look at the city through the lens of 12+ tastings. We won’t spoil all the surprises but the small group cap of just eight exclusive guests means we can squeeze into the smaller spots that larger tours simply can’t reach. Tucked away from the bustle of Rustaveli Street, is a legendary khinkali house, serving the national soup dumpling. There’s urban kalakuri, fat with meat and herbs, next to the earthy forest-floor punch of the soko mushroom variety. Next we visit food hero Inga, a former teacher of mathematics, who decided the kitchen was more interesting than the classroom. Near Liberty Square, she cooks up a Georgian vegetable ragout alongside crusty corn bread - a lesson in flavour that requires no equations.

The finale is part restaurant, part archaeological dig. While this house was being restored, the floor gave up its secrets: a 300-year-old stone kiln and ceramics spanning six centuries. Work your fork upstairs over silky eggplant rolls with walnut paste, and colourful pkhali spreads seasoned with khmeli suneli, the essential all-spice blend of blue fenugreek, coriander, and marigold. Tuck into shkmeruli, a comforting garlicky chicken bathed in milk sauce, Then spoon-dive into home-made fruit crumble, crafted from grandmother's guarded recipe. Whilst it's possible to attempt such a culinary marathon alone, you’d be hard-pressed to find these local eateries without joining our moveable feast. Let us show you why Tbilisi is the heavyweight food city of the Caucasus. It pays to have a local guide - your personal tamada toastmaster - to show you true Georgian hospitality. Come hungry.