Shopping · Tbilisi · Georgia
Shopping in Tbilisi
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Gerd Eichmann, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Shopping in Tbilisi is best for wine, food, crafts and vintage finds. The Dry Bridge Market and small shops in the Old Town are the most interesting places to browse. Best souvenirs: Qvevri wine, Churchkhela and Cloisonné enamel jewellery.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 3
- Markets
- 2
- Top souvenir
- Qvevri wine
Where to shop
Old Tbilisi
Shops selling carpets, enamel jewellery, felt crafts, wine and souvenirs.
Rustaveli Avenue
Galleria Tbilisi mall and fashion shops along the main avenue.
Aghmashenebeli Avenue
Restored 19th-century buildings with shops, cafés and local brands.
Markets
Dry Bridge Market
Flea market of Soviet memorabilia, art and antiques, busiest on weekends.
Dezerter Bazaar
Main food market for cheese, spices, churchkhela and produce.
What to buy
Qvevri wine
Amber and red wines from small producers, best bought in specialist shops.
Churchkhela
Nut-and-grape snacks that travel well for a short time.
Cloisonné enamel jewellery
Traditional minankari enamel pieces with Georgian motifs.
Spices
Khmeli suneli spice blend and Svanetian salt from the markets.
Felt crafts
Handmade felt hats, slippers and decorations.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Street · Rustaveli and Mtatsminda
Rustaveli Avenue
Tbilisi's main avenue runs about 1.5 km from Freedom Square past the Parliament building, the Opera and Ballet Theatre, the Rustaveli Theatre, Kashveti Church and the National Museum.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Shopping
Market · Marjanishvili and Chugureti
Dry Bridge Market
Around the Dry Bridge and the adjoining park, sellers spread out Soviet medals, cameras, vinyl records, old jewellery, paintings and household oddments.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Off the beaten path
Market · Marjanishvili and Chugureti
Dezerter Bazaar
Tbilisi's main food market, near the central railway station, sells cheeses, spices, churchkhela, dried fruit, meat and produce from across Georgia.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Adjarian khachapuri, Churchkhela, Qvevri wine and Chacha. Khachapuri specialists and traditional restaurants across the city. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Sololaki | $$ | Grand 19th-century houses with painted entrance halls and quiet wine bars |
| Rustaveli and Mtatsminda | $$$ | The grand avenue of theatres, museums and big hotels below the TV tower |
| Vera | $$ | Leafy residential district of cafés, galleries and old houses |
| Vake | $$$ | Upmarket residential area with boutiques, restaurants and a big park |
| Marjanishvili and Chugureti | $ | Left-bank district of Fabrika, hostels and a restored 19th-century avenue |
| Avlabari | $ | Hilltop district around Holy Trinity Cathedral, with good-value guesthouses |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in GEL. Many restaurants add a 10–18% service charge; if not, leaving about 10% is customary. Round up taxi fares and tip guides and drivers on day trips.
- Buy wine from specialist shops or directly from producers rather than in tourist areas.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in February; the busiest months are September.
- January: Orthodox Christmas and Alilo processions (7 January)
- May: New Wine Festival — tastings from small producers (usually May)
- October: Tbilisoba — city festival with food, wine and music (usually October)
Staying near the shops
$$$ · Best for first-timers, luxury, shopping and culture
Rustaveli and Mtatsminda
The grand avenue of theatres, museums and big hotels below the TV tower
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Tbilisi?
Qvevri wine, Churchkhela, Cloisonné enamel jewellery and Spices.
+Where is the best shopping in Tbilisi?
Old Tbilisi: Shops selling carpets, enamel jewellery, felt crafts, wine and souvenirs.
+What are the best markets in Tbilisi?
Dry Bridge Market and Dezerter Bazaar.