Eat · Rustaveli Avenue & Kashveti
Café Stambaკაფე სტამბა
A modern Georgian dinner in a former printing house with a courtyard: book for evenings; a taxi from Rustaveli takes ten minutes.
Key facts
- Per person
- GEL 40–75
- Georgian
- Hours
- unknown
- see note below
- Walk in
- weekday lunch
- easiest window
- Seating
- chairs
- booking: true
- Card
- yes
- Getting there
- Taxi or ride-hailing car from Rustaveli; or a 25-minute walk
- 25 min walk
Go now?
Open?
Breakfast to late dinner; confirm the day before
Busy this hour
Estimate by hour below
Easiest walk-in
weekday lunch
Reservations
Reserve ahead
Paying
Cards taken
Per person
GEL 40–752026 estimate · check
- Former printing house
- Courtyard tables
- Book evenings
- Order: Modern Georgian and international
- Walk-in window: weekday lunch
- Queue risk: dinner
- Vegetarian options
- Menu with prices on Voykit
Highlights come from Voykit's own data and desk notes, not from reviews. Hover a tag to see its source.
Rules in force · 9The Armenia–Azerbaijan and Armenia–Türkiye land borders a…Georgia treats entry to Abkhazia or South Ossetia from Ru…Do not plan travel to Abkhazia or South OssetiaOld-town slopes and stairs in Sololaki and Abanotubani st…
- Caucasus ↗The Armenia–Azerbaijan and Armenia–Türkiye land borders are closed; any route that crosses them is not a route, however short it looks.
- Caucasus ↗Georgia treats entry to Abkhazia or South Ossetia from Russia as illegal; entering that way can mean arrest or a ban when you next reach Georgia proper.
- Georgia ↗Many passports enter visa-free for a long stay; if yours needs a visa, apply only on the official e-visa portal.
- Georgia ↗Do not plan travel to Abkhazia or South Ossetia: crossing their boundary lines from Georgian-controlled land is treated as illegal entry, and many governments advise against it.
- Georgia ↗In Orthodox churches women cover their heads and shoulders and wear a skirt or a wrap; men remove hats and avoid shorts.
- Georgia ↗Carry Georgian lari in small notes for minibuses, markets and the metro card; cards work in most Tbilisi cafés and shops but not everywhere outside the capital.
- Kartli ↗Minibuses (marshrutkas) have little space for large bags: leave the big bag at the Tbilisi hotel and take a day pack.
- Tbilisi ↗Old-town slopes and stairs in Sololaki and Abanotubani stop suitcases: bags go from the car to the door, never on a walk.
- Tbilisi ↗Buy a Metromoney card at a metro station and load it with lari; the metro, buses and the cable car take the same card.
Map & directions
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Plan
When you can walk in, what to order, how to pay
Walk-in windows
A walk-in lunch is only planned as primary when your arrival lands outside the “impossible” window.
When to go, hour by hour
Quietest listed hour: 09:00 (light).
- 09:00lightlittle or no wait
- 10:00busya short wait is possible
- 12:00busya short wait is possible
- 13:00busya short wait is possible
- 14:00lightlittle or no wait
- 18:00busya short wait is possible
- 19:00heavyexpect a line
- 20:00packedexpect a long linePeak
- 21:00heavyexpect a line
- 22:00busya short wait is possible
Desk estimate of crowd on a weekday; weekends and holidays run one level higher. Not live data. No line length is on file, so waits are in words.
How to order here
The order of play at the counter or table, what to say, how much to order and how to pay.
- 1Book for dinner; walk in for a late breakfast or coffee.
- 2Ask a server to pair Georgian wines with the dishes.
No shared language? Tap dishes in the order builder below and show the waiter the full-screen list in the local script. For a printed menu, translate a photo of it.
What to say
| In English | Say or show | Sounds like |
|---|---|---|
| How much is it? | რა ღირს? | rah GHEERS |
| The bill, please | ანგარიში, გთხოვთ | ahn-gah-REE-shee, GTKHOVT |
| Hello | გამარჯობა | gah-mar-JOH-bah |
| Thank you | მადლობა | mahd-LOH-bah |
| Delicious! | გემრიელია! | gem-ree-EH-lee-ah |
Portions and sharing
- Ask for the seasonal menu and share plates.
- Cheese khachapuri: Share it.
Extras, condiments and what costs extra
- Service charge: Added 10% automatically — Check the bill before adding a tip.
Paying and tipping
Service is usually on the bill already; unlike in the US, don't add 15–20% on top.
- Check whether the 10% service is on the bill.
- Service may be added; check.
- Cards accepted; service may be added.
- Tipping: About 10%; check whether service is already on the bill.
- Ask if the 10% service is already on the bill before you tip.
At the table
- Georgian food is for sharing: order a few dishes for the table and let them arrive together.
- Bread comes free at many places, but check: some restaurants charge per basket.
Price and paying
- Typical spend
- ₾40–75 per person (2026 estimate, check)
Paying
Always accepted; keep lari for small places.
Cards and contactless work at most sit-down places (check small ones).
Not used for food.
Some places take mobile pay; carry a card as backup.
Diet and allergies
Yes means there is something for you; ask means possible with care; no means go elsewhere.
- Vegetarianyes
Georgian food has many vegetable dishes: pkhali, badrijani, lobio, mushrooms, cheese breads.
Show: ხორცის გარეშე, გთხოვთ (KHOR-tsis GA-resh, gt-KHOVT): without meat, please.
- Veganask
Possible with pkhali, lobio and salads; cheese and egg are in many breads.
- Halalno
Pork is common and there is no halal certification; ask about each dish.
- Gluten-freeask
Bread and dumplings are wheat; grilled meat, salads and lobio are safer. Ask.
Show: ხორბლის გარეშე, გთხოვთ (KHOR-blis GA-resh, gt-KHOVT): without wheat, please.
- Nut allergyask
Walnuts are in many sauces and starters (satsivi, pkhali, badrijani): tell staff before you order.
Show: ნიგვზის გარეშე, გთხოვთ (NIG-vzis GA-resh, gt-KHOVT): without walnuts, please.
What is in the dishes
- Cheese khachapuriხაჭაპურიdairy
- Grilled main courseცეცხლზე შემწვარიfish
Read from the menu names and notes; recipes vary and cross-contact is not tested. Check with the kitchen.
Who it suits, booking, closures
- How to book
- Phone or online (check).
- How far ahead
- 1–3 days for dinner
- No-show / cancel fee
- Ask at booking.
- Dress code
- Casual to smart casual.
| When | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Public holidays | check before you go | Hours change; confirm the day before. |
On the ground
Hygiene and comfort
- Restrooms
- Restroom on site · accessible restroom: check
- Seating
- Chairs at tables
- Kids
- kids' menu: ask · stroller: check · Lunch works better with kids
- Access
- step-free: check · A converted building: ask about steps
Hygiene
- Standards are high in a busy restaurant.
Facts
- Reservations
- Taken — Book ahead for dinner and weekend brunch; walk-ins possible at quiet hours (check).
- Capabilities
- food · toilet
- Getting there
- Taxi or ride-hailing car from Rustaveli; or a 25-minute walk · ~25 min walk
Cons
- Popular with visitors: evenings fill.
- Slightly out of the old town: use a taxi.
- Prices are above the city average.
Ordering helpDish glossary · Price check
Dish glossary
| On the menu | What it is | Order it how |
|---|---|---|
| Khachapuri (ხაჭაპური) | Cheese-filled bread. | Shared as a starter. |
| Lobio (ლობიო) | Bean stew in a clay pot. | A vegan-friendly side. |
| Ajika (აჯიკა) | A spicy red pepper paste. | Ask for it on the side. |
| Mtsvadi (მწვადი) | Skewered grilled meat. | A main dish. |
Price check
- locals pay
- Mains are ₾25–45 (2026 estimate).
- tourist price
- Cocktails and wine by the glass raise the bill.
- rule
- Service may be added; check.
| Extra on the table | Typical charge | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Service charge | Added 10% automatically | Check the bill before adding a tip. |
Deep dive
Questions, nearby food and sources
Questions and answers
Do I need to book?
Yes for dinner and weekends.
What is the food?
Modern Georgian and international dishes.
Where is it?
In the Vera district, west of Rustaveli; take a taxi.
How much does it cost?
About ₾40–75 per person (2026 estimate).
Is it good for vegetarians?
Yes.
All places to eat in Tbilisi, with filters →
Nearby
Straight-line distance; walk time adds 30% for streets.
Used as a seated rest node in Tbilisi in 4 days.
Sources
- secondaryWikivoyage — Tbilisi (eat)
- officialGeorgian National Tourism Administration