By Mariam Lomidze, Culture & Events Reporter · 06/11/2026
- Expect a casual, European-style menu and a bar-and-music atmosphere, not a formal or strictly Georgian dining experience.
- It's a convenient base for exploring Avlabari, Metekhi Church, Narikala and Abanotubani on foot, with central Tbilisi a short ride away.
- Best suited to travellers who enjoy a lively, sociable room rather than those seeking a quiet or intimate setting.
As temperatures drop and the city’s outdoor terraces grow quieter, Tbilisi’s indoor gathering spots come into their own. Craft House, on Telavi Street in Avlabari, is one such address: a bright, airy gastronomy venue that functions as both restaurant and sports-and-music bar, serving European cuisine to a mixed crowd of residents, hotel guests and travellers passing through the right bank of the Mtkvari.
The location is part of the appeal. Avlabari sits directly across the river from Tbilisi’s oldest quarters, and the walk from Craft House takes in some of the city’s defining views — Metekhi Church perched on its cliff, the rooftops of the Old Town below, Narikala Fortress on the ridge beyond, and the lanes of Abanotubani with their sulfur bathhouses tucked into the hillside. For anyone staying nearby, including guests of the Sheraton Grand Tbilisi Metechi Palace, the venue offers a straightforward, unfussy place to eat without having to cross the river first.
Who it suits
Craft House is built for relaxed, sociable dining rather than formal occasions. It suits travellers who want a casual meal paired with something on screen or in the air — a match, some music, a bit of background energy — rather than a hushed fine-dining room. European dishes and a burger-and-beer reputation make it a comfortable stop for groups, couples unwinding after a day of sightseeing, or solo travellers who prefer a lively room to an empty one. It is less suited to those seeking quiet, intimate conversation or a strictly Georgian culinary experience, since the menu leans European rather than regional.
In November, with shorter days and cooler evenings, an indoor venue with a terrace overlooking the old city works well as a midday refuelling stop or an early dinner before the light fades over the river.
Getting there is simple: Avlabari is well connected to central Tbilisi, and Freedom Square and Rustaveli Avenue are a short walk or taxi ride away, making Craft House easy to combine with a day of shopping, museum visits or a riverside stroll. Pair a meal here with an afternoon crossing the Metekhi bridge into the Old Town, a climb or cable-car ride up to Narikala, and a soak or at least a look inside the Abanotubani bathhouses before heading back across the river as evening sets in.
Read more on gtour.ge: Tbilisi · Craft House — Gastronomy in Tbilisi, Georgia
Where to eat — a daily GTour desk feature drawn from the verified-place register and our destination guides. Not sponsored.
Source: Official website (marriott.com)
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Source: Official website (marriott.com). Reported by the GTour desk; updated 6 November 2026, 13:45 (Tbilisi).
