Restaurant Darbazi — Gastronomy in Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, Georgia

In short

Restaurant Darbazi is the in-house restaurant and bar of Paliani Hotel in Mestia, the main town of Upper (Zemo) Svaneti, in the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region of Georgia. The restaurant occupies a dining hall with a panoramic view and a summer terrace, and it serves a menu built around Georgian and Svanetian dishes. It sits at 13 Avtandil Khergiani Street, within the Paliani Hotel property.

The concept, the chef and the room

According to the restaurant, the name “Darbazi” refers to a Georgian convocation hall, traditionally a space where councils gathered to discuss important matters over food and wine. The hotel says that the building on this spot was originally an auxiliary structure that the current owner’s great-grandfather converted into a darbazi, and that the restaurant was named to recognise that history. The hotel itself was later built on the same family property in Mestia, developed by the current owner, a graduate in hospitality management from the École Hôtelière de Lausanne, on land inherited from her grandfather.

The restaurant describes its food as a blend of traditional Georgian and Svanetian cooking with contemporary technique, prepared with local ingredients by the restaurant’s own chefs. It positions itself, in its own words, as suited to everyday meals, family gatherings, celebratory dinners, and evening drinks, with a “lively, casual yet upscale” atmosphere. The dining space comprises an indoor hall described as spacious, plus a terrace for warmer months, both said to offer panoramic views over Mestia and the surrounding Svaneti mountains.

What to order

• Tashmjabi — a Svanetian dish of mashed potatoes blended with melted, stretching cheese, described by the restaurant as one of the most appetising items of Svanetian cuisine.
• Kubdari — a Svanetian stuffed bread filled with small, bite-sized chunks of meat.
• Letsvmari — a Svanetian wheat-and-cheese bread, which the restaurant suggests pairing with red wine.
• Imeruli Khachapuri — the classic thin Georgian cheese-filled bread.
• Megrelian Khachapuri — Samegrelo’s version of khachapuri.
• Shkmeruli — crispy roasted chicken served in a creamy garlic sauce.
• Ojakhuri — a home-style dish of fried pork and potatoes with garlic, chilli peppers and cilantro.
• Chicken with walnuts and Svanetian spices — walnut-crusted chicken seasoned with the region’s characteristic spice blend.
• Trout with walnut filling — whole trout stuffed with herbs and toasted walnuts, which the restaurant recommends with a glass of white wine.
• Soup kharcho — a beef soup in tomato broth with walnuts, spices and fresh herbs.
• Chikhirtma — a Georgian chicken and egg soup, described by the restaurant as a traditional hangover remedy.
• Beet pkhali — a cold vegetable pâté of beetroot mixed with ground walnuts, cilantro, garlic and spices.
• Eggplant rolls with walnut filling — roasted, thinly sliced eggplant rolled around a spiced walnut paste.
• Beans with Svanetian spices — a traditional bean dish served with cornbread and pickles.
• Mushrooms with sulguni cheese on clay pot — mushrooms baked with sulguni cheese in a traditional clay dish.

Menus, hours and prices

The restaurant’s published menu, as listed on the hotel’s own website, is organised into appetizers, salads, soups, main dishes and a bakery section covering Georgian and Svanetian breads such as khachapuri and kubdari. The website text does not publish opening hours or menu prices, so these details are not stated here. Guests who want current hours or pricing should confirm directly with the restaurant.

Reservations and practical details

Paliani Hotel lists a dedicated phone line for Restaurant Darbazi, separate from the hotel reception number, which can be used to enquire about tables or current service. No online reservation system, dress code or minimum spend is mentioned on the official pages reviewed.

Location and getting there

The restaurant is at 13 Avtandil Khergiani Street in Mestia, the administrative centre of Upper (Zemo) Svaneti and part of the wider Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region. The hotel’s own site states that Mestia lies 456 km from Tbilisi and sits at an altitude of around 1,500 metres above sea level. It describes the town as a starting point for excursions across the region, including walks to the glaciers below Mount Ushba, horseback riding through mountain pastures, and skiing in winter. As the restaurant operates within the Paliani Hotel building, visitors can reach it by following directions to the hotel address.

Good to know

• Restaurant Darbazi is part of Paliani Hotel, a family-run property in Mestia.
• The address is 13 Avtandil Khergiani Street, Mestia, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti.
• Seating is offered in an indoor dining hall and on a summer terrace.
• The restaurant has its own contact telephone line, distinct from hotel reception.
• The menu covers Georgian staples alongside Svanetian specialities such as tashmjabi, kubdari and letsvmari.
• No opening hours or prices are published on the official website text reviewed.
• Mestia sits at roughly 1,500 metres above sea level, 456 km from Tbilisi.
• The town is used as a base for glacier walks, horseback riding and winter skiing.

Questions travellers ask

Is Restaurant Darbazi inside a hotel or a standalone restaurant?

It operates inside Paliani Hotel in Mestia, sharing the same building and address, though it has its own restaurant phone line for guests and visitors who are not staying at the hotel.

What kind of food does the restaurant serve?

According to the restaurant, it serves Georgian cuisine with an emphasis on Svanetian specialities, including stuffed breads, mashed potato and cheese dishes, soups, salads and grilled and clay-pot mains, prepared from local ingredients.

Does the restaurant have outdoor seating?

Yes, the restaurant describes a summer terrace in addition to its indoor dining hall, both said to offer panoramic views over the surrounding area.

Why is it called Darbazi?

The name refers to a traditional Georgian convocation hall where councils discussed important matters over food and wine. The hotel says the building on this site was originally converted into such a hall by the current owner’s great-grandfather, and the restaurant was named to honour that history.

How do I book a table or ask about hours and prices?

The official website text does not list opening hours or prices. The hotel provides a separate telephone number for Restaurant Darbazi, which is the stated way to contact the restaurant directly for reservations or current details.

Sources

• Restaurant Darbazi — official website (paliani.ge)
• Restaurant Darbazi: About
• Restaurant Darbazi: Contact

Profiled in depth by the GTour desk on 28 October 2026 from the property’s official website; photographs are the property’s own, from its official website, credited under each image. Not sponsored; tell us if something has changed.