
Salobie Bia
A hidden gem in Tbilisi, Salobie Bia offers a truly unique dining experience with traditional Georgian food in an art-filled basement setting.

Highlights
Must-see attractions
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Best Time
Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

Salobie Bia

Highlights
Must-see attractions
A hidden gem in Tbilisi, Salobie Bia offers a truly unique dining experience with traditional Georgian food in an art-filled basement setting.
"An underground hideaway filled with beans, art and delicious flavors – a must-visit for authentic Georgian cuisine."
Book in Advance
Reservations are advised, especially during high season, as the restaurant is popular with locals and tourists.
Try Signature Dishes
Don't miss the shkmeruli (garlic chicken) and lobiani (bean pastry) for an authentic taste.

Quick Facts
Cuisine
Georgian
Price
Mid-range
Phone
+995 551 92 77 22
Address
Rustaveli Theater, 17 Shota Rustaveli Ave, Tbilisi 0108, Georgia
Website
facebook.com/salobiebiaHighlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Authentic Georgian Cuisine
Experience traditional Georgian flavors in a unique setting, with a menu featuring classics like shkmeruli and kharcho.

Unique Art-Filled Ambiance
Dine in a basement setting that feels like an art gallery or museum, adorned with diverse art pieces and antique decor.

Shkmeruli Delight
Savor the renowned shkmeruli, chicken slow-baked in a rich blend of milk, garlic, and spices, a true taste of Georgia.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Book in Advance
Reservations are advised, especially during high season, as the restaurant is popular with locals and tourists.
Try Signature Dishes
Don't miss the shkmeruli (garlic chicken) and lobiani (bean pastry) for an authentic taste.
Explore the Ambiance
Embrace the unique, museum-like atmosphere; the entrance can be discreet, so look for the basement location.
Be Prepared for Portions
Generous portions are the norm; consider sharing dishes to sample more of the menu.
Tips
from all over the internet
Book in Advance
Reservations are advised, especially during high season, as the restaurant is popular with locals and tourists.
Try Signature Dishes
Don't miss the shkmeruli (garlic chicken) and lobiani (bean pastry) for an authentic taste.
Explore the Ambiance
Embrace the unique, museum-like atmosphere; the entrance can be discreet, so look for the basement location.
Be Prepared for Portions
Generous portions are the norm; consider sharing dishes to sample more of the menu.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Salobie Bia is praised for its unique, museum-like ambiance and its commitment to authentic Georgian cuisine, with generous portions and delicious flavors. However, some diners have noted issues with inconsistent food quality, with certain dishes being too salty or dry, and service can be inattentive at times.
"An underground restaurant with a not so obvious entrance. It feels like a museum or an art gallery when you first enter. Staff was really helpful and attentive, explained every item on the menu with patience and enthusiasm. Portions are big and extremely delicious. IPA was one of the best I've had in a while. Definitely worth a visit, loved it."
Burak Dogansoysal
"Very cool interior design. Love the food here! Bean in the pot with assorted pickles was my favourite. Duck soup is also good, can be a bit too salty for my taste."
赖雨青
"Really cool unique restaurant, underground but the ambience and decor doesn’t make it feel that way. Super interesting artwork and pieces to look at, and the food and wine is really really delicious - some of the best traditional Georgian food we’ve eaten here. On the pricier side per head, though we did slightly over order!!"
Alice R
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, the entrance is discreet as it's located in the basement of the Rustaveli Theater. It's described as feeling like you're heading to a gallery canteen.
The shkmeruli (garlic chicken) and lobiani (bean pastry) are highly recommended for an authentic Georgian culinary experience.
Yes, diners frequently mention that the portions are very generous, often enough to share between two people.
The setting is described as chill, not loud, and the art-filled ambiance can provide a relaxed or romantic atmosphere.
The restaurant has a unique, museum-like ambiance, filled with art pieces, old household items, and antiques, creating a cozy and creative space.
It's advisable to visit during off-peak hours for better service. Reservations are recommended, especially during high season.
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Best Tbilisi restaurant for: shkmeruliThis low-key, art-filled restaurant on Shota Rustaveli (one of the city’s main thoroughfares) lists only 20 dishes on the menu, but each and every one is prepared to perfection. Highlights include the famed garlic-laden Georgian dish shkmeruli that sees chicken slow-baked in a mixture of milk, garlic and a blend of aromatic, nutty spices. With the chicken skin suitably charred, the dish arrives surrounded by the flavoursome juices in which it's been cooked, ready to be mopped up with the freshly-baked traditional Georgian bread known as shotis puri; if ever there was a dish to soothe the soul, this is it.
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SalobieBia | Tbilisi "Beans and Art, an Underground Hideaway with Delicious Taste" — Enjoy Georgian cuisine in a museum-like space decorated with old posters and paintings — Located in the basement of the Rustaveli Theater, this restaurant has great value for money and an artistic atmosphere, but you can relax and enjoy it without having to worry. ⸻ 📍Location 17 Shota Rustaveli Boulevard, a hidden location down the stairs in the basement of the theater  . 🕰️Visiting Time Open from 12:00 to 23:00, you can relax in the afternoon and enjoy the atmosphere of the art space in the evening.
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Kharcho, a meat stew spiked with Georgia’s favorite chile condiment, ajika, is such a crowd-pleaser that it was adopted by cooks across the former Soviet Union, where it remains a mainstay from St. Petersburg to Samarkand. Some kharchos are brothy and flecked with rice, while others, like my favorite rendition served at Salobie Bia, are ultra-thick and all about the ground walnuts and spices. In a basement dining room beneath Rustaveli Avenue, Tbilisi’s maple-lined main artery, Chef Giorgi Iosava spoons the braise over creamed foxtail millet akin to polenta.
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With ongoing daily protests, many downtown eateries such as Salobie Bia, Cafe Daphna, 8000 Vintages, and others close to the Parliament have opened their doors to protestors to make use of their facilities to seek shelter from tear gas and arrests, and to refuel and recoup. This hasn’t stopped these places from serving great food as well, and as a homage to their service to both palate and countrymen, we’ve revisited some which we wholeheartedly believe deserve their place in our best bites of the year.
Where to eat in Tbilisi
Located in the basement of the Rustaveli theatre, local cuisine with no-frills but excellent food and generous portions (this is where the locals would take you!), the knight armour sitting next to modern paintings is an interesting addition, but somehow works. In high season, I would advise calling ahead of time to make a booking as most of these restaurants are incredibly popular – even on weekdays!
რესტორნები - Gault&Millau
Beans are popular countrywide in Georgia and feature in numerous different dishes. Bia offers the most delicious options, coming from a chef who truly understands the art of the bean. The simple and original interior provides a calm backdrop to your culinary adventure, as here you can taste forgotten and revived traditions, such as millet ‘tsulspira,’ used in Georgia before beans became popular.
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This spot is an old favourite and one of the first places I was taken to when I arrived in Tbilisi in 2017. It’s set beneath Rustaveli Theatre, and it is easy to miss the entrance; you might feel like you’re heading to a gallery canteen. But, once you’re there, the owner’s wonderful collection of art, mosaic and antiques makes you feel like you're dining in a private atelier.
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Down the steps from Rustaveli Theater, Salobie Bia’s commitment to serving simple Georgian food is what continues to make it a staple in the city’s culinary scene. Centrally located and perfect for a quick lunch or unpretentious dinner while exploring the city, the shkmeruli (garlic chicken smothered in a divine walnut sauce) and lobiani (bean pastry) are a must order.
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At Salobie Bia one of the well renowned local chefs, Giorgi Iosava, offers you his variations of authentic western-Georgian traditional dishes in a post-communism interior restaurant combined with modern art, which you can buy. The name means ‘Bean House’ and the lobio here are a must-order. The menu isn’t entirely vegetarian but there are plenty of choices.
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Descend the stairs from Rustaveli Theatre to find Salobie Bia, a sophisticated and inviting space adorned with eclectic artwork. Renowned for its lobio (bean stew) and a variety of other delicious Georgian classics, Salobie Bia won't disappoint. Their Megrelian khachapuri, pizza-shaped bread stuffed and topped with melted cheese, was so satisfying.
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Located in a lower level space on busy Shota Rustaveli Avenue, Salobie Bia’s high-ceilinged dining room is bright and decorated with a mishmash of Soviet posters and contemporary art. It’s a fun and engaging space with generously spaced tables. The short menu focuses on Georgian classics and portions are generally large and meant to be shared.
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For a more traditional Georgian meal, Salobie Bia is an excellent choice. With an earthy décor and a menu full of rustic favorites, this spot is a favorite among locals. Start with lobio (a hearty bean stew served with corn bread), followed by roasted meats and freshly made churchkhela (a Georgian dessert made with nuts and grape juice).
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This Georgian restaurant on Shota Rustaveli Avenue is known for the black bean dish called Lobio. Lodged in the basement of the Rustaveli Theater, Salobie Bia’s menu is not extensive but offers a good choice of Georgian cuisine. Come here to try their main course, Lobio in a clay pot with various pickles and a cornbread mchadi.
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Lobio, or beans, is a traditional Georgian food and is a hearty meal to fill your stomach before a night of drinking. The food is traditionally from Racha, a mountainous region of Georgia. However, good food travels quickly and you can find some of the best Salobie in the heart of Tbilisi.
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Another great choice for eating local vegetarian or vegan dishes is Salobie Bia. A really unique place where I like not just the authentic georgian dishes but also the athmosphere. Inside the small restaurant you can see many interesting paintings an other stuff on the wall.
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Salobie Bia focuses on one Georgian meal called lobio, a black bean meal that looks like a thick, unmashed soup. The dish is often served with mchadi and marinated vegetables. However, besides lobio, the venue offers other meals to its visitors as well.
11 Regions – Georgia
Conveniently located in the middle of bustling Rustaveli Avenue under the theatre, The dining room is plastered with paintings and retro posters. This is definitely one of the best places for an easy lunch📍 #17 Shota Rustaveli Ave ➥ Get a direction
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If you're thinking, as we said, Khasheria, Sormoni, Shavi Lomi, Salobie Bia, those sorts of places. Yes, they do do traditional food, but they've just got a little bit of a modern twist and we felt that they deserve their own episode.
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We attempted to dine at Salobie Bia our first night in Tbilisi, and were disappointed to find out that it was fully booked out. Luckily, we were able to snag a reservation for the final evening of our trip.
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Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account. ჩვენი ცივი კერძების "საახალწლო რვიანი"- 150 ლარი. გოჭის ტერინი სოკო ქინძმარში კურდღელი ბაჟეში კუჭმაჭი ლოქო...
Social
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit