Winter Gastro Tourism in Georgia: Taste the Season

Winter in Georgia is a magical time when the cold weather brings people closer together around hearty dishes, fragrant spices, and warm hospitality that defines the country’s culinary culture. From Tbilisi’s cozy restaurants to mountain villages in Kakheti, Svaneti, and Adjara, travellers are welcomed like family and invited to discover a world of flavors built on ancient traditions. Georgian winter cuisine is full of soul: hot khinkali steaming on the table, mchadi with melted sulguni, warm wine-based mulled drinks, and rich soups like khashi and chikhirtma that have been loved for generations. Street markets fill with churchkhela, gozinaki, tangerines, and roasted chestnuts, while wineries offer tastings of amber qvevri wines paired with local cheeses and homemade preserves. For many visitors, the true heart of Georgian gastro tourism is not only the food itself, but the experience—hosts telling stories, families preparing recipes passed down for centuries, and the feeling of comfort that comes with every bite.

Across the country, winter brings special culinary events, vineyard visits, cooking masterclasses, and farm-to-table experiences that showcase the best of Georgian hospitality. Guests can learn to make khachapuri by hand, taste organic honey in Guria, enjoy trout meals in Borjomi’s forested villages, or discover the bold flavors of Racha’s smoked ham and Svaneti’s spiced salt. Traditional New Year and Christmas dishes—such as satsivi, pkhali assortments, roasted turkey, lobio in clay pots, and sweet pelamushi—add even more charm to the season. Whether you’re exploring high-mountain resorts like Gudauri and Bakuriani, wandering the festive streets of Tbilisi, or relaxing in Kakheti’s vineyards, winter gastro tourism offers a delicious journey filled with authenticity and warmth. Georgia’s flavours, people, and traditions come together to create an unforgettable winter experience, inviting every traveller to taste, explore, and celebrate the season.