🔥 Not for tourists! 16 favorite places of Batumi residents in 2026 – food just like home, prices up to 30 lari

💬 We asked locals where they dine — and collected the best addresses: from khinkali restaurants to fish cafes by the sea.

What to choose - a place with real reviews from locals or another "five from a blogger"? We chose the first.

Batumi is crowded with tourists in the summer, but Batumi residents continue to go to their tried and tested places: a boat for 9 lari, khinkali for 80 tetri, fish from the market - on the grill in 20 minutes. We found out where the locals themselves go, and put together a list of 16 favorite places - honest, tasty and without pathos.

See the TOP favorite establishments on the map.

🥚 Adjaruli, but in the local way, is not a tourist “boat with a kilogram of cheese”, but a morning breakfast at the market, lunch with friends or a snack before the sea. Locals go to proven places: where the cheese is real sulguni, the dough is thin but with a crispy crust, and the egg is fresh, and they bring it out exactly on time.

🔥 The battle of recipes is for everything: the dough should be crispy, but not dry; the cheese should be creamy, but not runny; the egg should be neither raw nor boiled.

Each establishment swears that their method is the real one. This is how legends are born.

🍳 Almost each of these establishments has its own technique. At Retro, the waiter will explain how to “break” khachapuri correctly so as not to spill the egg. At Laguna, the chefs know how to make the filling fluid, not runny. And at Cafe Adjara Old House you can even see how the dough is kneaded and baked in a traditional oven.

🕒 When to go? In the morning before 11 — no queues and noisy companies. During the day — sold out, especially in "Laguna" and "Retro". In the evening — romance, but sometimes you have to wait for a table.

💡 A trick from the locals: come between 15:00–16:30 — the perfect timing without the crowd and with fresh pastries.

In Batumi, they still argue about where the juiciest khinkali are made 🥟. Some choose traditional kalakuri with meat and broth, while others love it with cheese, mushrooms, or even spinach. The main thing is that the tail is dense and the filling is aromatic and sizzling 🔥.

If you ask older Batumi residents where they ordered khinkali in the Soviet years, many will remember the establishments on 26 May Street or near the park 🕰️. They still serve 10-piece portions for only 8-10 lari 💸. And these same establishments often order mtsvadi - Georgian shashlik, grilled over coals and served on massive metal skewers, which are called swords here 🍢.

Some places turn into real gastronomic clubs in the evening - with live music 🎶, local wine 🍷 and the smell of meat coming from the open kitchen. These are the places where those who "know where to go" 👀 dine.

Luka, Vilnius (Lithuania)
"My wife and I travel a lot, but only in Batumi did I feel at home - thanks to these small local cafes 🍲. Thanks to your rating, we got to Khinklis Gemo+ - perfect khinkali, the atmosphere is simple but soulful. And they also told us that mtsvadi on a sword skewer is a Batumi classic! Now I recommend this list to all my friends as a guide to real Georgian food 🙌."

🐟 Batumi fish route: market, cafe and lifehacks from locals

One of the main gastronomic secrets of Batumi is fresh fish, which locals buy not in restaurants, but at the market. The Fish Market on Baku Street is especially popular: people come here early in the morning, when the shelves are bursting with freshly caught dorado, red mullet and mussels 🐠🦐. Life hack: buy fish in the first row from trusted sellers - they often work with the same families for years. And then the Batumi magic begins: with a bag of fresh fish, go to the nearest cafe with the note "Bring your own fish". For example, in Blue Wave or Fishlandia - here for a symbolic fee (usually 5-7 lari per kilogram) they will fry, boil or bake your catch to your taste. Did you bring dorado? Ask for it on coals with lemon sauce 🍋. And if mussels — stewed in white wine and garlic, Ajarian style. Locals say that the main thing is not to interfere with the fish being fish: minimum spices, maximum freshness.

Peak demand for fish cafes is from 6 pm to 9 pm. So come a little earlier to take a table by the window or on the veranda with a view of the sea 🌊.

On the tasty side of Batumi, where the morning starts with aromatic coffee, and the day ends with waffles and jazz.

If you want to hide from the heat, work on your laptop or just have a snack away from the tourist crowds, Batumi residents go to proven bistros with Wi-Fi, a shady terrace and real coffee for 3-4 lari. At Provence Café, the morning sun floods the tables with fresh croissants and a French mood, and Chocolatte is waffles, matcha and a freelancer's paradise with sockets under each table.

🥞 Adjarian breakfast is not just khachapuri, but a tradition: at Ardagani Café it is served with a glass of tkemali, and at Deliria - with a soundtrack of live jazz and the purring of the cat Bekhletso. Advice from locals: come before 11:00 — at this time it is still quiet, fresh and there are almost no queues. And do not be shy to ask for “homely” — in Batumi this is not a request, but a password.

Leah, Tel Aviv (Israel)
"I work remotely, and Batumi has become my ideal summer refuge. Every day began with coffee and a laptop at Chocolatte or Provence Café - the atmosphere was calm, the Wi-Fi was stable, the waiters already recognized me by name. And in the evening, I went to Deliria for jazz and coziness. I love Batumi for places like this - not pretentious, but with soul!"

📊 Quick guide: how much it costs, what to try and when to go

Adjaruli (boat with egg and cheese):

• 💸 Average bill: 9–12 ₾
• 🍽️ Must-try: classic adjaruli
• 🕒 Best time: before 11:00 — the fewest queues

Khinkali and grilled meat:

• 💸 Average bill: 12–18 ₾
• 🍽️ Must-try: kalakuri-khinkali (spicy with herbs)
• 🕒 Best time: after 15:00 — the main influx has passed, you can eat in peace

Fish cafes by the sea:

• 💸 Average bill: 15–20 ₾
• 🍽️ Must-try: dorado, mussels or grilled fish from the market
• 🕒 Best time: evening after 6:00 PM — catch the sunset and live music

Bistro cafes and sweets:

• 💸 Average bill: 10–14 ₾
• 🍽️ Must-try: waffles, French breakfasts, Georgian coffee
• 🕒 Best time: morning from 8:30 AM to 11:00 AM — ideal for freelancers and early tourists

💡 Tip: ask the waiters about seasonal dishes — locals often order not from the menu, but “what’s fresh today.” And don’t be afraid to combine: for example, order khinkali and coffee — it’s not considered strange, no one will look askance 😄

🧠 Lifehacks from Batumi residents: food the local way

• 🍳 How to crack an egg into adjaruli:

Mix the yolk with a fork from the edges to the center, without touching the sides. This way the cheese melts evenly and the dough doesn't tear.

• ⏰ When definitely not to go:

Friday evening after 19:00 — popular establishments have queues, noise, and a 30+ minute wait.

• 💡Why not to sit by the door:

Even in summer, drafts can be strong, especially in establishments by the sea. And couriers often "park" at such tables.

• 🏃 What does it mean if the courier arrived first:

If there are 3-4 couriers with bags standing at the entrance, it means the establishment is really popular. But the wait for your order is longer.

📢 Share your finds!

Do you know a cozy cafe where only locals dine? 💬 Write to us in the comments - perhaps your recommendation will be included in the next rating update.

Do you love one place especially much? Tell us why! We value every opinion and often update our catalog based on reader feedback.