Georgian Dinner with Live Folk Dance Show Tbilisi

Georgian folk dance show in Tbilisi

Georgian folk dance is one of the most striking dance traditions in the world, and this is the heart of the evening. Men in the long chokha coat leap, spin and land on the tips of their toes in soft boots, while women in flowing gowns seem to glide across the floor without moving their feet. Some dances come from the mountains and tell stories of warriors and shepherds; others are courtship dances or fast group pieces full of drums and shouts.

The show at this Georgian dinner in Tbilisi is performed by professional dancers on a stage close to the tables, so you see every jump and every costume detail. Many travellers say it is the moment of their trip when they finally understood why Georgians are so proud of their culture. Bring your phone or camera; photos are welcome, and the energy in the room is hard to forget.

A vegetarian Georgian dinner: khachapuri, pkhali and lobio

Georgian cuisine is one of the great surprises of the Caucasus, and this vegetarian menu shows how rich it can be without meat. Khachapuri, the famous cheese bread, comes hot from the oven with melted cheese inside. Pkhali are colourful balls of spinach, beetroot or other vegetables blended with ground walnuts, garlic and herbs, often topped with pomegranate seeds. Lobio is a slow-cooked bean dish flavoured with coriander and spices, traditionally served in a clay pot.

The table is completed by a fresh seasonal salad, shoti, the canoe-shaped bread baked on the walls of a round clay oven, a plate of Georgian cheeses and eggplant rolls filled with walnut paste. Lemonade and water are served throughout. Because dishes are shared at the table, you taste a little of everything, just as Georgians do at a family feast. Please tell us about any food allergy before you book, as the kitchen cannot adapt every dish.

Shared tables and Georgian hospitality

In Georgia a guest is said to be a gift from God, and the traditional feast, the supra, is built on generous food, music and long conversations. This evening follows that spirit. Instead of separate small tables you sit together at long tables with other travellers, and the host helps everyone feel at ease from the first minutes. Even if you arrive alone, you will leave with new friends and stories from around the world.

After the show the music changes and guests are invited to join the dancers and then dance to Georgian and international songs. Nobody has to dance, of course, and many people simply enjoy the atmosphere from the table. If you are looking for things to do in Tbilisi at night that feel genuine rather than staged, this social evening is one of the easiest ways to enjoy Georgian culture in a few hours.

The riverside restaurant and how to get there

The dinner takes place in a spacious Georgian restaurant on Cosmonauts Embankment, along the Mtkvari river a short drive from the old town. The hall is decorated in a traditional style with wood, textiles and a stage for the dancers, and it is a favourite of local families as well as visitors. The host waits at the entrance wearing a red scarf, and guests are asked to arrive at 19:45 for a 20:00 start.

If you choose the option without pickup, the easiest way to get there is by taxi; give the driver the address Cosmonauts Embankment 95. With the pickup option a car collects you from your hotel in central Tbilisi between 19:00 and 19:10 and takes you back after the evening, which is the most relaxed choice if you are staying in the old town or around Rustaveli Avenue.