Top 8 Hipster Places In Tbilisi

The term ‘hipster’ may not have been around for that long but in essence; Tbilisi has been a hipster type of city for hundreds of years. There have always been spots that are a little bit outside the cultural mainstream and are a little different from the usual cultural attractions.

While there are many great things for everyone to do in Tbilisi, such as going up the Funicular or Narikala Fortress, there are plenty of quirky spots you’ll love to visit too. Here we take a look at the top 8 hipster places in Tbilisi that you’ll fall in love with

1. Linville Café

Coffee spots have long been a place where hipsters gather but not many places do it quite like Linville Café. As soon as you walk into the place you’re going to fall in love and you’ll think that you’re in a quirky home rather than a beautiful café.

The place is full of vintage antiques that will fill your curiosity. The furniture is all quite unique and you’ll love the fact that everything is a little different. It’s the perfect place for you to grab a hot drink and take a break from the usual tourist spots.

One of the wonderful parts of this café is that they don’t keep it all the same. The decorations and artwork are swapped around all the time. It means that every time you go into there, the place is going to look a little different to how it did before.

You enter into the café through a metal door and steep stairs that look like something from a fantasy film. As just a café, it is brilliant. Those hot drinks are very tasty and there is a great selection of food, which also makes it one of the best Tbilisi restaurants. There is a balcony with a brilliant view and also in the evening, there is often live music. It all adds up to one of the best spots in Tbilisi.

2. The dry bridge flea market

We just talked about wonderful decorations and antiques in Linville Café. One place where you can pick up your own piece of Georgian culture is in the dry bridge flea market which is easy to find over the river from Saarbrücken Square with the number 20 bus heading straight there.

While some of the markets can be quite commercial and touristy with your typical low-quality items, there are great items to be found. Plenty of antique items can be bought but also the likes of paintings and historical coins are available.

As well as your usual fun Georgian souvenirs, it gives you a chance to get something a little different and a bit more quirky. If you wanted to enhance the experience then make sure you barter on any price as you’ll almost always be able to bring down the seller from the original offer.

Not a lot of the vendors speak fluent English but that doesn’t really matter as you’ll be negotiating in numbers. If you’re interested in finding the weird and wonderful then it’s a place that you simply have to go and see for yourself. Hopefully you can come away with something to show off to your family and friends.

3. Rezo Gabriadze Marionette Theater

Going to a theater in any foreign country is going to be a bit of a hipster move. Even with that being the case, this is a theater unlike any other. If you don’t know what a marionette theater is then you’ll be in for a delight as you watch the puppets being masterfully controlled from above.

It’s in the old part of Tbilisi which is a must-see regardless. Everything about this theater is going to delight and intrigue you. It was the creation of Georgian Rezo Gabriadze who seems to have spent his whole life with that hipster mentality of doing everything a little differently.

The puppet shows are brilliant and fun with a lot of them being subtitled in English to allow you to follow along with them. Tickets are fairly cheap and you’ll be able to get them from the ticket shop at most times of the day.

If you can’t get tickets then the place is worth a visit regardless. The building is fascinating as it has a look of something from a Disney film with a leaning clock tower and a saloon-bar façade. Inside is a café that anyone can visit and enjoy. It’s a delightful experience and one you’d be very disappointed to miss out on.

4. Fabrika

Fabrika is a relative newcomer to the hipster scene in Tbilisi although the building itself has been around for a long time. It has been transferred from an old Soviet factory into the modern place it is today but one that has a great urban feel.

There is a great collection of artist studios, cafes, bars, and shops. It’s also a great place for you to stay as there is the biggest hostel in the region there. It also has a brilliant open courtyard as well as plenty of events that can be enjoyed throughout the year.

It all comes together for like-minded people to enjoy the space together, whether you are a local or a tourist. There are many places that like to blend the old and the new together. Some do it badly but Fabrika has been able to make it work brilliantly.

If you are a hipster at heart then you’ll automatically feel at home here as it’s a place for everyone to enjoy. It’s a little bit out from the center but close enough to jump on the local transport and be close to the main sites. It makes it a great place to stay on your trip along with other great Georgia hotels.

5. Bassiani

If you’re traveling to Georgia then you’ll want to check out one of their most popular clubs. Even if you don’t like the Techno and Electronic that would be blaring out, it’s a great place to experience as you enjoy everyone having immense fun.

Do hipsters love football? Well, the two aren’t always connected but one of the quirky aspects of this club is that it’s located inside the Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena (Dinamo Arena Stadium) which is home to Dinamo Tbilisi as well as being the stadium for the national rugby and football teams.

It would most likely claim the title as the biggest and best club in Tbilisi but that doesn’t make it mainstream. It’s full of happy party goers who love the immense sound coming through while also appreciating the amazing lighting system.

Its quirky location makes it a great place to visit and it’s a place where everyone is allowed to be themselves. If you didn’t have enough of one club inside the stadium then there is also Spacehall which is another brilliant club right next to it.

6. Bowling

The Big Lebowski is one of the most hipster films out there and is loved by many. Why is that relevant to this list? Well if you’ve seen the film then you’ll remember a few famous scenes in a bowling alley and a place in Tbilisi has taken that on to create something special.

The Lebowski Bowl Club is a must-see place for any hipster or anyone who has seen the film. There is something great about bowling as it’s a sport anyone can enjoy without having to worry about being the biggest, strongest or quickest.

As you can imagine, this isn’t just any old bowling alley. It has a brilliant atmosphere with a modern feel and plenty of entertainment on show. There are 12 lanes available to ensure that you’re never going to be waiting very long for a game.

As well as being a huge amount of fun, it’s also not very expensive as you’ll be able to get a few games in before you head back into the capital. If you’re looking for a hipster way to have fun in the daytime then this is going to be perfect for you and your friends.

7. Museum of Illusions

A love of magic and illusions has long been a home for those that have felt that they sit outside of the rest of society. In that respect, it’s the most hipster of all art forms and will allow you to enjoy the weird and the wonderful in many different ways.

The Museum of Illusions is the perfect place to spend an afternoon when you travel to Georgia. There is plenty of you to see as the whole place is based over three floors and it’s not too expensive either, especially for the amount of fun that you’re going to have.

Don’t worry about not understanding anything as all of the exhibits have descriptions on them in English, as well as Russian and Georgian. You’ll get plenty of photos here that all of your friends are going to be jealous of.

The exhibits will constantly make you scratch your head as they play on the use of mirrors, scale and also the likes of rotated rooms that are going to confuse your reality. There is a long list of amazing things to see and it’s best to go for yourself and see what there is to offer. You’ll leave with a huge smile on your face.

8. KHIDI

If you’re a hipster, or simply someone who doesn’t like conforming to mainstream trends, it can be difficult to find places to fit in and feel comfortable. Even harder is to find people who are like you and a place where you feel accepted.

KHIDI is the type of place where you can leave all those worries at the front door. It’s a club that prides itself on accepting everyone regardless of their race, religion, sexuality or what they are wearing. In fact, that last one isn’t strictly true. You’ll only be turned away if you’re wearing a suit or uniform.

That’s because they want everyone inside to feel as comfortable as possible. That’s exactly what you feel when you’re in there are you can simply focus on having fun in this weird and wonderful environment where not even pictures are able to be taken on the dancefloor.

The place is a huge cradle of fun with up to 1,200 people able to be inside at any one time. As with any club in Tbilisi, the music is mainly various types of electronic music. Even if that’s not your thing, you’ll love the visuals and atmosphere of the place.

Find yourself at home in Tbilisi

You may not class yourself as a hipster but if you’re the type that likes to look for the quirky and different, then everything in this list would be perfect for you. Tbilisi has so much to offer that you are sure to fall in love with the place.

All that’s left to do is organize your Georgia flights and head out to this beautiful city in a fascinating country. There are many great places to see in Georgia but if you have a hipster soul then all of these eight places are a must-see on your visit.