Best Pizza Places in Kutaisi: Where to Go for a Proper Slice
Words by
Mariam Gelashvili
There is a particular pleasure in walking through Kutaisi after dark, when the air coming off the Rioni is cool and the old city's lanterns throw amber light across 19th-century facades. If you have ever stood on one of those bridges musing about what the evening could hold for dinner, then you have almost certainly wondered about the top pizza restaurants Kutaisi keeps tucked behind its more famous khinkali spots and cheese bakeries. I grew up here, have eaten through every district mentioned below, and I am happy to tell you where to go when a proper slice is what you need.
Kutaisi City Center and the Old Quarter
The heart of the city runs roughly from the White Bridge area down toward the central bazaar and the streets branching off Rustaveli Avenue. This is where most visitors first encounter the question of where to eat pizza Kutaisi style, and the answers range from fast-casual counters to small sit-down spots with surprisingly thoughtful toppings.
1. Luca's Pizza (David Agmashenebeli Avenue)
Open since the early 2010s, Luca's sits on one of the main drags that feeds traffic toward Kutaisi's central market interior. It has weathered enough seasons to know what a local crowd expects by lunch compared to a late evening order. I walked in on a Thursday around mid-afternoon and the line was still six people deep; by 8:30 p.m. on weekends the tables outside on the pavement are entirely claimed.
What to Try: The pepperoni is reliable, but the real sleeper hit is the Margherita dressed with local Imeretian cherry tomatoes when they come into season around July. Ask for extra coriander if you like it herbaceous.
Best Time: Weeknight dinner from 5:30 to 7 p.m. gives you a beat on the weekend crush and your order arrives before the kitchen hits its 8 p.m. queue.
The Vibe: Bright cinder-block walls, American songs overhead, and a sound system that sometimes leans too loud near the back booths. Families with young kids fill the early evening, then it shifts to university students later.
Insider Detail: Luca's uses a leftover dough batch, two days old, for what they call the "crispy base" special; it is flatter and shatters more than their regular pies. Most tourists never notice the option is there.
One Complaint: If the air conditioning is struggling in July and August, do not sit near the kitchen pass. The heat from the deck ovens turns those front tables into an Kutaisi pizza guide entry I hesitate to admit suffers from temperature extremes.
2. Pie House (corner of Tsereteli Street and Pushkin Lane)
This little spot hides a block east of Independence Square, its blue-painted front easy to miss if you are walking without staring down side lanes. I stumbled onto it years ago when a friend swore that the owner had worked briefly in an Italian restaurant in Tbilisi and took his training seriously. The interior is small, maybe four or five tables, plus counter seating for solo diners.
What to See / Eat: Their calzone filled with Sulguni cheese and fresh herbs is the quiet star. If you have never had Sulguni baked until it stretches like taffy, this is a modest but satisfying introduction.
Best Time: Lunch on weekdays, around 1 p.m. It is the gentlest slot: students drift in from nearby university offices, but the tables turn quickly and the cook is freshest for the first service.
The Vibe: Quiet enough to read, with a plant shelf along one wall that catches the afternoon light. Popular with older locals who appreciate a calzone that does not drench everything in oil.
One Neat Trick: They set aside a pair of window seats for walk-ins if you mention you are not in a hurry; on slow afternoons you can nurse an Iliko lemonade and watch the lane outside.
One Complaint: No real ventilation during evening rushes in summer. If the weather is baking, the kitchen's warmth makes the room a degree or two warmer than comfortable.
Besarion Street District and the Neighborhood of Tabukashvili
Move a little west from here, toward the neighborhood where 19th-century merchant houses mix with Soviet-era apartment stacks, and you will start to see the next cluster of pizza places Kutaisi residents mention in group chats. These spots lean more residential, more tried-and-true for regulars. Some double in the evening as relaxed gathering spots where friends split a pie and talk politics or football.
3. Pizza Street (Besarion Street, near old bus station area)
Despite the generic name, this place is a street-food fixture: a walk-up window under a corrugated tin awning where a rotating crew assembles thin slices in under three minutes. On a Saturday evening, the pavement around the front is a community living room. Local kids from nearby Tabukashvili Street chase each other on scooters while their parents share a folded slice standing up.
What to Try: The slice with spicy salami and pickled peppers. If you want the local cheese treatment, the Sulguni half is addictive and startlingly cheap.
Best Time: Early evening, between 6 and 7:30 p.m. The light here is gentler, the crowd is lively but not yet at its loudest, and the line is usually still manageable.
The Vibe: Gritty pavement energy, music from someone's phone on Bluetooth, the sizzle of pepperoni fat hitting hot stone. City officials periodically threaten to move them for "code violations," but regular patrons protest until they back down.
Insider Detail: They keep an extra tub of "secret" garlic oil for loyal customers. If you point at the white bucket behind the counter and smile, a cook will sometimes rattle off the garlic-and-chili combination they use.
One Complaint: Seating is a myth; you eat standing or walking. If you are with a group of four or more, consider taking your slices to the nearby bench under the plane trees along the path leading toward the bus station.
4. Old Fire Pizza and Grill (Vilage road near Tabukashvili Park)
A ten-minute walk south of Tabukashvili Park brings you to a repurposed courtyard deck where smokers cluster around a wood-burning oven. This is the kind of Kutaisi pizza guide regulars whisper about to each other at parties and then act like they are protecting a state secret. The owner, who spent a couple of years working in Naples in his youth, insists on stretching dough to order and debating hydration percentages with anyone who asks.
What to See: The rectangular sheet-pan pies cut into squares, stacked on parchment-lined trays. During summer the outdoor deck feels like a Mediterranean garden transplanted into the Caucasus: jasmine climbing the wall, citronella candles fighting the bugs.
Best Time: Friday or Saturday from about 7:30 p.m. onward, when the string lights are strung and the grill smoke starts curling up in the cool evening air.
The Vibe: Low-slung wooden benches, a chalkboard menu, loud laughter. It hosts occasional acoustic sets by local musicians who hang around Kutaisi's indie music circuit and appreciate the free beer.
Insider Tip: They test new toppings on unsuspecting customers and ask for feedback. If you sit near the brick archway at the end of the counter, the cook will casually drop preview slices in front of you.
One Complaint: Reservations are a polite fiction; you put your name on a list there and hope for the best. In busy summer months it is not unusual to wait forty minutes for a seat at the communal table, and the conversation next to you can get loud.
Gelati Area and the Northwest Residential Streets
Bordering the Rioni floodplain, the neighborhoods near Gelati Street offer a different slice of Kutaisi life: residential blocks with pockets of commerce, schoolchildren in uniforms crossing at the walk signals, and small family-run eateries that have been sustained by word-of-mouth rather than social media. Top pizza restaurants Kutaisi locals mention in these parts often combine the pie with whatever else the owner happens to be cooking that day, blurring menu boundaries.
5. Black and White Pizza (Gelati Street)
A narrow storefront wedged between a hairdresser and a mobile-phone kiosk. The name is literal: the interior is painted in high-contrast black and white, with geometric prints that nod vaguely to Art Deco. A former flight attendant spent several years after retirement perfecting her Neapolitan-style dough here, and the crust is considered by some in the neighborhood to be the best within walking distance of the old seminary.
What to Order: A Diavola with their in-house chili oil on the side, which you can control as you like. The pineapple slice, yes, the one you did not know you needed, comes with jalapeños and works surprisingly well when you give it a chance.
Best Time: Late afternoon snack, around 4 p.m. The light slants in through the narrow front window and the heat of the day has begun to lift.
The Vibe: Intimate and hushed compared to the louder beer-and-pizza combos elsewhere. Regulars bring sketchbooks and notebooks; this is a thinking person's pizza place Kutaisi reference.
One Secret: On Wednesdays they occasionally run a margherita happy hour at a reduced price, announced on the door's chalk circle. Locals who live on the adjacent blocks check each week to see if it has returned.
One Complaint: The single restroom shared by staff and patrons can be chaotic during the evening rush; mid-afternoon visits spare you that domestic drama.
6. Gogi's Pizzeria (Gelati extension near Akaki Tsereteli Avenue)
Named after the owner's father, who passed down a commitment to good bread along with a wry sense of humor, Gogi's anchors a quiet side street. It began as a bakery corner and only expanded into proper pies after the demand became impossible to ignore. The oven is center stage, visible through a cutout wall so you can watch the turning of every tray.
What to Try: The "Kutaisi Special": smoked chicken, corn, local herbs, and a thin smear of tkemali sauce that sneaks heat and fruit into every bite.
Best Time: Early weekday lunch from 12 to 1 p.m. The oven is cranking, the smells from the regular bakery section flood out to greet you on the sidewalk, and the crowd has not yet packed in.
The Vibe: Bright tiles, a couple of stools along a counter facing out to the street. Because it sits near apartment blocks, you will see pensioners stopping by for a small pie and lemon tea alongside teenagers in school uniforms quickly stealing a slice during a long school lunch break.
Insider Detail: They keep a "kids" corner set up on the far end with paper and crayons, so families can eat with less chaos. That table tends to get taken early on weekdays.
One Complaint: The indoor climate control is inconsistent; the front area near the window can hit temperatures that rival the pavement outside in July. Opt for the back if you are sensitive.
Rioni Riverbank and the Northern Shore
Cross the river and walk toward the neighborhoods lined with metal balconies and grape arbors, and you will find yet another set of pizza spots Kutaisi food enthusiasts like to recommend. Here, the ambient noise of water over stone below makes a gentle soundtrack to dinner, and ties the meal to the city's centuries-old relationship with its river.
7. Rioni Pizza Bar (near Metekhi Bridge area)
A slightly elevated terrace on the north edge of the river, just before Metekhi Bridge bends under its evening floodlight. The owner used to commute between Kutaisi and Telavi, and he splits his influences between the western and eastern halves of Georgia. At night the bridge lights reflect off the water, turning the terrace into an impromptu showpiece without trying too hard.
What to Drink and Eat: A locally dry white paired with the margherita with mushrooms, or a cherry-and-herb soda with a simple four-cheese pizza if you keep it lighter in the Georgia heat.
Best Time: After sunset, especially from 8:30 p.m. onward. The bridge lights give the terrace a cinematic backdrop that regular summer nights deliver for free.
The Vibe: Romantic enough for a date, but the long wooden tables and spontaneous toasts make groups of friends feel equally at home. During European football nights, the TV above the bar can get rowdy, but it is easy to slip to an outer table under the stars.
Insider Knowledge: If you ask the bartender about their homemade lemonade, you will hear stories about grandmother's recipes from villages upriver. They will sometimes slide a complimentary glass of raki if the mood is right.
One Complaint: This is an open-air terrace that lives or dies by the weather. Should a sudden summer storm roll in, staff are quick to move people under the partial roof cover, but some of the tables are still exposed. Carry a light poncho in the pocket just in case.
8. Pizza Corner (near the Historic Fountain Square)
Close to the small fountain that locals use as a meeting point, Pizza Corner serves up brisk slices at prices that students adore and backpackers adopt with enthusiasm. It is a no-frills counter, a handful of bar stools near the window, and a chalkboard that changes specials regularly. The staff are used to foreigners given how close it sits to the tourist highlights of Kutaisi's old area, so a little pointing at pictures on the wall goes a long way if your Georgian or Russian is thin.
What to See: The oven visible from the sidewalk, constantly cycling pies. Anytime you walk past and see someone stretching dough on the counter, consider it a neon sign to drop in.
Best Time: Head here between 3 and 5 p.m., during the lull before dinner and after any lunch-rush leftovers have been sold. Slices come out fast and the staff have more time to answer questions.
The Vibe: Urban-traveler hub with a strong sense of humor. Expect chalkboard art, sometimes hand-drawn anime, and playful banter in at least two languages from the people behind the counter.
One Tip: If you want a deal, ask about any "happy hour" or "day's end" discount. They sometimes mark down remaining slices in the last hour before closing, especially on weekdays.
One Complaint: The Wi-Fi signal is unreliable near the back wall, and the music playlist can loop the same three songs if the staff are in a particular mood. Bring your own headphones if you plan to linger.
When to Go and What to Know
Kutaisi's pizza scene is busiest from late May through September, when the heat drives people toward quick, satisfying meals and the outdoor terraces fill up. If you are visiting in winter, many of the open-air spots reduce their hours or close entirely, so check ahead. Most places accept cash in Georgian lari, and a growing number now take cards, but it is wise to carry some bills for the smaller counters. Tipping is not obligatory, but rounding up or leaving 10 percent is appreciated, especially at the sit-down spots where staff rely on it.
If you are walking between neighborhoods, keep in mind that the Rioni can make some routes feel longer than they look on a map. The bridges are your friends, and the views from them are worth the detour. For a full Kutaisi pizza guide experience, try to hit at least one spot in each of the three zones described above: the city center, the Tabukashvili district, and the riverbank. You will get a sense not only of how pizza is made here, but how it fits into the daily rhythm of a city that has been a crossroads for centuries.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the one must-try local specialty food or drink that Kutaisi is famous for?
Kutaisi is best known for Imeretian cheese and Imeretian khachapuri, a round bread filled with salty local cheese that is distinct from the Adjarian boat shape most tourists recognize. A glass of local Tvishi wine, a naturally semi-sweet white from the nearby region, is also a staple at many meals. Expect to pay around 8 to 12 lari for a khachapuri and 6 to 10 lari for a glass of house wine at most casual restaurants.
Is the tap water in Kutaisi safe to drink, or should travelers strictly rely on filtered water options?
The municipal tap water in Kutaisi is generally treated and considered safe by local standards, and many residents drink it without issue. However, the mineral content and taste can vary by neighborhood, and some travelers with sensitive stomachs prefer bottled or filtered water. A 1.5-liter bottle of water costs roughly 1 to 2 lari at corner shops, making it an easy precaution.
How easy is it to find pure vegetarian, vegan, or plant-based dining options in Kutaisi?
Vegetarian options are relatively common in Kutaisi, with lobiani (bean-stuffed bread), pkhali (vegetable and walnut pates), and cheese-based dishes widely available. Fully vegan options are more limited and often require asking staff to omit dairy or eggs. At pizza spots, ordering a marinara or a vegetable-only pie without cheese is usually possible, though cross-contamination with cheese in shared ovens is likely.
Are there any specific dress codes or cultural etiquettes to keep in mind when visiting local spots in Kutaisi?
Kutaisi is fairly relaxed about dress, and casual clothing is acceptable at virtually all pizza places and casual eateries. When visiting churches or monasteries in the area, such as Gelati Monastery, shoulders and knees should be covered for both men and women. It is customary to greet staff with a polite "gamardjoba" and to accept or offer a toast with wine or brandy if you are invited to join a table.
Is Kutaisi expensive to visit? Give a realistic daily budget breakdown for mid-tier travelers.
A mid-tier traveler in Kutaisi can expect to spend roughly 80 to 120 lari per day, excluding accommodation. This covers two modest restaurant meals (around 15 to 25 lari each), local transport by marshrutka or taxi (5 to 15 lari), a couple of snacks or drinks (10 to 20 lari), and a small buffer for entry fees or souvenirs. A single pizza slice at a casual spot costs 4 to 8 lari, while a full pie at a sit-down restaurant runs 15 to 30 lari depending on toppings.
Enjoyed this guide? Support the work
