Those who know Georgian food will agree that their cuisine is mouthwateringly good. Perhaps their food and wine are the main reason you'll want to travel all the way there - it may have been my biggest motivation to come to the easternmost parts of Europe to try it for myself. After having sampled some typical dishes at Georgian restaurants in London, I was even more excited about my trip to the Caucasus.

Tbilisi, Georgia’s fascinating capital, is the hotspot for gastronomy in the country and although you will find amazing Georgian food in even the smallest of towns, the quirky and gorgeously decorated restaurants are a big draw for Tbilisi.

Perhaps one of the coolest things about the Tbilisi restaurant scene is that many are hidden away, without any outdoor signage, in residential buildings or with facades that look nothing like a restaurant. Most of them have embraced the old and rusty ‘wabi-sabi’ look (a Japanese philosophy in which the ageing of objects or imperfections are loved and accepted), with grandma’s furniture, more indoor plants than your auntie, inconsistent artwork, walls which are painted in a way to make them look old, exposed brick… the restaurant interiors almost represent the feeling of this city - a dream for art lovers, creative people and those looking past imperfections to a better tomorrow.

All of the restaurants below have been personally tested and approved, and I’d be happy to come and try more if and when I’m invited (just in case any Tbilisi restaurateurs are reading):