Mestia’s Must-Try Eats & Drinks: A Delicious Dive

Mestia, way up in the breathtaking Svaneti region of Georgia, is not only amazing to see with those mountain views, but really, it’s quite a spot for food lovers, too, and that’s a fact. It might be small, it is almost like it packs a big punch in the flavor department. This little town offers a range of tasty treats, basically from traditional Svan dishes to stuff that feels a bit more global, or something like that.

Svan Salt (Svanuri Marili): A Taste of the Mountains

Okay, so you really cannot chat about Svanetian food without talking first about Svan Salt, right? This isn’t just, just a seasoning; it’s really the very spirit of Svaneti in powdered form, and that’s very true. Svan Salt is actually quite different than your usual salt; too it’s almost a fragrant mix of regular salt with a selection of ground herbs and spices that is kind of wonderful. Think things such as dried coriander, blue fenugreek, marigold, and perhaps even a dash of chili, something along those lines that are considered genuine regional tastes.

You see it used absolutely all over the place, right from adding a kick to easy salads and meat dishes to giving a totally unique flavor to well-loved Svan staples like Kubdari, which we’ll get to next, in a bit, naturally. If you plan on bringing back anything home with you, and I mean as something truly Svanetian, Svan Salt is the winner, or something.

Kubdari: The Hearty Svan Meat Pie

You know what’s also a must-try in Mestia? Kubdari, obviously. Kubdari is like, your hearty, must-have savory pie and really it is Svaneti’s best, or maybe most well-known, dish, I’d say, and basically you just can’t leave without giving it a try, in that case if you fancy something filling. It’s more or less, often a big round bread filled with bits of beef or pork, which has been nicely seasoned, just seasoned very well with—you guessed it—Svan Salt, still a bit too, and other spices.

Baking the pie until it’s very, very gold brown is how you know it’s ready, apparently the crust is crispy, and the inside is filled with such tasty, and very juicy, meat. Quite a few places across Mestia, they certainly serve Kubdari, still too it is worth trying it at different spots, too it’s almost to find your own fave version, or so I hear.

Restaurant Old Seti: A Traditional Feast

When, when it comes to enjoying Svaneti food within the most welcoming setting, Old Seti Restaurant actually comes highly recommended, kind of, like many other spots around, naturally. It looks a little bit like being transported back in time; too it’s almost the restaurant sports a rustic interior that’s kinda cute offering the atmosphere with true Georgian hospitality. So it should come as no shock that you should sample nearly everything on the menu.

Basically what I mean is try something from their well-made Kubdari (every family claims to hold the real secret) and Tashmijabi (potatoes combined with local cheese), which, by the way, by the way is cheesy mashed potatoes, literally! Actually, it’s also worth mentioning, is that Restaurant Old Seti can serve pretty big portions, and literally it would be great for sharing if you were traveling within a group, in that case.

Lileo Cafe: Coffee with a View

After, after filling yourself up with Kubdari or some different, something along those lines, you will, you will perhaps be wanting someplace to chill out with coffee and that would be great, obviously? So, Lileo Cafe actually fits that bill quite wonderfully with amazing coffee as well as great vistas.

You know, you probably want to just sip a cappuccino looking over snow-topped peaks? It definitely isn’t the kind of view you get anywhere, anyway there’s more or less, still, of course the views, they definitely provide some pastries and easy dishes on their menu too, so still too it’s almost an awesome spot at all times throughout the day, literally, just a little bit.

Tashmijabi: Cheesy Potato Perfection

Let’s, let’s give some love to Tashmijabi now? So yeah, while talking, even if that’s only a tiny bit, in some respects about Svaneti cuisine, Tashmijabi shouldn’t go missed, for sure, too it’s almost the second-best item after Kubdari perhaps for pretty much any Svanetian family dinner! What it might sound really simplistic, basically the creamy mix of the cheese and potatoes makes up just about the coziest type of food, basically for those chiller evenings in Mestia, usually delivering an unrivaled warming and fulfilling experience. As well as it really gives insight straight towards Svanetian simplicity; basically using fine local stuff without overcomplicating stuff, okay.

Tashmijabi is so often served warm and is the bomb, apparently that really gives like, kind of a stretchy texture when you’re using their great local cheese, really! Every cafe and restaurant brings out something, something in particular, though generally anticipate that, seemingly it would melt as you pull it apart—what the comfort should seriously resemble! It really fits the atmosphere well on evenings the location has really cool air around, still though.