Restaurants in Georgia: where to invest profitably in 2026

Georgia has long ceased to be just a tourist pearl. Today it is one of the most attractive countries for starting a restaurant business. Low taxes, growing guest flows and lack of foreign exchange controls make the catering sector ideal for direct investment. Why restaurants? According to the Georgian National Tourism Association, 5.2 million foreigners visited the country in 2025. The average bill in Tbilisi establishments increased to 75 GEL (about 28 €). At the same time, rent for commercial space in the center of the capital remains 40% lower than in Sofia or Bucharest. TOP 3 formats with maximum profitability Wine stores with kitchens – margins up to 55%. Georgia is the birthplace of winemaking, and local wine houses bring a steady stream of local guests even in the low season. Culinary studios + restaurant – a hybrid format that provides additional income from master classes (up to 12,000 GEL per month). Restaurant in a new building - developers willingly provide preferential rent to the first tenants in order to increase the liquidity of the residential complex. Financial nuances that will save your budget Income tax – 15% (one of the lowest in the region). For micro-businesses with a turnover of up to 500,000 GEL, small enterprise status is possible with a rate of 1%. Escrow for transactions – when purchasing a ready-made restaurant, we recommend using a letter of credit (escrow account). This protects the buyer from the debts of the previous owner. Commercial mortgage - some Georgian banks (TBC, Bank of Georgia) provide loans for the purchase of restaurant premises at 10-12% per annum in lari. Case study from Hazon Finance In 2025, our client invested $250,000 in a Georgian restaurant in the Vake district (Tbilisi). - ROI for the first year – 34% - Break-even point – 8 months - Access to operational cash flow – 14 months We structured the transaction through escrow, insured the risks of overpayment for repairs and helped optimize taxes. How do we assess risks? Competition in the center of Tbilisi is growing (6-8 new establishments are opening per month). But in the regions (Telavi, Kobuleti, Kutaisi) there is still a “blue purple zone” - demand exceeds supply by 45%. The main advice from Hazon analysts: start with a format of up to 120 m² and an average bill of 60-80 GEL - this is the most stable segment. Summary for investors Restaurants in Georgia are not only about food, but also about the experience economy. With proper financial planning and the support of a local partner (for example, our company), you can get a return higher than from renting residential real estate, and at the same time use your establishment as an asset. Do you want to get a financial model for your format? Write to us: finance@resto.ru - we will send you a checklist of hidden costs when buying a restaurant business.