At its opening, Vino Underground was the first bar in Tbilisi to focus solely on natural wines so it has become my home away from home. It is worth a visit because it’s an institution. In fact it is owned by six of Georgia’s most well-known natural wine producers, and they can be regularly found inside hosting tastings or helping guests learn about the wine of Georgia.

Conveniently located near Freedom Square, Vino Underground is a nice respite from the bustling city. Its underground location beneath gorgeous arched masonry, with a warm and rustic interior, gives the place a very old-world feel. This is a place for great wine and good friends; when I first came to Tbilisi, I came to this bar to check out the wines, and I keep going back because of the warm embrace I was given as a stranger.

If I go during the early afternoon, it’s a great place to order a plate of cheese and a glass of wine to write or read or just hang out with my friends. In the evening, there are always local Georgian winemakers to meet, and the evenings can often turn into rowdy parties that last until the early morning. It is my Tbilisi version of Cheers. “Where everybody knows your name.”