Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Georgia Tbilisi Sabir’s Chaikhana
Gastro Obscura

Sabir’s Chaikhana

The last standing example of an ancient district's teatime tradition.

Tbilisi, Georgia

Added By
Evan Nicole Brown
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Sabir’s Chaikhana.   Justyna Mielnikiewicz/Culinary Backstreets/used with permission
Abanotubani.   Justyna Mielnikiewicz/Culinary Backstreets/used with permission
Ceylon tea.   Justyna Mielnikiewicz/Culinary Backstreets/used with permission
Cutting sugar.   Justyna Mielnikiewicz/Culinary Backstreets/used with permission
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Tbilisi's last chaikhana, or teahouse, is keeping tradition alive in Abanotubani, the city's ancient bath district. Its owner, Sabir Abasov, resurrected the neighborhood hangout after the area was devastated by political unrest.

In a district that once housed five teahouses and various independently-owned shops, Sabir's Chaikhana is an example of how resisting gentrification and large-scale renovation can pay off. Today, Abanotubani is filled with souvenir stores, restaurants, and cafes, which are known for attracting the younger Georgian crowd and tourists. But this teahouse holds history and longtime local patrons close.

Sabir's Chaikhana has no sign, and as such has virtually been a "nameless" teahouse for over a decade. A stone's throw from the much beloved Jumah Mosque, renowned for being a place of joint worship for Shia and Sunni Muslims, this tea version of a neighborhood pub is a popular hangout spot for people, men especially, who have lived in the district for years. It’s a place for those who remember when Tbilisi was filled with these types of community spaces.

Historically, Tbilisi's proximity to the Silk Road meant that teas passed through this district from both the East and the West, making for an eclectic mix of flavors. Today, the teahouse exclusively serves a loose leaf Ceylon tea, along with sugar, lemon, and nothing else.

Related Tags

Tea Silk Road Ancient

Know Before You Go

The teahouse is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. You can reach the neighborhood via the Abanotubani transit station, which is a two-minute walk away from the teahouse. It's a five-minute walk from other attractions like the Jumah Mosque and a one-minute walk from the sulfur baths.

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Caucasus Road Trip: Azerbaijan, Georgia & Armenia

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

Evan Nicole Brown

Published

August 7, 2018

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://culinarybackstreets.com/cities-category/tbilisi/2017/sabirs/
Sabir’s Chaikhana
9 Mirza Fatali Akhudovi
Tbilisi
Georgia
41.688319, 44.812056
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Tbilisi Sulfur Baths

Tbilisi, Georgia

miles away

Jumah Mosque

Tbilisi, Georgia

miles away

Bridge of Peace

Tbilisi, Georgia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Tbilisi

Tbilisi

Georgia

Places 14
Stories 1

Nearby Places

Tbilisi Sulfur Baths

Tbilisi, Georgia

miles away

Jumah Mosque

Tbilisi, Georgia

miles away

Bridge of Peace

Tbilisi, Georgia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Tbilisi

Tbilisi

Georgia

Places 14
Stories 1

Related Stories and Lists

Try Historical Food at These 52 Culinary Timewarps

List

By Diana Hubbell

14 Places Every Tea-Lover Should Visit Before They Die

List

By Diana Hubbell

Related Places

  • Ruins of Great Kyz Kala fortress at Merv.

    Merv, Turkmenistan

    Ancient Merv

    This famed Silk Road oasis was one of the largest cities in the world before it was destroyed by a Mongol horde.

  • Yodgorlik Silk Factory.

    Margilan, Uzbekistan

    Yodgorlik Silk Factory

    Witness traditional silk production in the Uzbek city that's been a hub of sericulture for over a thousand years.

  • The caravanserai.

    Iran

    Deir-e Gachin Caravanserai

    One of the largest and oldest caravansaries in Persia.

  • Nohijai Pançakent, Tajikistan

    Ancient Panjakent

    The remains of an ancient city-state along the Silk Road.

  • Landscape surrounding Yamchun Fort.

    Ishkoshim, Tajikistan

    Yamchun Fort

    This ancient Silk Road outpost overlooking the Wakhan Valley is miraculously still standing.

  • Panoramic view of the Jaisalmer Fort skyline.

    Jaisalmer, India

    Jaisalmer Fort

    The oldest still-inhabited hill fort in India looks like a magnificent golden sandcastle.

  • Hasankeyf, Turkey

    Hasankeyf

    This ancient city—home to nine civilizations—is soon to be buried under 200 feet of water.

  • Thailand’s hot, humid climate meant that customers wanted an alternative to hot tea.

    Bangkok, Thailand

    ChaTraMue

    While it might look like an ordinary chain, this is the shop that turned Thai iced tea into a global phenomenon.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.