In recent years the country of Georgia has seen a rather unexpected tourism boom. Travelers came not only for its unspoiled natural beauty, but its fascinating cuisine and 6,000-year-old wine culture. And while it’s still qvevri-fermented natural wines that make Tbilisi a world-class beverage destination, if you find yourself in the Georgian capital, there’s good coffee to be had as well.

For travelers accustomed to seeing the same international brands on manicured high streets, Tbilisi’s old city is a delight. The labyrinthine neighborhood, with its carved wooden lattices and precariously perched balconies, beckons to be explored. Here, just a stone’s throw from Liberty Square, is Stories Coffee, a charming coffee shop serving carefully prepared specialty coffee and a small selection of natural wine.

In contrast to the Art Deco and Neoclassical facades of Tbilisi’s old city, the interior at Stories is sleek and contemporary. Large storefront windows and an etched mirror menu provide a certain luminosity, reflected by a well-polished Nuova Simonelli espresso machine. For filter, Stories offers a wide selection of manual brew methods. Coffee is sourced from a variety of regional roasters, such as The Welder Catherine in Moscow.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been particularly hard on Georgia and many of Tbilisi’s specialty coffee shops were shuttered permanently last year. The country, however, has been one of the first to welcome vaccinated travelers back. So if you’ve been fortunate enough to get the jab and are ready to start traveling again, Georgia is waiting with open arms.

There will be a good cup of coffee waiting for you.