We'll tell you what's best to bring from Batumi and where to go shopping.
Reviews about shopping in Batumi indicate that it offers a satisfactory shopping experience. However, it may not be worthwhile to plan a separate shopping trip to Batumi. For such purposes, tourists often prefer to stay in Tbilisi. But if you are vacationing in Batumi, there is no need to go out of the city specifically to buy souvenirs and gifts for your loved ones.
Tips for Excellent Shopping
It's important to pay attention to the working hours of the shops. Supermarkets are often open 24/7, large shopping centers operate from 9:00 to 21:00. Markets open early in the morning around 6:00, and many start closing by 15:00. In the morning, the products at markets are fresher, but by evening, sellers significantly reduce prices.
In contrast to Tbilisi, Batumi is not particularly prone to seasonal sales. Significant discounts can be expected only before national holidays, and even then, not always.
There is no need to search for shops that offer tax-free shopping in Batumi. The majority of tax-free shops are located in Tbilisi. Rare exceptions in other resort cities may claim to refund 18% to the buyer, but in reality, they only give back 13% after deducting a banking commission.
What to Bring from Batumi
Tasty "Souvenirs"
After trying the delicious Georgian cuisine, it's impossible to resist bringing some national dishes as edible memories. When choosing food items to take with you, consider products that are well-preserved and easy to transport, such as:
Cheese.
The "signature" varieties of this region include sheep's milk Guda, salty Sulguni, and soft Imeretian cheese. Georgia is known for about fifty varieties of cheese, including those with herbs, nuts, and spices, as well as young "semi-soft" and aged, hard and soft cheeses.
Spices and sauces.
A great gift from the sunny Caucasus region is a packet of Svanetian salt, Khmeli-Suneli, or a bottle of Ajika, Tkemali, and Satsibeli sauces.
Sweets.
Original churchkhela, hearty kozinaki, or exquisite tklapi (fruit leather). On the stalls of Batumi markets, you can find homemade jam made from walnuts, rose petals, pine cones, as well as exotic flavors like fig, feijoa, and quince.
Wine
Georgians take pride in the fact that the country annually produces more than 500 varieties of grapes. The law allows exporting up to 4 bottles of wine per person. Taking advantage of this, tourists often choose the following "spirited" gifts:
Classic wines - white Tsinandali and red Saperavi.
Semi-sweet Kindzmarauli and Khvanchkara.
The lesser-known Akhasheni.
Wine made from the Chkhaveri grape variety, which is not exported due to small production volumes, priced at 25-40 GEL per bottle.
Clothing and Shoes
Batumi is not a shopping destination for fashion enthusiasts. High fashion has not reached this city, and boutiques are more of an exception than the norm, unlike in Tbilisi.
One of the most famous places for expensive clothing is Ilgazli, a showroom for natural and artificial fur. The shelves of stores mainly feature products from Chinese and Turkish manufacturers targeting budget-conscious buyers, such as LC Waikiki and Koton. These types of brands will cost travelers around 40 to 150 GEL per item.
In Batumi, as well as in other Georgian resorts, there is demand for unique locally made products, such as woolen items.
Jewelry
In Georgia in general, and particularly in Batumi, almost every tourist aims to purchase affordable jewelry:
Silver and gold jewelry of local production. An excellent gift bought from a jewelry store or accessory shop in Batumi, such as a ring, pendant, or earrings made of silver, can cost around 30 GEL.
Jewelry made of cloisonné enamel called "minankari," which is a national treasure. A wide selection of brooches, pendants, earrings, and rings can be found at the showcases of Art Salon and a specialized shop in Batumi Plaza, the city's largest shopping center.
Where to go shopping
Markets in Batumi
If there's one place worth going shopping in Batumi, it's the local markets. Here you'll find a wide range of products at attractive prices. If you're staying in an apartment or a rental house, buying groceries at the markets can be very convenient.
Hopa Market
This market is primarily for clothing, but you'll also find fruits, vegetables, sweets, and tea. The price of churckhela at Hopa is half the price compared to the central part of Batumi. It's best to visit this market for souvenirs as they are much cheaper here. There's also a wide selection of trinkets and various gifts available at Hopa.
Fish Market
If you enjoy seafood, be sure to visit this market. It is small and specializes only in fish and seafood. You'll find almost the entire Black Sea fauna on display: shrimp, mussels, trout, mullet, and more. The price of the products depends on the costliness of the fish species and ranges from one to thirty GEL. There's a simple and cozy café on the market premises where they cook local fish.
Central Parekhi Market
The Parekhi Market at Mayakovski Square consists of a two-story covered area and an open-air section. Here's what you should look for at this market:
Good fresh meat and live fish
Exotic and traditional fruits and vegetables
Homemade pickles and preserves
Aromatic spices, herbs, and sauces
Local sausages, basturma, and cheeses
Traditional Georgian sweets (such as churckhela and kozinaki)
Dried fruits and honey
Local tea and coffee sold by weight
In addition to food items, Parekhi Market also sells other goods such as rabbits, chicks, and other small animals for breeding.
Shopping Malls
There aren't many shopping malls in Batumi, but you can visit "Batumi Mall," "Batumi Plaza," and "MetroCity Forum" for your shopping needs. Each mall offers a wide selection of branded clothing stores, electronics and mobile phone shops, cosmetics and perfume stores, as well as various cafes and restaurants.
Batumi Plaza
This popular shopping mall has been around for almost a decade and offers the standard supermarket, clothing, and shoe stores. Additionally, it has an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a casino, and tote booths. You'll also find a decent jewelry store here. Batumi Plaza is connected to a high-end hotel for resort guests.
MetroCity Forum
MetroCity Forum opened in 2017 and has been gaining popularity rapidly, thanks in part to its IMAX cinema, one of the largest in the Caucasus region. The mall also features several cafes and restaurants, including a rooftop bar that provides stunning views.
Batumi Mall
This classic shopping mall boasts a relatively good fitness center and a spacious electronics store. The upper floors of the mall are home to a casino and a few hotel rooms for visitors to the city.
Supermarkets
In Batumi, you can find all the major supermarket chains present in Georgia.
Goodwill
The largest supermarket is the central Goodwill, located on Chavchavadze Street. Another Goodwill is located in Batumi Mall. It was designed as a kind of city landmark, so the prices here are noticeably higher than in other supermarkets in the city. However, they offer a luxurious assortment of thousands of products. Goodwill is a great place to find a variety of dairy products, which are not as widely available in Georgia. Additionally, Goodwill on Chavchavadze Street regularly holds tastings of national cuisine specialties such as kebabs, wines, and cheeses.
Willmart
Willmart is a mid-range supermarket with a more modest range of products compared to Goodwill. It is sometimes compared to markets in terms of affordability. If you're looking for household chemicals, Willmart is the most cost-effective option in the city (the best store of the chain is located on Inasaridze Street).
Yalcin Market
Yalcin Market is a Turkish supermarket chain that caters to budget-conscious tourists and middle-class travelers. There are currently three Yalcin supermarkets in Batumi. The one on Inasaridze Street has a range of products similar to the famous Goodwill but with prices that are 10-15% lower.
Other Popular Supermarkets in Batumi
Elite Market
A chain of expensive stores offering exclusive products such as cheese, chocolate, wines, and other alcoholic beverages.
Nugeshi
Two relatively small and affordable price stores located at Tbilisskaya Square and Tavadashvili Street.
Nikora
Budget-friendly supermarkets with a modest assortment. They offer basic categories of dairy products, fruits, and vegetables.
Unique Places for Shopping in Batumi
The city of Batumi is home to many small shops that create a unique atmosphere and charm. There are numerous shops where you can purchase souvenirs with a national or maritime theme, as well as jewelry.
If you're looking for fresh fish, you should visit the trout farm in the village of Koki, located just outside the city. There, you can not only go fishing but also buy live sturgeon and trout. Koki also has a cozy restaurant where they will gladly cook the fish you catch or prepare pre-selected fish for you.
Specialized Wine Shops
For wine shopping, the following shops are worth visiting:
Wine boutiques Khareba, Kindzmarauli, Eniseli, and Vinny Dom;
The wine cellar on Gamsakhurdia Street, where rare non-export wines are available for sale;
The Adjarian House of Wine, located near Batumi. They offer both budget-friendly options starting from 15 GEL and exclusive wines priced up to 100 GEL per bottle.
