A new artisanal bakery, Boulangerie Vardo, has opened on Iakob Nikoladze Street in Tbilisi. The project was inspired by founder Salome Bezhashvili’s grandmother's old Tbilisi house — an emotional starting point that eventually grew into a multi-concept family business under the umbrella of the Vardo Group.
“The idea began with my grandmother’s small, traditional Tbilisi house,” Bezhashvili said. “Although there was considerable interest in building a large, multi-story property on the site, our memories were more valuable for us. We chose to renovate the house and preserve its authenticity.”
That space now includes a boulangerie, a catering service, a family-run boutique hotel, and soon, a bar called “Drink Vardo”, set to open on Ikalto Street within the next one to two months.
As for the name, Bezhashvili explained it was an easy decision: “Vardo was my grandmother’s name, so we did not think much and we all loved spending time in her house. The name felt natural.”
Boulangerie Vardo specializes in European-style artisanal products, offering a menu that includes sandwiches, freshly baked breads, pastries, salads, and other products. The menu will be regularly updated and expanded with new items. Bezhashvili emphasizes that the business is a family effort, with each member contributing according to their strengths.
Although the boulangerie has only been open for a short time, early feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. “We’ve only been open for two days, but the customer response has already exceeded our expectations,” she said.
Vardo Group’s businesses are spread across different districts of Tbilisi, with future plans to offer delivery throughout the city. The group’s catering service is already operational and serving events across various regions of Georgia.
Looking ahead, Bezhashvili sees growth on the horizon. “Our plans are ambitious. Although the first branch just opened, I’m hopeful we’ll expand and open new locations soon,” she said.
