The Georgian gastro-bar “Zhami” in Antwerp, Belgium, has been delighting guests for a year, offering a unique blend of Georgian cuisine, 8,000-year-old wine, and modern art.
Founded by three Georgian women - Tamar Eristavi, Ekaterine Latsabidze, and Oliko Dzavashvili - the establishment aims to introduce European guests to Georgian culinary traditions while creating a cultural bridge between the two countries.
The bar is located in a historic building locally known as “Little Clock”. Co-founder Tamar Eristavi explained that the building’s history inspired the bar’s name:
“We wanted a Georgian name that would be easy for foreign guests to understand. We connected the historic name of the building with the Georgian word ‘Zhami,’ which means ‘time.’ That’s how the name of our bar was born,” Eristavi said.
Zhami offers around 60 varieties of Georgian wine and a menu of modernized Georgian dishes, carefully curated to appeal to local tastes while maintaining authentic flavors.
“The facility is small and accommodates up to 25 guests at full capacity. A terrace will be added in the spring, allowing us to host up to 35 guests. Currently, we have three employees, but we plan to expand the team starting in November,” Eristavi noted.
Targeting the middle and upper-middle segment of the market, Zhami primarily attracts Belgian locals and tourists. The bar experiences heightened activity on Fridays and weekends, when guests gather to taste Georgian wines and dishes in the heart of Antwerp.
“Georgian wine and cuisine are still relatively new to the Belgian market. Our goal is to raise awareness and establish Georgian taste and culture here,” Eristavi said.
With its mix of authentic flavors, cultural experience, and intimate ambiance, Zhami is steadily making its mark in Antwerp’s culinary scene, showcasing Georgia’s rich gastronomic heritage to a European audience.
