The best restaurants Armenia

Behind a tsarist facade reminiscent of old Yerevan, this restaurant, which displays the famous Armenian lavash bread, a unesco World Heritage Site, offers varied and sophisticated local culinary specialities in a Loundge setting, beautifully presented and served by a friendly and professional staff. The atmosphere is friendly, and the clientele is often young, attracted by reasonable prices as well as by the quality of the dishes on offer, even if the restaurant aspires to the top of the range

This establishment, which can be reached by passing under the porch of the first passageway of the North Avenue, offers excellent Armenian cuisine, of quality, in a warm atmosphere. Local and international specialities are presented in a tasteful, pleasant setting and at very affordable prices, like the other establishments in the chain with the emblematic apricot ("tsirani" in Armenian) brand. We advise you to book in advance as this restaurant is very often crowded, a victim of its own success.

An address known to gourmets, but one that you have to take the trouble to find, at the extreme north-west of Gyumri, next to the Olympic College, at the foot of the Red Fort, a small round fort on a hill, away from the centre. All sorts of specialities are served there, but especially fish, which is served from afar in this establishment called the Col des Circassiens because it is said to have served the soldiers of a regiment in Circassian (Cherkesses) dress.

In the luxurious setting of the Armenia Marriott Hotel, on the second floor, overlooking Republic Square, this elegant restaurant offers a wide variety of pasta and dishes whose authentic Italian style is guaranteed by the chef. In addition to peninsular specialities, the restaurant has added more international dishes to its menu. Sacrificing a well-established habit in the local restaurant business, two private lounges await guests who want even more privacy in the already hushed atmosphere of the room.

A very good address, again and again in the lively Opera district, for lovers of Western Armenian cuisine. The restaurateurs are more precisely Armenians from Syria, which broadens the palette of flavours to the whole Middle Eastern cuisine. The establishment has been in existence for some time, but it has retained all of its assets, despite competition from many restaurants offering similar cuisine, which were created shortly after the arrival of Armenians fleeing the civil war in Syria.

Located in the heart of Yerevan, near the Opera House, an address that local gourmets exchange and that has reached the ears and palaces of people from all over the world. They are mentioned at the entrance (including Gérard Depardieu, Alain Delon and Nicolas Sarkozy). This temple of dolma, declined on all leguminous modes, offers many other dishes. A refined family cuisine, authentically Armenian. Note that all the meat comes from open-air farms in Dilijan. Note the pleasant garden at the back, ideal in summer. But small budgets abstain.

Located in a bucolic setting on the northern outskirts of Yerevan, this establishment of the local Tsirani chain offers, as always, a wide range of tasty Armenian culinary specialties, often accompanied by music. The typical interior space is tastefully furnished, but on fine days you can have lunch and dinner on the terrace which opens onto a large garden with a pond and fountain and a panoramic view. It is best to make a reservation, as the address is appreciated and coveted for weddings, banquets and other libations.

Located on the prestigious Abovian Street, a stone's throw from Aznavour Square, a good address for the evening. You can discover it in a pretty patio after the Dalan art and craft gallery, where tables welcome you, under the freshness of the vines, to offer you varied dishes of national cuisine, sometimes with international sauce, at nice prices. Attracted by art lovers, trendy youth and expats, who like to get together for lunch or dinner in the cool courtyard

One of the best and most original restaurants on the central square, at the foot of the Hotel Ketcharis. The sign ("The Prisoner of the Caucasus" in Russian) is justified by the decor recreating the universe of a great Soviet film of the 1960s with curious figurines, in the vast wooden room reminiscent of a Caucasian tavern, where very good Armenian and Russian specialties are served - enough to hesitate between Armenian mantis and Russian pilmeni -, copious khorovadz skewering three pork chops, etc., with a good wine list.

This establishment is one of the many houses, even farms in the village of Tatev, which have been converted into a tourism still craft. A modest village house, with a rustic decor in rooms with basic but acceptable comfort, in line with the welcome of the owners who, like their colleagues, will be pleased to show you the sites to visit. The place is especially prized for its restaurant, where you can eat tasty local specialities, enjoying a superb view of the valley under a large veranda

Just before arriving at Eghegnadzor, a very pretty place, in the bucolic scenery of the banks of the Arpa river on one side, and a small artificial lake on the other, on which rustic rattan huts with roofs imitating the traditional Hazarachen structure are built. A guinguette atmosphere, with rabiz music on weekends, around appetizing and hearty dishes, which are not limited to khorovadz and kebab. An authentic folklore break, refreshing in summer, even if the strong currents of the Arpa do not invite you to swim.

Built behind a beautiful black stone façade of a building from the tsarist era on Abovian street, this restaurant, with a vast courtyard, is the latest addition to the Tsirani brand and is a credit to the other two establishments. The atmosphere is pleasant, the decor typical and authentic, as shown by the "tonir" at the entrance, as well as the wide range of culinary specialists, tastefully prepared and also served on the terrace with warmth, all at reasonable prices.

An establishment that opened its doors at the foot of the Cascade in 2012, in a trendy area of the capital. Here, French cuisine is guaranteed organic and prepared on demand, under the authority of a French chef. Everything is homemade, even the bread, and not in a tonir. The decoration and the atmosphere are resolutely Provençal, ensured by a pleasant summer terrace, where you will not fail to meet French speakers. A real good surprise to find this restaurant with Provençal flavours in the heart of Armenia!

Neither private nor confidential, this "Club" (which translates as agump in Armenian) is an address that has always been very popular in the Opera district and has not gone out of fashion. Interesting value for money with a varied and copious traditional Armenian cuisine, while the abundance of mezze or hors d'oeuvres, of which a vast choice is offered as an appetizer, nevertheless allows you to taste the other specialties, all in a pleasant setting. Animation guaranteed, especially in the evening when the basement converted into a basement piano bar.

On the edge of the Hrazdan, an unusual Tudor-style castle, redesigned by Disney... In addition to this medieval castle décor with drawbridge and turrets, this restaurant, which is accessed via the Kievian Bridge, is worth a visit for its menu, which offers the classics of Armenian cuisine, khorovadz, mezze and salads, as well as European dishes. The prices are higher than those of neighbouring establishments, and the atmosphere is more uptight... even if the original setting attracts a local clientele, families and groups of friends, who take it easy on the dance floor from 8 pm

"Chez Artashès" (the name of the restaurant), located behind the cathedral, offers a choice of grilled meats and kebabs(khorovadz) which have made it a great success. The meat is tasty and the service is fast on the first floor as well as on the more intimate second floor. The quality of the khorovadz and other grilled meats with mushrooms has made the reputation of the place, where it is better to reserve if you want to taste the specialities. Such a success that there are "Artashi Mot", more fast-food, on Spendiarian street in the north and Yervant Kotchar street.

As the sign underlines, subtitled "nacha derevnia" in Russian ("our village"), authentic Armenian specialties are offered in a decor that reproduces the atmosphere of the traditional villages of Armenia and more generally of the Caucasus, which means wood, kilim and crafts. The service is done in traditional costume, to the sound of Armenian folk music. Among the dishes offered, specialties of rural Armenia at reasonable prices: khash or harissa, or manti, these Armenian raviolis served in a broth.

The Armenian version, under its Lebanese name, is served here, Greek sandwiches or other kebabs, which have the advantage of being prepared here with meat of much better quality than in the many shops serving the same specialty that have proliferated in Yerevan, especially south of Republic Square. Spit-roasted beef, pork or lamb, which is served by the waiter, is very fresh, and the establishment can satisfy an overwhelming hunger in the best possible way, at any time of the day or night.

Mer Taghe means my neighborhood in Armenian. In other words, the place is local, in a lively neighbourhood not far from the Opera. With a small terrace next to the Tufenkian exhibition hall on Toumanian Street, it always attracts a large clientele, who come especially to enjoy the fine Armenian pizza with spicy minced meat, the lahmadjune, probably the tastiest in Yerevan, but other specialties on the go. The service is worthy of fast food and the interior decoration, which evokes rural Armenia, is original.

Set up in an original and typical Caucasian tavern setting evoking the rich history of old Yerevan, even if it is located at the entrance of this newly created Northern Avenue which symbolizes the will to modernize the capital, this restaurant, with a lift, offers a naturally typical Armenian cuisine, served by waitresses in traditional costumes, to the sound of often folk music, but varying from floor to floor, all at prices that remain reasonable, even with the wines.