The best restaurants Armenia

Tortillas and tacos at the foot of the Ararat, or rather the Opera! For several years now, this great restaurant with its Latin décor has been offering Mexican or Texmex specialities, and although it is no longer alone in this culinary niche, it still attracts a large number of customers, seduced by the specialities of the house as well as by the musical atmosphere. The youth of Yerevan has gotten into the texmex and salsa era, and goes there to eat or just to have a glass of mojito or other cocktails which the establishment makes a speciality!

This sign is dedicated to the environment and fair trade. Both natural and organic are the key words that have convinced the local coils. In the aroma distilled by coffee, a subtle blend of various milled grains, soups, salads, sandwiches and other pastries are served with fresh products from the Armenian region. The concept has rained so much that another sign saw the day near the Cascade, 2 rue Tamanian.

As its name suggests, the establishment offers chaourma, or chavourma, the Armenian-Lebanese version of our Greek kebabs or sandwiches, but whose meat, of lamb or veal, on the spit, is of a much safer origin, in lavache or pita bread. But also lahmadjune, those pizzas that are said to be Turkish in France, khadaif type pastries, baklavas, to be eaten on the spot or on the terrace or to take away. An enjoyable gourmet break in a rather chic neighbourhood, on the edge of the Place de la République

If you are feeling a little peckish and nostalgic for good French bread, this establishment, as its name suggests, prides itself on offering French baguettes, breads and pastries, alongside other more local specialities, which can be enjoyed on site with tea, coffee and other drinks. Everything is presented nicely and neatly behind a display stand, and the place makes you want to stop there, a lounge area is provided for this, but you can just as easily leave with a sandwich or the baguette under your arm, as in Paris.

A little away from the Hrazdan river gorges, but thus offering a panoramic view, this restaurant leaning against the hill of Dzizernagapert, at the foot of the genocide memorial and its immense park, offers a varied and quality cuisine, mainly Armenian but also with international ambitions, to a clientele often family oriented, attracted by shows and other musical events, called here "chao", but also by the natural setting, conducive to calm and meditation when the decibels allow it ...

Yerevan has not succumbed to the skyscraper trend, so this restaurant, recently opened on the 17th and top floor of a building housing the Elite Plazza shopping centre, offers one of the few opportunities in the capital to enjoy a good meal while taking in the panoramic view. The Armenian and international specialties, which are otherwise tasty and tastefully presented, are a luxury that only the wealthiest can afford here, as the altitude makes the bill go up, as it does in most Yerevan rooftops

In an intimate setting and a beautiful décor, worthy of old Gyumri, this restaurant boasts authentic Armenian specialties, not just khorovadz and other dolmas. Local specialties such as tan abour, the typical Armenian mountain yoghurt soup with wheat gruel, which is very invigorating in winter, are particularly appreciated, as well as mantis and other beautifully presented and tasty dishes of Armenian and European cuisine. It depends, like so many other Gymri restaurants, on a hotel, in this case the Nane.

This lovely establishment is not a piano bar, as its sign would suggest. Situated on the outskirts of the centre of Gyumri, the Piano is renowned for its delicious Armenian and European-inspired prepared dishes and its selection of sweets and pastries, both Armenian and European, as well as ice cream. You can sit there for a gourmet break in a pleasant setting while enjoying the view of the old Gyumri, or take away the specialities on offer to continue your stroll through the city while eating out.

The Armenian group Tashir, which has entered the fast food business with its eponymous pizza chain, has also set up shop in Gyumri. Located in the historic centre of Gyumri, this Tashir chain pizzeria offers all kinds of pizzas and other fast food dishes at affordable prices, except for authentic Italian, to take away or to eat on the spot in the few chairs available in the establishment, with a modern decor, like all those of this chain, which is very successful in Armenia.

This relatively new restaurant has gone from being a pizzeria to an Italian restaurant. It still offers a wide range of pizzas that claim to be authentically Italian, as well as an equally wide choice of pasta and other Italian specialties, not forgetting of course the Armenian gastronomy, including the famous Armenian or Lahmajune pizzas. Armenian wine, but especially Italian wine, can raise the bill...

This establishment, ideally located on the outskirts of the central square, is one of the oldest in Gyumri and remains a very popular address for locals and visitors alike, for its authentic and rustic decor, and its cuisine, mainly Armenian, served with cordiality. A family atmosphere and very local therefore, which will make you appreciate even more its large choice of specialties and sweets, chocolate and vanilla and other local pastries.

Situated in a green setting north of Dilidjan, along the river on the road to Idjevan, this restaurant, decorated in a rustic style, offers a wide variety of Armenian specialities, but in the Syrian style, as the sign points out, dedicated to the city of Aleppo, from which Armenia has taken in many refugees. There are Caucasian-style chachliks (skewers) and other khorovadz, but also khach and other local dishes in a friendly atmosphere and often to the sound of traditional music

Mountain atmosphere guaranteed in this restaurant in the trees, on the edge of the forest, near the Naïri hotel. Unlike many of the local restaurants, which are located in hotels, here you don't have to sacrifice luxury, with livery and candlelit dinners. Wood dominates the chalet-style décor, and the only thing missing from the menu is the Savoyard fondue, but the tasty local specialities, such as khach or mantis, Armenian ravioli also served in a broth, make up for it and add calories before attacking the slopes.

On the way to Eghegnadzor, at the entrance of the road leading to the Noravank monastery, this restaurant serves typical Armenian cuisine (not only khorovadz!) prepared with local products and washed down with local wines. In a bucolic setting, especially on the terrace full of plants or in the comfortable lounges, you can also taste regional wines and enjoy a warm and pleasant atmosphere. If you prefer not to linger, the restaurant offers take-away.

An ideal site, with the Ararat and the Araxis before your eyes. Is there a better place to taste the Armenian specialties that the restaurant offers? A gastronomic stopover is a must in this memorial, which is also a place of pilgrimage for many Armenians of the Diaspora. Music is also on the program, and folklore, in reference to the museum dedicated to it. Huge tables are set up on the site on the occasion of the great celebrations taking place in the memorial

Created by the chef of the famous restaurant "Dolmama", this snack is ideal for discovering the famous basturma (dried beef) next to pastrami, and also the other product of the local delicatessen, the sujukh, a spicy sausage called here yeghchik, not to be confused with the homonymous candy. A cheap gourmet break, in a sandwich or tapas to peck with a good glass of wine on one of the few outdoor tables. A piece of advice: if you have an appointment, whether gallant or not, avoid basturma, whose spice leaves a persistent smell, especially in the heat of summer.

The food here is inspired by Jirair Avanian, famous for his work at Dolmama, Yerevan's famous restaurant. Flying Ostrich serves traditional Armenian dishes, often barbecued, or khorovadz, but with nuances inspired by international cuisines. You can enjoy your meal outside on the terrace and inner garden overlooking the wooded hills, or inside the restaurant decorated with Armenian arts and crafts.

Not necessarily rooted in local traditions, as the sign would suggest! But the masters of the place are attached to their good city of Stepanakert and want to share their love for it, in this restaurant in the centre, which passes for one of the trendiest places in the capital of Artsakh. A cosy place, with an original decor and a warm atmosphere, with concerts, where tasty snacks are served, possibly on the rooftop terrace, for those who are a little hungry, as well as a good more elaborate local cuisine

A very pleasant bar which also makes a restaurant in the centre of Stepanakert, which still has very few, except in this Toumanian street where these signs are concentrated. In a rather nice and colourful decoration, one can, after having tasted one of the many cocktails offered in the pretty patio with trees, sit down and taste very good local and less local specialities sprinkled with local and less local wines, whose menu is prodigious, in a warm atmosphere, often with music, and this until midnight or even later

In the coolness of the very pleasant winter garden and its pond with fountain of the luxurious Grand Hotel Yerevan, ideally located on Abovian Street and in the greenery of the terrace overlooking Charles Aznavour Square, great Italian and international cuisine. An elegant setting, but not too stuffy though, for a tasty cuisine, offering the most refined specialities, served by attentive staff, all washed down with the best Italian and Armenian vintages, which are likely to make the bill soar.

A good address for local gourmets! The sign rightly states "...and more", because the establishment is much more than just a café and all Armenian specialities - or almost! - Not only are all the Armenian specialities on the menu, but also good pizzas, both Italian and Armenian, and other so-called European dishes, accompanied by wines, especially Armenian wines, which are on the menu, in a rustic setting with colourful wood panelling, between the chalet and the tavern. The competition is not fierce and the restaurant is often full.

Ideally located on the banks of the Kazakh River, in a green setting, this restaurant is not only worthy of its decor, certainly charming, more outside than in the rooms, of a somewhat compassed luxury. Pretty kiosks under the trees where typical Armenian dishes are served, with a preference for khorovadz, at reasonable prices, even with wine... and music, especially when there are bands. The establishment also has a few rooms with a certain level of comfort.

This bistrot-taverne, which also claims to be a "beer house", is located in the heart of the historic district, in a beautiful house combining, as is often the case in the city, black and red tufa. It offers snack-style dishes, mainly Armenian specialities, but served copiously with sympathy and warmth. The atmosphere is in keeping with the most popular beer bar in Gyumri, which is, it should be noted, the Armenian beer capital.

Behind a curious black and orange stone facade of a building located in the centre of Gyumri, a large and bright room with a sober decor offers an Armenian and international cuisine. Suitable for small appetites, as the portions are not Armenian style. So no khorovadz debauchery, but beautifully presented, carefully and hygienically presented dishes, including hamburgers and other more international dishes. The establishment also offers a wide selection of sweets and pastries, both Armenian and European.

This restaurant located in the northern outskirts of Yerevan, towards Komitas Avenue, in a lively quarter with green areas, offers, among other Armenian specialties, those enjoyed in the province of Shirak and its capital, Gyumri. Only connoisseurs will know the difference, but the cuisine of Gyumri and the Shirak province is more rustic and sober, suited to the harsher climate of this northern region, where khach and other body-friendly specialties help to cope with the rigours of winter ,

This restaurant located near the Republic Square is dedicated to the cuisine of Western Armenia, more exactly of Cilicia, as the sign says, which pays homage to the city of Ayas, the only large port that Armenia ever had, on the Mediterranean Sea, at the time of the Kingdom of Cilicia. However, no seafood platters. In culinary terms, the cuisine of Western Armenia does not really differ from that of Armenia, but you will be able to savour the diversity of it in this tastefully decorated restaurant to the sound of traditional music.

Somewhat off-centre, on one of the main sloping streets on the edge of the Hrazdan gorges, this restaurant is one of the survivors of the good times in a district that used to be full of khorovadz and other grilled meats, offered in stands on the pavements of Prochian and Paronian avenues until a few years ago. A good sign for the value for money and the typical decor, as well as for the Armenian specialties on offer, among the restaurants located in this area where the scent of kebabs still emanates.

The sign is Italian, the cuisine is Italian, but it is also international and the clientele is made up of the nouveau riche who like to show off in the flashy and slightly kitsch decor of this restaurant with orchestra, without looking to spend money. Perhaps as much ethno-sociological as gastronomic interest, although the menu has improved, for this establishment located between the heights of the Cascade, on the edge of the greenery of the Victory Park, and the northern outskirts of the Armenian capital, therefore a little far from the centre.

This bar-restaurant, located in the lively Opera district, offers authentic Italian cuisine, whose specialties are popular in Yerevan. All kinds of pasta, but also dishes from different regions of Italy, a wide assortment of cold cuts, and very hearty pizzas too, which are tastefully presented in a rather sober decor, all washed down with Italian wines, but also Armenian vintages, served on large tables to create an atmosphere that is meant to be convivial, in the Italian style.

Situated to the right of the Cascade, in a district rich in all kinds of entertainment, this very nice newly created restaurant is worth visiting, especially during the sunny days: it is indeed one of the still too rare places in the capital where you can have lunch and dinner on the terrace and be offered, by a friendly and helpful staff, a varied and good quality menu, which does not spoil anything, of Armenian and international specialties. The "expats" of the capital have made it their Q. G.

A sign installed in the pleasant and relaxing greenery of Hakhtanagui Aiki (the Victory Park), on the heights overlooking the "Waterfall" and all of Yerevan. This bar-restaurant offers a wide choice of Armenian and also French specialties, even from other countries, at moderate prices, even with the addition of Armenian wines, all in a friendly atmosphere, on the terrace in the summer, where children can enjoy the surrounding green areas without fear of cars.

Located in the northern suburbs of Yerevan, but nevertheless in a lively area, relatively green when the summer has not been too hot, this restaurant specializing in Middle Eastern gastronomy offers a wide variety of Lebanese and Syrian dishes, quite similar to Armenian cuisine but whose subtleties have been appreciated by Armenians since the arrival of many Syrian refugees in the country. To be eaten on the spot or to take away, day or night.

This establishment, located in a slightly secluded area between the Opera and Republic squares, but nevertheless lively, offers a quality and refined Middle Eastern cuisine, which has seduced the capital's many amateurs from Lebanon, although difficult. Geotians may not see much difference between this cuisine and Armenian cuisine, but this restaurant allows you to grasp the nuances. You will eat like a king at a modest price. The restaurant also has a home delivery service.

This restaurant, ideally located in the lively Cascade district, close to the Tamanian statue, aspires to luxury and great cuisine, Armenian and Middle Eastern, and attracted the local elite when it was one of the few to occupy this niche. The Armenian and Near Eastern dishes on offer are sometimes of uneven quality, but the décor is elegant. The establishment makes it a point of honor to serve French or Californian wines, which helps to raise the bill, in a hushed and musical atmosphere that tends to soften the morals ...

Located in the hollow of the Hrazdan gorges, its slightly kitsch decor aspiring to luxury and its somewhat stilted service are not really in the spirit of the "guinguette" that the place had until a few years ago. However, the cuisine is refined, Armenian but also European, in profusion and with warmth, in a family atmosphere, and sometimes it is necessary to reserve the vast rooms for weddings and banquets. In other words, we are left with a certain folklore, with prices that remain reasonable

While local pizzas, lahmadjune, are still popular, Armenians have readily converted to Italian pizza, which was virtually unknown in Soviet times. This establishment, conveniently located at the beginning of Abovian Street, a stone's throw from Republic Square, was one of the first to introduce it to Yerevan, and it has since withstood stiff competition, including takeaway pizzas. It is part of a chain that also includes two establishments in the opera district, at 32 rue Toumanian and 31/2 rue Khorenatsi.

On the outskirts of Republic Square, there is a "corner" (ankiun in Armenian) of Italy in this restaurant that serves the specialties of the peninsula, and not only, with some success. In addition to the must-sees of Italian gastronomy, pizza and other pasta and ravioli in all sauces, the establishment with its vaguely Italian decor offers specialties from Armenia and other culinary horizons, served with Italian wines, but also the latest Armenian vintages, which can raise the bill presented by a rather affable staff.

Without being located in Garni itself, since it is in the small neighbouring town of Akunk, east of Abovian, this restaurant is a good gastronomic stopover, as long as you go past the not very welcoming front door. At the back of the restaurant, a tree-lined terrace will give even more flavour to Armenian and local specialities, guaranteed from the land, served with opulence, including the unmissable khorovadz (khorovadz), accompanied by a tasty lavache, and sprinkled with local wines at prices that are very reasonable.

Located just before the junction leading to the monastery, a pleasant stopover. In a bucolic setting, on the banks of the torrent where a farmyard is lined up, guests are welcomed with warmth and kindness. In the "coupés", these private compartments have all the comforts (sofa to lie on, washbasin, toilet), a wide variety of national dishes, including khach. From the terrace, or from some of the rooms in the small chalets, there is a breathtaking view over the valley.

Originally a modest guinguette, this restaurant with terraces has grown to accommodate tourists passing through the region and accommodate them in small chalets. Located north of Dilidjan, near the Haghartsin monastery, in a bucolic setting, it serves traditional Armenian dishes, including khorovadz and other chachliks, which are served copiously, but people come here mainly to taste the khach,.calf's or pig's trotters in their broth with a vinaigrette.

This restaurant will be perfect for lovers of the spicy flavours of Indian cuisine, which is not very well represented in Yerevan despite its close ties, dating back to the Soviet era, with India, which still sends many students to its universities. Nationals of the subcontinent, some of whom have failed in Yerevan, misled by fraudulent advertisements, may not be able to afford to eat there, but Armenians do get a taste for the tandoor, so close to the tonir!

This establishment, located in the Opera district, illustrates Yerevan's openness to world cuisines, especially Asian ones. Gone are the days when Yerevan had only one Chinese restaurant, from which people came out sick. Here, you can enjoy specialities of northern Chinese cuisine in a serene atmosphere, in a setting that is meant to be Pekinese. A cuisine less refined than that of the south (of China), but which will seduce the palates eager to rediscover the flavours of China after an overdose of kebabs. A welcome stopover on the Silk Roads.

This restaurant is located at a good distance from the center of the capital, in the western periphery, beyond the Hrazdan gorges, and therefore in a green setting. But distance does not matter for the fans of Georgian cuisine, which shows its difference even if it shares many flavors and specialties with Armenian cuisine. In a traditional setting of wood and wrought iron, on the upper floor, typically Caucasian, a varied choice of Georgian specialities - including the famous khnagali, Georgian variant of the Mantis - and Russian ones, at affordable prices.

In a decor recreating the typical atmosphere of the old taverns of the Caucasus, this restaurant on the first floor of a building located on the edge of the green belt east of the capital, between the Republic and Opera squares, offers a wide selection of Armenian and Georgian specialties, including the famous khngali, these large meat ravioli filled with broth, accompanied by the best wines of the region in a musical environment. A very friendly atmosphere, around large tables, day and night.

Among the many claimed "resort" locations created in the northern suburbs of Yerevan, this is one of the most impressive. An eclectic collection of buildings, with dungeons, canals, basins, water jets, waterfalls, statues and a swimming pool, scattered throughout a vast garden, this is the setting. It offers a wide range of kebabs and specialties from Armenia and elsewhere, washed down with Armenian and other wines in a typical (a) atmosphere, and activities, including horseback riding

The sign is hardly misleading. They make agape in an authentic refectory decor. Ideally located in a green setting at the entrance to the Holy See, this restaurant, whose large vaulted room with pointed arches overhanging long wooden tables is extended outside by tables set up under wooden arches in the shade of tall trees, offers authentic Armenian cuisine. If the decor, enhanced with kilims and handicrafts, is monastic, the cuisine is much less so, and the wine is not mass. Better to reserve!

Located in the immediate vicinity of the vast tree-lined esplanade of the Cascade, where the whole of Yerevan gathers in summer especially, to the right of the imposing statue of the Soviet urban planner Tamanian, this excellent restaurant offers in an elegant and bright setting, with large bay windows, original menus composed with Armenian specialties and other culinary horizons beautifully presented. Impeccable service, is friendly. The establishment offers a wine list, from the country and elsewhere, rather extensive which can 'weigh down the bill, but without excessive.

This newly created restaurant, an initiative of the local Tashir group, which has several shopping centres and a chain of Tashir pizzerias, is ideally located on the outskirts of Republic Square. It offers a wide range of Armenian and European specialties in a warm and relaxed atmosphere, and is popular for its khorovadz and grills, although vegetarians and other gluten-free lovers are not forgotten. The sign, which means "ladle" in Armenian, gives an idea of the hearty character of the dishes served by ladle.

A complex like this has been built a lot on the outskirts of Yerevan, especially in the green area on the road to Tbilisi. The establishment, scattered in a park with ponds and swimming pool, has several buildings, nicely furnished, including a hotel, whose rooms are also tastefully decorated. Suitable for weddings and banquets, the vast dining room extends outdoors where Armenian specialties can be tasted under the trees

The sign makes it clear that, rather than a djacharan (restaurant), it is more modestly a hatsadoun, which means that it is necessarily bread, a staple food in the Armenian tradition, but also many other things, including some typical Armenian specialties prepared with care with regional products. If you have a little hunger and thirst, it is in any case the establishment located closest to the monastery of Khor Virap.