This article may contain affiliate links. When you purchase something we recommend, we make a small commission. You don’t pay anything extra. 💘 For more details, check out our Terms of Use page.
A $150 lesson from three hot chocolates and one shisha
Nothing like a travel scam to humble you a little, right?
Now let me be clear — we loved our time in Tbilisi. It’s charming, gritty, full of character, and has some of the most walkable old town streets I’ve wandered through in a while. But one specific experience left a bad taste (or should I say smoke?) in our mouths.
We got charged $150 for three hot chocolates and one shisha.
Yes, seriously. And honestly, I count us lucky. I’ve since read horror stories of people paying even more or getting cornered in scarier ways. So here’s the full story — and how to avoid falling for the same trap.
What Are Shisha Bars in Tbilisi’s Old Town?
The Old Town has a ton of cute places to walk around, especially near the river as you head up Kote Afkhazi Street — right where Cotton Rows is marked on Google Maps. That’s the strip we’re talking about. It’s full of shisha bars and cafes, often with people outside trying to pull you in. While I wouldn’t say they’re all bad, this area seems to have a bit of a reputation.
On that day, it was cold and pouring with rain. We were just looking for a place to spend an hour before going to the spa. Four of us sat down and ordered three hot chocolates and one shisha.
My partner had a gut feeling as we were walking and checked prices at four other bars nearby — they all seemed reasonable. When we got to the place we ended up at (ironically listed as “Scam Bar” by someone on Google), it was quiet, a bit tucked away, and the menu looked the same as the others. So we figured it was fine.
We had a few sips and puffs and then the two of us left early for the spa, leaving our friends to settle up.
That’s when we got the call.
The staff had pulled out a completely different menu, with way higher prices, and demanded $155 in cash. No cards, no discussion. Just pay.
So if you’re in the Cotton Rows area, especially at night or in bad weather, don’t sit down unless you’re 100% sure of the menu and pricing.
Honestly, I’d avoid this stretch altogether — whether you’re a man or a woman. We’ve read stories of solo travelers from both ends being intimidated, overcharged, and in some cases blocked from leaving by big guys if they questioned the bill.
Once every few years, you’ll get a news article talking about arrests linked to similar tourist scams. Some include Tinder or dating app meet ups with unsuspecting man. And if you think going to the police will solve it… well, we tried that too. It led nowhere.
So maybe avoid the nightlife in dodgy places… which as someone who’s not really into nightlife anymore, I’m totally fine with.
