Tucked away on the road between Estepona and San Pedro is the kind of place you almost don’t want to write about – because once word gets out, getting a table won’t be so easy.

But Luidze deserves the spotlight.

This Georgian restaurant is quietly serving up some of the most flavour-packed, comforting and downright memorable food on the Costa del Sol.

The first thing that hits you is just how different it feels. Georgian cuisine is still a rarity in southern Spain, and Luidze leans into it with confidence – rich spices, slow-cooked meats and dishes designed to be shared.

We started with the beef carpaccio, a beautifully presented plate drizzled with olive oil and finished with delicate shavings of cheese. Simple on paper, but executed with precision.

Then came one of Georgia’s most famous staples: khachapuri – a traditional bread stuffed with spiced meat.

It was golden, slightly charred on the outside, soft and pillowy within, and bursting with deeply seasoned lamb that tasted like it had been cooking for hours.

Another standout was khinkali, oversized dumplings filled with chicken and broth. They’re juicy and aromatic with each bite releasing a hit of flavour.

But the undisputed star of the meal was the spicy chicken thighs.

Perfectly cooked to the point they simply fell apart, the meat was impossibly tender, accompanied by a rich, slightly fiery sauce that had real depth.

It’s the kind of dish that stops conversation mid-table as everyone just focuses on eating.

Luidze doesn’t treat drinks as an afterthought either. The pomegranate sours were sharp, fresh and dangerously easy to drink, while the lychee vodka spritz brought a lighter, more floral balance – both ideal for cutting through the richness of the food.

And don’t forget to finish the meal off with one of their unique flavoured brandy shots, or delicious mango and ginger tea.

All of this is served in a relaxed, sun-drenched setting that feels a world away from the usual Costa dining circuit.

In a region packed with chiringuitos, steakhouses and tapas bars, Luidze stands out by doing something genuinely different and doing it exceptionally well.

If you’re bored of the same menus on repeat, this is your answer.