Travel

What to Do in Armenian Wine Country

Stop for the wine, but dive deeper into Yerevan like an archaeologist

By Adam Leith Gollner


Published on September 12, 2016

Must-Try Local Dish

Lahmajoun is a meat-topped flatbread also known as "Armenian pizza." Try it at Mer Taghe (21/1 Tumanyan St., Yerevan) with a squirt of lemon and a glass of than, a minty-yogurt beverage similar to Turkish ayran.

Best Wine Bars

In Vino and Wine Republic are located in central Yerevan. These casual, eat-in wine bars double as wine shops.

The Tourist Trap Worth Trying

Grab lunch at Edem Restaurant, which caters to visitors near the base of Areni-1 but still serves a classic Armenian spread.

How to Hack the Travel Route

Most flights to Zvartnots International Airport transfer through Moscow. Get a 24-hour visa before traveling, and spend a layover day in Russia to make the most of the long haul.

Best Traditional Dolma Purveyor

Head to the aptly named Dolmama at 10 Pushkin Street in Yerevan for the "dolmama" dolmas made with sirloin, rosemary, and chiles.

Stash This in Your Suitcase

Source a locally produced, hand-woven rug from the weekend Vernissage flea market in Yerevan. Aram Street at Hanrapetutyan Street.

Read This Before You Go

William Saroyan's "Seventy Thousand Assyrians," from the collection The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze is about flourishing and vanishing civilizations in the Caucasus and the realities of life in exile.

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