Must-see restaurants in Central Asia

  • Traktir Konservator

    Dushanbe

    In an unprepossessing alley near the Opera House, this surprisingly atmospheric restaurant is a treat both in terms of its rural Russian decor (think…

  • Rudaki Restaurant

    Dushanbe

    Offering a full à la carte menu in addition to an excellent buffet selection, the Rudaki Restaurant at the Serena Hotel is a popular choice for a…

  • Copyright Stephen Lioy - Photography and Travel Media

    Supara Ethno-Complex

    Bishkek

    This delightful though somewhat contrived 'ethno' complex is a rapid-fire presentation of all things traditionally Kyrgyz, attracting mainly well-heeled…

  • Line Brew

    Almaty

    This branch of the popular nationwide microbrewery attracts the carnivorously inclined with stone-cooked meats, an assortment of steaks, some of the…

  • Copyright Stephen Lioy - Photography and Travel Media

    Shashlyk No. 1

    Bishkek

    It claims to be the best shashlyk in town...and may actually be right. Aside from the obvious meaty treats, the mushroom (шампиньон) kebabs are a real…

  • Minzifa

    Bukhara

    Bukhara's most charming and professional restaurant is this perennially popular place with a fantastic roof terrace overlooking the sunset-framed domes of…

  • Sayokhat

    Tajikistan

    Penjikent's most imaginative eatery, this eccentric wooden structure boasts timber stairways and cosy booths and is festooned with traditional artefacts…

  • Platan

    Samarkand

    Possibly the best restaurant in Samarkand, Platan has a classy interior and a summer terrace for shady al fresco dining in the summer. The menu includes…

  • Afsona

    Tashkent

    This well-run restaurant aims to deliver Uzbek cuisine with a contemporary touch, breathing life into old favourites such as pumpkin manty (steamed…

  • Chaikana Navat

    Bishkek

    The city-centre outpost of this expanding local chain is among the most atmospheric, with Central Asian handicrafts decorating the space and tapchan …

  • Khorezm Art Restaurant

    Khiva

    Charmingly located in a low-lit and cosy stone building in front of the Allakuli Khan Medresa, this is definitely one of the best choices in town, with…

  • Jumanji

    Tashkent

    A charming, laid-back and family-friendly environment reigns here. There's a varied and interesting menu that runs from Georgian specialities to Asian…

  • Tandoor

    Almaty

    This authentic Indian restaurant is well worth seeking out. Sultry decor and crimson ceilings combined with such classic northern Indian dishes as bhuna…

  • Olivia

    Shymkent

    Visually a sultry cross between a stone-walled cellar and a library, with plenty of books on art and design on surrounding shelves, this gorgeous…

  • Chaykhona Rokhat

    Dushanbe

    This grand Soviet-era, Persian-style, open-sided chaikhana (teahouse) is the Dushanbe classic – a great place to sip tea, slurp a bowl of noodles or enjoy…

  • Saroy

    Bukhara

    A welcome addition to the eating scene, this restaurant fronting the Lyabi-Hauz is housed in a beautifully appointed two-storey building with both…

  • My Cafe

    Almaty

    Yes, this place is self-consciously trendy, with pulsing ambient music, hip young staff and decor comprising giant steel feathers, but the food is…

  • Terasse Cafe

    Khiva

    Dining experiences in Khiva don't get better than on a cool summer evening in the rooftop terrace of this well-run place, surrounded by the spotlit…

  • City Grill

    Tashkent

    The central City Grill is a great spot for a sophisticated and good-value business lunch or a blow-out dinner. Specialising in steak and pasta, the menu…

  • Traktir Ostrov Sokrovish

    Fergana Valley

    This centrally located and hip place hums with locals at all times of the day, and the summer terrace with cooling misters is a delight. The food is…

  • Pane & Vino

    Nur-Sultan (Astana)

    Decorated with framed recipes from different regions of Italy, this refined, contemporary restaurant really delivers when it comes to pasta, risotto and…

  • Pur-Pur

    Bishkek

    Perhaps the best Georgian food this side of the Caspian, gigantic khachipuri (Georgian cheesy bread) and flowing decanters of house wine keep this cosy…

  • Kafe Kapriz

    Fergana Valley

    Clean premises, terrace seating and a menu of Russian and Uzbek staples, plus salads and 16 types of pizza (20,000S), make this place attached to the…

  • Vinoteka

    Bishkek

    Classy ambience and well-executed European dishes are a hit with local expats, as is the wine list that for Bishkek approaches encyclopaedic. Service is…

  • National Food

    Tashkent

    You’ll be hard pressed to find a restaurant with more local colour than this bustling eatery opposite the Circus. As you walk through the entrance you'll…

  • Kok-Saray

    Shymkent

    Atmospheric multiroomed Kok-Saray, with carved-wood pillars, murals and an airy front terrace, serves the best Uzbek food in town (and in Kazakhstan,…

  • Gosti

    Almaty

    The owners of this restaurant decided on a 19th-century Russian-country-mansion theme and then ran with it a few kilometres. Expect lots of samovars,…

  • Bellagio

    Kazakhstan

    There's no denying that the setting is idyllic: yurts with dining tables against a snowy mountain backdrop, a glacial stream crossing the property. The…

  • Astana Nury

    Nur-Sultan (Astana)

    This top-class Azerbaijani/Georgian restaurant has two lovely decks overlooking the river as well as an inside dining room with beautiful Azeri decor. The…

  • Hot Spot

    Nur-Sultan (Astana)

    Popular with a young, laptop-wielding crowd, this trendy cafe has something for everyone: good coffee, ample breakfasts, some of the best burgers in town,…

  • Izumi Tai

    Nur-Sultan (Astana)

    Tasteful minimalist decor and friendly service greet you as you enter, and the extensive menu of Japanese dishes – from sashimi to cold soba noodles –…

  • Çeşme

    Ashgabat

    This charming red-painted cellar in the backstreets between the train station and the Hotel Paýtagt attracts a thoroughly local crowd, but you'll be made…

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    Central Asian Plov Centre

    Tashkent

    To sample plov (pilaf) styles from various regions of Uzbekistan head to the celebration of plov that is the Central Asian Plov Centre. Walk past the mob…

  • Efendi

    Tashkent

    This sprawling Turkish place has an extensive menu, or you can just saunter inside and pick out a kebab and salad from the refrigerated display case and…

  • Old City

    Samarkand

    This charming place in the Russian part of town is recommended for its interesting dishes, such as basturma cold smoked beef, lavash (flat bread) with…

  • Cinnamon Cafe

    Nukus

    This unexpectedly modern and hip place has real coffee and a tempting array of cakes and house-made gelato. They also make pizzas (big enough for two) and…

  • Amaretto

    Tashkent

    The mouth-watering Italian food, professional English-speaking service and subdued, candlelit ambience combine to make this the obvious choice for a…

  • Kulikovskii

    Bishkek

    Long a local favourite for baked goods and sweets, Kulikovski has moved off of the supermarket shelves and into their own cafe space in the city centre…

  • Il Perfetto

    Tashkent

    This popular Italian place boasts an open-plan kitchen, friendly staff and a menu covering classic Italian dishes from pasta and salad to lasagne and…

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