Bukhara
Occupying a large property just a short stroll from Lyabi-Hauz, this self-styled chaikhana is actually a full restaurant rather than just a teahouse. Come…
Must-see restaurants in Central Asia
Uzbekistan
This friendly Turkish restaurant serves up pre-cooked comfort food at lunchtime, changing daily but centred on grilled chicken and moussaka. If there's…
Almaty
Trendy without being snooty, this bare-brick-walled, industrial-themed place attracts meat lovers with the best steaks in Almaty. Ribeyes, T-bones, flank…
Tashkent
After some shopping in Chorsu Bazaar head for this arcade draped with colourful ikat fabrics. It's a good place to get plov, but the various family-run…
Almaty
It's worth travelling all the way to the outskirts of Almaty to sample some of Kazakhstan's most imaginative sushi rolls amid floor-to-ceiling manga art';…
Tashkent
'Beans & Brews' is perhaps our favourite cafe in town, with good espresso coffee, juices and sandwiches, plus French toast and oatmeal that knocks the…
Bishkek
This unassuming basement cafe is Bishkek's only Afghan restaurant, with delightfully fluffy raisin-studded plov and grilled meat heavy on the spices…
Bukhara
There is surprisingly decent Italian food at this classy space on the eastern edge of the old town. The outdoor seating is romantic and the pizza and…
Samarkand
Right in the heart of the city, this bright two-room cafe aimed at students serves everything from real coffee to breakfast pancakes, as well as salads,…
Nur-Sultan (Astana)
With a diagram on the exposed brick wall showing the different parts of a cow, fashion shows on the TV screen and a solid menu of (mostly) European wines,…
Tashkent
Perhaps the best pizza in town, with fresh ingredients, fresh basil and crispy crusts, and big enough for two. Also good coffee, salads and cakes and a…
Bishkek
Classic Russian and Ukrainian dishes fill the menu of this diminutive cafe tucked off of Chuy, but the namesake vareniki dumplings are the standout…
Bishkek
This hip take on common pelmeni rises to the occasion: dumplings are flavourful, filling and won't cost you a lot of dough. Popular fillings include lamb…
Bishkek
A quick and cheap 'taste of the east' is available 24 hours a day at this casual national cuisine restaurant – the laghman with black mushrooms (ГГуйру…
Bishkek
Highbrow fusion in a modern setting that feels removed from Bishkek. European cuisine with a post-Soviet twist fills the inventive (but expensive) menu,…
Tajikistan
Around 20km west of Ayni, this characterful roadside teahouse has capitalised on the mountain water that rushes through the premises. Cauldrons of chicken…
Bukhara
Dining al fresco around the venerable pool with grey-beards, local families and Russian tourists is the quintessential Bukhara experience. The chaikhana…
Almaty
Popular Venetsia sits beside the little Malaya Almatinka River and its outdoor terrace is a great place to eat on a summer evening. There's a huge choice…
Bishkek
Fans of Chinese-style hand-pulled noodles should head to this authentic cafe in the Vostok 5 neighbourhood, east of Bishkek's centre. Generous portions of…
Almaty
The pick of the city's Georgian establishments, Daredzhani serves numerous favourites from the Caucasus, including pkhali (cold, fragrant, herb-rich…
Almaty
This exotically decorated, Central Asian–themed restaurant is a place to come for quality regional cooking. Old favourites such as manty, laghman,…
Kyrgyzstan
The grounds are run-down, the music's too lound, and it's too far from the centre – but take a bit of the delicious shashlyk and you'll agree it's worth…
Bishkek
Despite the large menu of Central Asian and international favourites, there's little reason to stray too far from the namesake plov (pilaf). The smaller…
Nur-Sultan (Astana)
The owners of this restaurant chose a 'Ukrainian peasant inside a windmill' theme and then decided to run with it a few miles. Expect hay wagons,…
Bishkek
One of central Bishkek's most convivial upper-market eateries has delicious national cuisines, but the service is notoriously slow. Unusually tasty…
Bishkek
The faceted facade evokes an archetypal Central Asian teahouse with carved wooden columns, tapchan (bedlike platform) and octagonal lattice-work pavilions…
Bishkek
You don't need to dig too far into the menu of Kyrgyz and Russian dishes – Fakir is known for laghman, and for good reason. Wander over for a look in at…
Nur-Sultan (Astana)
Walk in past the vintage Soviet cars by the entrance and you're free to indulge your communist fantasies. The decor is OTT USSR – Stalin portraits, hammer…
Almaty
This is one of Almaty's best Uzbek restaurants and especially nice in summer when you can sit around the courtyard. Go for the plov prazdnichny (festival…
Bishkek
This modern version of the old Soviet stolovaya cafeteria serves up surprisingly high-quality fare at excellent prices, and the round-the-clock hours make…
Kazakhstan
Near the promenade and the MiG plane, this Georgian place has a medieval-cellar ambience. Standout dishes include slow-cooked lamb and veal chakhushuly …
Kyrgyzstan
Though the name is literally 'plov centre', any of the dishes off the local-cuisine menu go well with a fountain-filled courtyard overlooking the valley…
Shymkent
Overlooking the park behind Kinoteatr Kakakhstan, Bar Villa's two levels of mostly sofa seating have big windows to enjoy the leafy view, and there's a…
Shymkent
Another superlative restaurant inside the Rixos hotel, this informal Pan-Asian place features original decor with Kazakh elements, an open kitchen that…
Bukhara
Budreddin has a great location on the western side of Lyabi-Hauz, with a small blacksmith's workshop marking the entrance. The outdoor seating in the faux…
Nur-Sultan (Astana)
Respectable Georgian establishment, decked out in 'village' style: lots of clay vessels, grapevines and wooden farming implements. The menu is full of…
Bishkek
High-quality rapid-service local dishes at reasonable prices are brought by waitresses in scarf and tunic to heavy marble-topped tables. Expect queues at…
Samarkand
This Uzbek theme restaurant remains one of the most popular places for groups and independent travellers alike. The national- and Russian-influenced…
Bishkek
A classy addition to the Bishkek dining scene, local favourites plus European and pan-Asian food is served in an elegant outdoor garden with fountains or…
Tashkent
Popular with local professionals and families, this glitzy place feels more expensive than it actually is. The ornate Oriental decor and pleasant terrace…
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