Almaty has an up-and-coming nightlife, taking inspiration from American and European-styled bars and restaurants. Tourists to Almaty will have plenty of choice from trendy sports bars and traditional Irish pubs to Panoramic cocktail bars, quaint street bars and high-end restaurants. We have included a list of our top 3 favourite places to eat and drink in Almaty below:
For drinks:
The Bottle
Located a short walk away from the Abay Opera house in Almaty city centre, The Bottle is the perfect place to relax and enjoy pre-performance drinks with friends. This cosy wine café serves the best selection of wine in Almaty and any vintage you try can be bought on site by the bottle.
The Bottle is open Monday to Friday 11:00am until 00:00am, as well as Saturday and Sunday 13:00pm until 2:00am.
The Shakespeare Pub
A short walk away from Qarasai batyr St bus station, The Shakespeare Pub has become one of the go-to places for UK and American tourists. This European-style pub has a range of bar games including pool tables and darts as well as live music at weekends. The pub is renowned for its excellent Indian cuisine and is a great place to go if you prefer a cool and casual dining experience.
The Shakespeare Pub is open 12:00pm until 1:00am Monday to Thursday, 11:00am – 3:00am Friday and Saturday, and Sunday 12:00pm until 00:00am.
William Lawson’s 13 The Bar
Located 5-minutes’ walk south of Almaty’s Panfilov Park, William Lawson’s 13 The Bar is the perfect place for those looking for a trendy place to eat and drink without the frills. This bar has a wide range of bar games for customers and is a great place to visit if you want to keep up with the sport back home.
William Lawson’s is open 12:00pm until 2am Tuesday and Wednesday, 12:00pm until 4:00am Thursday and Friday, and 12:00pm until midnight on Saturdays. The bar is closed Monday and Sunday.
For food:
Alasha
Located a 30-minute drive to the South of Almaty city centre, Alasha has established a fantastic reputation as the place to go for traditional Uzbek cuisine. The restaurant is a full dining and entertainment complex combining a dining area, shisha bars and live performance. Alasha has a substantial menu and is renowned for its grilled meat dishes.
Alasha is open Sunday to Thursday 12:00pm until midnight, and Friday and Saturday 12:00pm until 1:00am.
Gosti
Located on the Southernmost edge of Panfilov Park, Gosti is a must visit for tourists that enjoy Russian food. The restaurant is renowned for its cosy yet elegant interior and calm atmosphere, while serving a fantastic selection of signature dishes from Russian cuisine. The restaurant also offers a great choice of wine and cocktails at reasonable prices.
Gosti is open every day of the week from 11:00am until midnight.
Tandoor restaurant
Located in the heart of Almaty city centre next to Baytursynov St bus station, Tandoor Restaurant is one of the best places to go in Almaty for Indian food. This modern restaurant offers many European favourites from Korma to Tandoori chicken as well as their take on signature dishes from surrounding regions. Tandoor offers wide range of vegetarian dishes.
The Tandoor Restaurant is open every day from 11:00am until 23:30pm.