Almaty
The nearest thing to a typical gay bar in the West, Studio 69 primarily welcomes gay men and has a fairly relaxed atmosphere and a not specially good drag…
Must-see nightlife in Central Asia
Osh
Though you might not give it a glance in Bishkek or Cholpon-Ata, this odd Aztec-themed cafe/restaurant/bar is the closest thing approximating a nightlife…
The Pamir Highway
One of many local venues for tea in the bazaar area, the Murghob has a lacklustre interior but its wide, open balcony overlooks the river beside the main…
Bishkek
Shoehorned into the column-filled foyer of a once-grand Soviet-era theatre, this popular boozer has a regular rotation of live-music acts (some of which…
Karakol
Have a beer downstairs or rent a private billiards room (200som per hour) upstairs at one of the few places that passes for a nightlife spot in Karakol.
Karakol
More oriented towards students from the adjacent university than travellers, prices are cheap and portions large at this friendly little coffee shop.
Bishkek
Mid-market club with predominantly 1980s music, occasional live bands and a series of curious theme evenings (Addams Family, Theatre Night etc).
Bishkek
High-quality live bands and dancing without the strict dress codes of the more central clubs. A taxi from town costs around 200som.
Tajikistan
A bit of fun in a city without too much of a nightlife culture, this cafe transforms into a karaoke bar from 9pm.
Ashgabat
Though looking nothing like one, a ‘real British pub’ has found its way to Central Asia. It's often empty though, with televisions providing the only…
Ashgabat
In a courtyard behind the Hotel Daýhan, this place serves up the cheapest beer in town and does tasty kebabs, with outdoor tables and a friendly…
Ashgabat
This tranquil beer garden, located behind the circus, serves up frothy pints of local beer and sticks of shashlyk. It's known locally as Berk Bar, named…
