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…
Must-see restaurants in Central Asia
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…
Bishkek
This delightful though somewhat contrived 'ethno' complex is a rapid-fire presentation of all things traditionally Kyrgyz, attracting mainly well-heeled…
Almaty
This branch of the popular nationwide microbrewery attracts the carnivorously inclined with stone-cooked meats, an assortment of steaks, some of the…
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…
Bukhara
Bukhara's most charming and professional restaurant is this perennially popular place with a fantastic roof terrace overlooking the sunset-framed domes of…
Tajikistan
Penjikent's most imaginative eatery, this eccentric wooden structure boasts timber stairways and cosy booths and is festooned with traditional artefacts…
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…
Tashkent
This well-run restaurant aims to deliver Uzbek cuisine with a contemporary touch, breathing life into old favourites such as pumpkin manty (steamed…
Bishkek
The city-centre outpost of this expanding local chain is among the most atmospheric, with Central Asian handicrafts decorating the space and tapchan …
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…
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…
Almaty
This authentic Indian restaurant is well worth seeking out. Sultry decor and crimson ceilings combined with such classic northern Indian dishes as bhuna…
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…
The Pamir Highway
This is the most popular meeting place in Khurog, largely perhaps because it's exciting to find anyone even attempting to offer Indian cuisine in such a…
Karakol
When the people of Karakol go for ashlyanfu, this tin-roofed shack off Jusaev is where they go. It's the best in the city, therefore perhaps the best in…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Osh
This big ski-lodge–style log chalet has heavy wooden throne seats, a rear beer terrace and a range of barbecues, fish dishes and sausages. The shashlyk is…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Nur-Sultan (Astana)
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…
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,…
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,…
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…
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…
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,…
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 –…
Turkestan
Edem Hotel's courtyard restaurant – by far the best place to eat in town – is a fine place to down good shashlyk, sushi, pasta, salads and beer.
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…
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…
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…
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…
