Çeşme

Top choice in 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 to feel very welcome. It's all about the sublime kebabs here and there's no menu, which can make it a bit tricky for non-Russian speakers; but it's hard to go wrong with the selection of meats being grilled and the choice of delicious accompanying sauces and salads (the staff will bring you a selection and you can choose).


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Ashgabat attractions

2. Statue of Lenin

0.46 MILES

The statue of Lenin, in a small park off Azadi köçesi, is a charmingly incongruous assembly of a tiny Lenin on an enormous and very Central Asian plinth…

3. Independence Square

0.71 MILES

At the centre of Ashgabat is the enormous Independence Square, on which sits the golden-domed Palace of Turkmenbashi (the place of work of the former…

4. Azadi Mosque

0.86 MILES

More a statement of foreign-policy leanings than a sign of religious awakening, the Azadi mosque, similar in appearance to the Blue Mosque in İstanbul,…

5. Museum of Fine Arts

1.06 MILES

The Museum of Fine Arts is located in an impressive building with a big rotunda, two tiers and lots of gold. The collection contains some great Soviet…

6. Majlis

1.07 MILES

Turkmenistan's parliament building is opposite Independence Square.

7. Carpet Museum

1.54 MILES

While there’s a limit to the number of rugs the average visitor can stand, the central exhibit, the world’s largest handwoven rug, really is something to…

8. Circus

1.59 MILES

This Soviet-era circus building, which resembles a flying saucer, has been 'Turkmenised' with a coating of white marble. It's definitely worth a look if…