Guidebook for Bishkek
Food - Best of Bishkek
These are places we either go to or order from. Since we run a chain of cafes and a coffee roastery, we tend to eat at home more than go out, but when we do go out we like to go to nice places.
Here's our list of favorites in the city.
Best and most authentic Japanese food in Bishkek! Book ahead as the place is small but amazing. Around 1000 som per person for a nice dinner.
9 polecane przez mieszkańców
Furusato
132 Bokonbayev StBest and most authentic Japanese food in Bishkek! Book ahead as the place is small but amazing. Around 1000 som per person for a nice dinner.
The only Thai food in Bishkek, run by our longtime friend and client Sumsarbek. Prices are not cheap for Bishkek - Chicken Green Curry runs 540 som per portion. Expensive for Bishkek but cheap by international standards.
Baan Baan Thai Cafe
193a Tynystanov StThe only Thai food in Bishkek, run by our longtime friend and client Sumsarbek. Prices are not cheap for Bishkek - Chicken Green Curry runs 540 som per portion. Expensive for Bishkek but cheap by international standards.
Supara is the best place close to Bishkek to experience the complete Kyrgyz Culture - food, entertainment, historic culture, architecture and more. Founded by the country's most famous entrepreneur, the creator of the "Shoro" company.
9 polecane przez mieszkańców
Etno - Kompleks Supara
1 Ulitsa Karagul AkmatSupara is the best place close to Bishkek to experience the complete Kyrgyz Culture - food, entertainment, historic culture, architecture and more. Founded by the country's most famous entrepreneur, the creator of the "Shoro" company.
Giorgio has run his Italian Pizzeria for almost 20 years. Real Italian pizza. Definitely not American pizza.
Dolce Vita
116a Akhunbayev StGiorgio has run his Italian Pizzeria for almost 20 years. Real Italian pizza. Definitely not American pizza.
Ok, so this is our own place that we own. We crazily opened a cafe in the center of the city in 2012 and it has grown into multiple locations. This, our first location, is still extremely popular and located directly next to the Russian Embassy and near the Mayor's Offices, the Philharmonic and many other central Bishkek sites.
orders.sierra.cafe
SIERRA Coffee Manas Ave
1 Manas AveOk, so this is our own place that we own. We crazily opened a cafe in the center of the city in 2012 and it has grown into multiple locations. This, our first location, is still extremely popular and located directly next to the Russian Embassy and near the Mayor's Offices, the Philharmonic and many other central Bishkek sites.
orders.sierra.cafe
This is the latest and closest of our cafes, about a 10 minute walk from the guest house. Small and cozy. Located at 69 Moscow St.
SIERRA Coffee Ak-Emir
Moscow StThis is the latest and closest of our cafes, about a 10 minute walk from the guest house. Small and cozy. Located at 69 Moscow St.
La Mason is our go to fine dining restaurant in Bishkek. Most likely the best restaurant in the country, if not Central Asia. Amazing food and service provided by Philippe the owner/proprietor.
Essential to book ahead. Ask us for Philippe's number.
Priced with wine at least $50 per person.
La Maison
213 Matrosova StLa Mason is our go to fine dining restaurant in Bishkek. Most likely the best restaurant in the country, if not Central Asia. Amazing food and service provided by Philippe the owner/proprietor.
Essential to book ahead. Ask us for Philippe's number.
Priced with wine at least $50 per person.
Salam Namaste cafe
69 T. Umetaliev StExcellent Indian food. Just excellent.
This place is LITERALLY next door. Go out our black gate, turn left and walk about 50 meters and you are at Cooksoo. South Korean street food at reasonable prices. One of our favorites.
The real Korean noodles Cooksoo
This place is LITERALLY next door. Go out our black gate, turn left and walk about 50 meters and you are at Cooksoo. South Korean street food at reasonable prices. One of our favorites.
VEFA is Bishkek's first shopping mall and while dated it does have a decent food court featuring the following foods:
Turkish, Chinese, Pizza (in the Russian style), Sushi, Kyrgyz food and a few coffee type places -- all on the third floor.
11 polecane przez mieszkańców
Vefa
1 Gorky StVEFA is Bishkek's first shopping mall and while dated it does have a decent food court featuring the following foods:
Turkish, Chinese, Pizza (in the Russian style), Sushi, Kyrgyz food and a few coffee type places -- all on the third floor.
Bella Italia for many years was the best place in town. Chef Walter makes great Italian food and speaks only Italian and Russian. Unfortunately he lost his building a few years ago and moved into a cavernous location near Victory Square in the center of town.
The food is still pretty good and we go there for their gnocchi, tiramisu and quite excellent meat dishes and pizzas. But, atmosphere isn't quite what it could be.
Bella Italia Resto
Bella Italia for many years was the best place in town. Chef Walter makes great Italian food and speaks only Italian and Russian. Unfortunately he lost his building a few years ago and moved into a cavernous location near Victory Square in the center of town.
The food is still pretty good and we go there for their gnocchi, tiramisu and quite excellent meat dishes and pizzas. But, atmosphere isn't quite what it could be.
Navat is a chain of tea house style restaurants in Bishkek. The closest one is about 100 meters from our house on Sovietsky (Baytik Baatyr street), across from the Vefa center.
They have great lagman - our favorite being boso lagman. For a good Central Asian experience and "safe" food - go to Navat around the corner from our house.
Navat
55 Baitik Baatyr StNavat is a chain of tea house style restaurants in Bishkek. The closest one is about 100 meters from our house on Sovietsky (Baytik Baatyr street), across from the Vefa center.
They have great lagman - our favorite being boso lagman. For a good Central Asian experience and "safe" food - go to Navat around the corner from our house.
Faiza is Bishkek's first and premier local food hangout. Cheap, fast and popular. The closest location is about a 7 minute walk up on Mederevo Street.
20 polecane przez mieszkańców
Cafe Faiza
Faiza is Bishkek's first and premier local food hangout. Cheap, fast and popular. The closest location is about a 7 minute walk up on Mederevo Street.
Bishkek's premier microbrew. Located next to Baan Baan Thai restaurant. Filled with quirky locals and foreigners seeking an international microbrew experience. I love their IPA.
Save The Ales
193 Tynystanov StBishkek's premier microbrew. Located next to Baan Baan Thai restaurant. Filled with quirky locals and foreigners seeking an international microbrew experience. I love their IPA.
Our good friend and wine supplier for our cafes runs this excellent wine shop which also has tapas, steaks and more on the menu.
Ruslan and his team will deliver world class wines to our house and you can also visit his place.
Ruslan speaks Russian, German and passable English and Italian. Call Ruslan at +996550122550 for more info.
Enoteca (Wine Shop)
197 Moskovskaya StreetOur good friend and wine supplier for our cafes runs this excellent wine shop which also has tapas, steaks and more on the menu.
Ruslan and his team will deliver world class wines to our house and you can also visit his place.
Ruslan speaks Russian, German and passable English and Italian. Call Ruslan at +996550122550 for more info.
Vinoteka maintains a very nice wine list and fine tapas and meals at their centrally located evening cafe on Chui St in Bishkek.
Vinoteka
140 Chuy AveVinoteka maintains a very nice wine list and fine tapas and meals at their centrally located evening cafe on Chui St in Bishkek.
Great business lunch at the Hyatt. Quality & consistency from Chef Mert at the Hyatt Regency of Bishkek.
Crostini Restaurant
191 Yusup Abdrahmanov StGreat business lunch at the Hyatt. Quality & consistency from Chef Mert at the Hyatt Regency of Bishkek.
Shopping
VEFA has a grocery store (Frunze) on the first floor, cell phone company stores where you can easily obtain SIM cards for internet (take your passport) and on the third floor a food court with local food, pizza and Turkish food. There is a bar on the roof and movie theaters that show movies in Russian and English.
11 polecane przez mieszkańców
Vefa
1 Gorky StVEFA has a grocery store (Frunze) on the first floor, cell phone company stores where you can easily obtain SIM cards for internet (take your passport) and on the third floor a food court with local food, pizza and Turkish food. There is a bar on the roof and movie theaters that show movies in Russian and English.
Essentials
Frunze has a good selection but not great. Get essentials here. About 100 meters from our AirBnB. Takes VISA.
Frunze Super Market
27/1 Горький көчөсүFrunze has a good selection but not great. Get essentials here. About 100 meters from our AirBnB. Takes VISA.
EcoDry has been in operation for some years and uses professional equipment for your dry cleaning needs.
Dry Cleaning ECO DRY
19 Gorky StEcoDry has been in operation for some years and uses professional equipment for your dry cleaning needs.
Drinks & Nightlife
Perhaps the best micro-brew in Bishkek! Located right next to Baan Baan Thai Restaurant.
Save The Ales
193 Tynystanov StPerhaps the best micro-brew in Bishkek! Located right next to Baan Baan Thai Restaurant.
Bishkek's premier club for live music. Check out their site for bands and visiting musicians.
8 polecane przez mieszkańców
Promzona Club
16 Cholpon-Ata StBishkek's premier club for live music. Check out their site for bands and visiting musicians.
Parks & Nature
Historic Center of Bishkek surrounded by museums, parks and government offices.
31 polecane przez mieszkańców
Ala-Too Square
Chuy AvenueHistoric Center of Bishkek surrounded by museums, parks and government offices.
Perfect for day trips but don't underestimate the altitude and extreme nature of alpine parks. Take plenty of water.
26 polecane przez mieszkańców
Park Narodowy Ala Archa
Perfect for day trips but don't underestimate the altitude and extreme nature of alpine parks. Take plenty of water.
Great place for young children. Pretty boring once they are beyond 10 years old.
20 polecane przez mieszkańców
Park Panfiłowa
Great place for young children. Pretty boring once they are beyond 10 years old.
Getting Around
Book early as they are popular. Ryan Hornung of Iron Horse Nomads has built the best car and jeep rental agency in the country.
Iron Horse Nomads
Book early as they are popular. Ryan Hornung of Iron Horse Nomads has built the best car and jeep rental agency in the country.
Places for Kids
Bishkek now has an oversupply of places for mostly younger kids to have fun. Check out our list.
The kids play area is pretty amazing, for little ones up to young teenagers.
6 polecane przez mieszkańców
Centrum handlowe Azji
3 Mir AveThe kids play area is pretty amazing, for little ones up to young teenagers.
Newest additional to Bishkek's super growth in malls - the kids play area is pretty nice. However, parents have complained that little ones get lost inside the maze of things to offer and the staff won't let parents go inside to find their kids!
8 polecane przez mieszkańców
Dordoi Plaza
Sultan Ibraimov StreetNewest additional to Bishkek's super growth in malls - the kids play area is pretty nice. However, parents have complained that little ones get lost inside the maze of things to offer and the staff won't let parents go inside to find their kids!
Located inside the VEFA center, this is a pretty popular place and literally across the road from our house.
illuzion
27 Gorky StreetLocated inside the VEFA center, this is a pretty popular place and literally across the road from our house.
This is the ultimate trampoline center -- perfect for 10-17 year olds. Has a nice cafe for parents to sit in. About a kilometer east on Gorky street from our house.
Smile Trampoline Center
1в 1This is the ultimate trampoline center -- perfect for 10-17 year olds. Has a nice cafe for parents to sit in. About a kilometer east on Gorky street from our house.