In recent years, Uzbekistan has shown itself a promising tourist direction, and have come here not only for the sake of beautiful architecture and hot climate, but also to try real pilaf and lagman. But as you know, in the east “places need to know”, so we decided to turn to indigenous residents to find out where the best restaurants of Uzbek cuisine are located.
Russian tourists can visit Uzbekistan on a passport, no more than 90 days are allowed to be without a visa in the country. Covid documents are not needed.
Tashkent
Air ticket from Moscow to Tashkent costs 12,000 rubles in September, 3 hours 50 minutes on the road.*
We recommend stopping in Tashkent in the luxurious four -star hotel The Royal Mezbon Hotel & SPA with a pool and a bar. The cost of night in a double room is from 7,200 rubles).*
“Caravan”
In the design of this restaurant, the creators used national motives, and as a result it seems that visitors are visiting a large Uzbek house. Carpets, comfortable furniture, copyright tiles and terracotta ceramics – everything is selected with love and carries a local flavor. For those who want solitude, there are separate cabinets, and those who prefer to dinner in the fresh air can be located in an open courtyard, crammed with vines and ivy. Often here you can find evenings with live music: the regulars claim that this is the best institution to listen to young Tashkent performers.
By the way, a small life hack for those who only plan to start meeting with Uzbek cuisine: the dishes should be washed down with cool drinks, and tea – so fatty foods are better absorbed. This is how the Uzbeks themselves do.
What to try: Naryn (finely chopped horseman with noodles) with broth, Lulya in Uzbek, Cuke Sses (Pie with Greens), sews Osh (spicy stew with meat and vegetables).
Afsona
This institution positions itself as a restaurant of modern Uzbek cuisine: for example, traditional dishes here try to make less fat. Cooking secrets can be spied – the cooks work in an open kitchen. The restaurant design was developed by the Design LSM London agency in collaboration with one of the best living artists of Uzbekistan – Bobur Ismailov. True, national motifs are still traced here: the hall is decorated with stylized tandackers and clay jugs.
What to try: Dishes from the barbecue, baklava (the assortment of this sweetness is simply huge here).
Bahor
The restaurant, opened in 1958, is located in a building included in the list of cultural monuments of Uzbekistan. Locals often book it for their celebrations and events – the interior here is luxurious – and come here with whole generations. The menu has not only Uzbek dishes, but also European, Arabic, Indian Chinese and even land (guests sometimes want a gastronomic diversity). In the evening, a show program with national dancing and music is held on the restaurant stage.
What to try: Mammar (soup similar to Lagman), pilaf.
Navvat Lounge Bar
The Vyvavat teahouse is decorated in a classic oriental style: visitors can even have dinner, to be in the trestleys. The decor includes traditional national instruments, boys from brocade, ceramic lamps of frogs and motions, embroidered skullcaps. This place is considered a restaurant of author’s cuisine and is famous for the original presentation of coffee, unusual desserts and a hookah menu. After 8 pm, living music plays here.
What to try: Manti (including pumpkin), shurpu (rich soup with lamb and vegetables), stewed lamb on a bone.
Shedevr Garden
This is a real oasis in hot Tashkent: as you can judge from the name, the restaurant is in the middle of the garden, in which there is even a small pond with a waterfall and swans. Guests can sit in arbors on the street, and there are several halls inside the restaurant – for banquets, karaoke and a relaxing family vacation. The kitchen is the author, combining Uzbek and European traditions.
What to try: “Master of Plov” with an original presentation, lamb in a pan, barbecue, Harira (thick spicy soup of tomatoes and chickpeas).
Samarkand
Air ticket from Moscow to Samarkand costs 15,300 rubles in September, 3 hours 51 minutes on the road.*
One of the best options for accommodation in Samarkand is a small but luxurious Platan hotel, located near the historical architectural ensemble of Khoja Ahrar. The cost of the night in a double room with breakfast – from 10,500 rubles.*
“Sycamore”
The design of the Platan restaurant is made in an exquisite European style, from natural materials – stone and wood. The main hall is decorated with an artificial waterfall, you can also sit in a greenhouse. At the same time, the dishes here are Uzbek, with a magnificent serving. Many travelers who visited several cities of Uzbekistan note that it was here that they were lucky to find the best kitchen and excellent service.
What to try: KUUFTA-ShURPU (chick of meatballs), chalop (Uzbek version of okroshka), eggplant grill with cheese, “Platan” branded dish of the most delicate lamb.
Samarqand Osh Markazi
This place is called the “center of pilaf”, so it is easy to guess that they come here precisely for this dish, which glorified the Uzbek cuisine for the whole world. True, the interior can confuse you a little: the cafe is more like a Soviet dining room, but the line of local residents, which forms from the early morning, is more eloquent in any recommendations on Trevt sites. Pilaf here is customary to eat with hands, according to tradition. It’s better to come until two in the afternoon: after the prepared pilaf, it can simply end, so if you want to start the day with the main national dish, look at Samarqand Osh Markazi.
What to try: Samarkand pilaf (in sesame oil, lamb and quail eggs). Order half -contours, because the whole is just giant, and it is customary to eat up to the end out of respect for the cook.
Samarkand
The cozy and at the same time luxurious Samarkand restaurant can be visited immediately after the key attractions of the city: it is located right in the center and, moreover, its design is an excellent stylization to the cultural heritage of the country. To visit this restaurant, it is customary to dress up at the locals – we advise you to follow their example and take chic photos in its incredible interiors.
What to try: Ugra-Osh (soup with egg noodles), kabob (barranine barbar), jiz (delicate lamb with onions).
Bukhara
Air ticket from Moscow to Bukhara costs 13,700 rubles in September, 3 hours 55 minutes on the road.*
We recommend that you stay in Bukhara at the Amulet Hotel, which is located in the Old City. The cost of living is from 8,000 rubles per night with breakfast.*
Old Bukhara
The restaurant is stylized for the traditional house of the rich inhabitants of Bukhara, and the owners and staff make all possible efforts so that visitors feel like the long -awaited guests. The terrace views the garden and the old city, and in the courtyard in the evenings, people have lunch at long common tables – a very authentic experience.
What to try: Mantoux, Bukhara pilaf (with raisins), a lamb Korean on the charcoal, Khan-shashlyk (from lamb liver).
Silk Road Tea House
This tea house was discovered by Mirfayoza Ubaydov – a well -known supplier of spices, introducing the whole world to Uzbek spices. This cafe is decorated with puffers with soft kurpaches and pillows, carved wooden furniture and handmade carpets. On the street you can sit in soft chairs or on benches. They do not come here at dinner, but for fragrant teas of healing herbs and oriental spices: according to tradition, dried fruits, nuts and caramelized sugar are served to drinks. Tea mixtures can be bought with you.
What to try: Herbal teas, teas with spices, coffee with cardamom, national sweets – halva, baklava, Kozinaki.
“Adras”
The restaurant is located in the old building of the XIX century-the architectural monument to the Caravan-Saray Gulomjon, in the very center of the historical district of Bukhara. It is also decorated in the national style: the traditional musical instruments of Central Asia are hung in the wall niches, here as in the museum you can look at the kitchen utensils, which the Uzbeks used in the old days of nomadic life. Adras has performances by the ensembles of national dance and groups performing the enchanting oriental music, as well as a show of national clothing of the 19th century, so this place can be safely recommended by lovers of art. Dishes here are prepared according to preserved authentic recipes.
What to try: Kuzach-kabob (kebab in a pot), dumlam (meat under vegetables languid in the cauldron), manti with lamb.
*Prices are valid at the time of publication.
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