Top places to eat and drink in Bishkek

When you visit a new country or city, it is always good to try and experience the local food and drinks as part of the travel and cultural experience. In Bishkek, you’ll find a variety of cool places to eat and/or have drinks that are fantastic and budget-friendly.

Here are some top recommended places to eat or drink when you’re in Bishkek.

Note: Most restaurants in Kyrgyzstan will apply a service charge of 10-15% to the final bill so budget accordingly.

This is a great place to meet up with locals and fellow travellers over casual drinks in a lively atmosphere. Its ambience is hip and youthful with young staff, often speaking English.

The menu is not overly expensive and there is a good range of local and international drinks to choose from, and a small range of food as well if you’re feeling hungry.

If you ever get hunger pangs for some Korean fried chicken or want to start an intense desire for something you had never eaten before, head to Chicken Star.

Coming in different flavours and levels of spiciness, the Korean style fried chicken here is one of the best I’ve tasted. The food here is a bit more expensive than average but the taste is worth it.

You’ll find great coffee here as well, if that is more your thing.

Chicken Star has regular live music on Saturdays so it can be a great night out.

Experience some locally produced and fantastic craft beers at this cosy bar that is perfect for meet ups for casual drinks (where you can hear each other!).

While the range is not extensive, there is still quite a good selection of affordable craft beers ranging in taste, bitterness, colour, and alcohol percentage.

The manager who runs the place knows the nuisances of all the beers on offer so feel free to ask him anything about the range – he speaks great English.

Experience apetitising Kyrgyz food with friendly service at Yr kese.

Its menu is extensive, covering most, if not all, of traditional Kyrgyz and Central Asian foods, such as beshbarmak, manty, and plov.

If you want a nice and relatively affordable dining experience in a nicely decorated and ambient setting with good service, go to Yr kese.

Note: There is a 15% service surcharge on top of your bill at the end.

Pressed for time and/or on a budget but still want to eat some local food?

Café Faiza is your perfect place to experience tantalising Kyrgyz food.

You’ll find great value for food here. The menu is full of popular foods such as lagman, manty, and plov, often with generous portions. It is busy with locals and travellers alike but there luckily is a lot of seating so no need to book in advance.

If you only have time or money to eat out at one place only in Bishkek, Café Faiza would be this place.

Note: There are limited vegetarian options here.

At Somewhere Bristo, you’ll find a mix and love of delicious Indian cuisine and French wine, along with a standard drinks menu with frequent specials.

There are regular events most nights such as movie night, pub quiz night, and live music on Fridays – the place doesn’t get pumping until late at night close to midnight.

It’s a chill and entertaining place so if you want a start to a good night out, consider Somewhere Bristo.

Note: Smoking is allowed inside, for better or for worse (depending if you smoke or not).

These are just several of many great places in Bishkek to eat or drink in.

Local food and drink makes up so much of the travel experience, almost as much as talking to the local people, so always take the opportunity to experience the local food and drinks, even if it’s not the typical food you eat or like.

If you have been to Bishkek, what’s a great place you have dined in or had drinks at during your time there? Let others and I know in the comments below!

If you know someone who is planning to go Bishkek or is already there, share this useful post to them today.