Fun and entertainment Almaty

A pleasant English pub, with its long bar and wide leather benches, raised on platforms, very convenient for not missing any of the sports matches broadcast on multiple giant screens. The bar is classic: beers, cocktails and a few imported wines. On the menu, the kitchens stay open until 11pm, serving burgers, steaks and hearty salads. Indian specialities are also on the menu. And don't forget the shady terrace, set back far enough from the wide Dostyk Street to keep the peace and quiet.

On the corner of Dostyk and Shevchenko streets, this cozy brick-fronted café is a great place in the neighborhood to relax over a hot drink and a pastry. On the comfortable benches, inside in winter, or on the terrace to enjoy the bustle of Dostyk Street in summer, it is also, with its pastries and fresh fruit juices, a very good address for breakfast, if you decide not to have it at your hotel. For lunch: salads, pizzas and sandwiches are highly recommended.

This theater, inaugurated in Almaty in 1934, has one special feature: it's the only professional Uyghur theater in the world. And given China's policy in Xinjiang, you're unlikely to see Uyghur culture expressed elsewhere, so ignore the language barrier and go for it! Since its inception, the program has included classics of Uyghur culture as well as a number of European plays, notably Molière and Shakespeare.

The Lermontov Theatre was inaugurated in Almaty in 1933, but has borne the name of the famous Russian Romantic poet (Mikhail Lermontov, 1814-1841) only since 1964. It has always been the city's most popular theater, offering the great classics of the Russian theatrical repertoire, but was closed for a long time at the end of the 2000s for a well-deserved facelift. Since its reopening, performances have opened up to a more international repertoire.

Kazakhstan's first theater was founded in Kyzyl Orda in 1926, before moving to Almaty in 1929. It performs classic Kazakh works as well as a few new ones. Of course, everything is performed in Kazakh, but the shows are of high quality and it's still interesting, if you understand at least a few words, to see how a play is performed in Kazakhstan. A small two-room museum traces the history of this art form in Kazakhstan.

The national theater is the city's most dynamic, and also the one with the most interesting architecture. Classical repertoire, in Russian and Kazakh. Named after Kazakh poet and composer Abaï Kounanbaïouly (1845-1904). Born in the east of the country, he was educated in Semipalatinsk, where he learned all the classics of Russian literature and poetry. He is best known for his poems, moral speeches and translations of major Russian-language works. It was only natural that the Opera should be named after him in 1934.

As well as being a pleasant observation post, with its comfortable armchairs and large bay windows opening onto the Zheltokhan/Bogenbay Batyr intersection, this café offers an excellent choice of pastries and hot drinks for comforting daytime breaks or a quiet evening. On the food side, you'll be delighted by the salads, pasta dishes and sandwiches. Ideal if you've had your fill of nomadic recipes! A second address is not far away on Kabanbay Batyr, at no. 79, open at the same times.

A bar with a wide choice of Russian and Kazakh beers, and a menu that revolves around mugs, with cured meats (fish, cheese and meat) accompanied by garlic bread, complemented by a good selection of salads. On the main course, comfortable steaks, burgers, hot dogs and other fried dishes are also on the menu, as are a few well-made pasta recipes. The evenings are lively, and the mostly local clientele come to applaud the DJs and bands who perform regularly at weekends.

The most successful of Almaty's Irish pubs, it now has 2 other addresses. But the one on Panfilov remains the most popular. Spacious bar with numerous draught beers, more private areas with plush sofas and wooden tables, stools and high tables in the space in front of the stage dedicated to hosting pop-rock bands on weekends. Of course, you can also order the iconic dishes of Irish pubs: fish & chips, chicken wings, stew..

An authentic Irish pub, with its wooden decor, live broadcasts of matches and draught pints of Kilkenny or Guinness. The terrace, for once, isn't too close to the street and is very pleasant. Weekend pop-rock concerts are a must. In its category, it's a little less good than the others on the food front, but a hair less expensive on the drinks front. The clientele is also different, generally more business-oriented, but just as relaxed as in Almaty's other pubs.

Live music, draught Guinness, pool tables and darts: the setting is set, and after a few drinks, you'll feel a lot like Ireland... As for the furnishings, the coffee tables and sofas are a clear reminder that you're still in Central Asia. The clientele and prices are essentially businessmen-oriented. On the menu for sports evenings: pizzas, grills, burgers, giant salads... all the great classics, very well interpreted. Music-wise, the program is announced on the pub's Instagram page.