AUYL

A beautiful restaurant with some really great food and a fantastic view of the mountains! We wanted to order 2 glasses of wine and the sommelier came to the table and recommended the wine according to our taste. We ordered the roast pumpkin salad and the sheekh kebab and both were delicious. The kebab was served with a bread that was softer than I have ever eaten in my life! They served us a complimentary dessert made with nuts and dry fruits while a lady came and spoke to us about the history of the restaurant. It was a great experience. Don't miss this place if you're going to Almaty. It's just a short drive from Shymbulak.

This is one of the best restaurants I have ever been to. However, it takes time to get here -) Yet, every mile, every minute worth it. The restaurant offers nomad food, which is not limited to Kazakh meals. There are meals from China, for example (the noodles that I had - see the photo - were great). The service is perfect - waiters get to you when you need them (sometimes even before you voice it) -) But what I especially like at the Auyl is the view. Is there a similar restaurant nearby with the same or similar view? I don't know any -) As for the issues, I would mention that you need to book a taxi in advance. Of course, taxis are normally far away from that place and it takes 20 minutes or more for a taxi to get to the restaurant. Overall, great food, great service, perfect view. If it is your first time in Almaty, it is definitely a must-go.

Definitely a visit food joint near Shymbulak. Located a short hike from the Shymbulak ticket office, this was one of the best world's 50 discovery places in 2024. The ambience is such that you're sitting in a house a in a remote village in Kazakhstan. Coming to the food, we ordered horse cheeks with mushroom sauce and eggplant puree, lamb shashlik, Bone marrow and Lagman. The horse cheeks were grilled and were very tender and juicy. Definitely the star of the of course. The bone marrow comes with a piece of bread and was very soft, greasy and saucy. They do give the utensils to scrape the bone marrow. The shashlik was good and tender. The Lagman was more towards asian food maybe because of the Chinese influence but I loved it too. Overall a place I would definitely return. In fact we were pondering to visit before we left Almaty.

Such a vibe! The atmosphere was incredible—modern Kazakh seating blended beautifully with traditional decor, creating a truly authentic vibe. We absolutely loved every moment of it! As someone who grew up in Kazakhstan, it was special to share this place with my husband and two kids visiting from the U.S. Honestly, we could have eaten and then just taken a cozy nap right there—it was that welcoming. The music was magical—enchanting and perfectly suited to the ambiance of the restaurant. The staff were attentive, friendly, and spoke great English, which made it easy to understand the dishes and their origins. The food was outstanding! We started with the green salad and tomato salad, then moved on to dumplings, both kinds of noodles, and kebabs—lamb and beef. The Uzbek pilaf was a highlight, and we paired it all with a local Kazakh beer specially made for this restaurant. We ended the meal with a pot of green tea. Hands down, this is our favorite restaurant in Almaty so far. The authenticity and warmth really stood out. We’ll definitely be back! And loved that my kids were able to swing under the yurt like tent outside.

One of the best restaurants Ive been in Almaty! Love this place so much! The food and the views are fantastic. The services are incredibly nice. One of the staff told us about Kazakh cultures too. This is a must visit place - suitable for family and friends. Recommend to get a reservation in advance.

Amazing authentic flavors. Local takes on cuisine. Modern twists in cocktails. Great service. Amazing location and ambience. Open kitchen. Table and chair or floor seating available inside. Outdoor seating also available. Reservations recommended (can text on what’s app …if foreigner) everything was perfect. The most memorable meal of my Central Asia trip. Don’t miss this restaurant. It is really special. The staff are very attentive and helpful with and dietary concerns. Many options are special and unique. Everything was tasty, healthy, and carefully put together with attention to detail! So delicious.

Amazing authentic Kazakh cuisine - we’ve been to couple of places in Almaty but this one stole our hearts and stomachs. Everything on the menu is delicious - we’ve ate before taking the pictures. We got a lot of complimentary treats that showed true spirit of local hospitality

A must visit. Great interior design, they thought of everything. The food is amazing. The horse cheeks and steak tartare are delicious. Cocktails and wine are great. The honey cake melts in your mouth.