Bashir Chalabi
Google
This hotel is certainly an interesting experience. If you’re seeking comfort and modern amenities, Tashkent offers many more suitable options. However, I chose this hotel for its character, as the rooms (at least the unrenovated ones) preserve fascinating Soviet-era designs and artifacts, such as nightstands with buttons and switches whose functions remain a mystery. That said, the same room had outdated bathroom fixtures, a non-adjustable climate system, and an old mattress. On the positive side, the breakfast is excellent, the location is outstanding, the staff is generally helpful, and the views are impressive.
A sidenote — the recently renovated lobby feels out of place, as the management opted for a "dark lounge" aesthetic reminiscent of a cheap night club, detracting from the hotel’s unique space-age charm.