Astana may seem like an unlikely destination for partying. Yet, as the capital of Kazakhstan and the country's second largest city after Almaty, it has a decent nightlife with at least 3 popular nightclubs and dozens of bars.
This review will be quite short as I only stayed in Astana on transit for 2 days. Still, you should find here all the basic information you need for a great night out. If you have a comment to add, please do so at the end of the article.
Where to stay near the nightlife:
I would recommend staying in the area around the Bayterek tower, near the pedestrian Nurzhol Boulevard.
The best hotels near the nightlife and near the main city sights are the following:
- ⭐⭐ Under 40$ per night: Mini Hotel Sultan
- ⭐⭐⭐ Under 60$ per night: Best Western Plus Astana (Most recommended)
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Under 90$ per night: Sky Luxe Hotel
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ More than 150$ per night: Hilton Garden Inn (near the 6/45 Resto Bar) and Ritz Carlton Astana. Rixos Hotel also has excellent ratings, and it has an Irish Pub.
All these hotels are very central, but you'll still need a short taxi ride to go to most of the bars and clubs listed below. As you'll find out, the city is spread out and the cold makes it impossible to walk for too long during the winter.
What to expect:
When to Party?
During the week, nightclubs and bars are generally quiet, if not closed. During those days, it's better to visit pubs like O'Hara that stay open until 2-3AM. Things get better on Friday and Saturday, with bars staying open until 5AM and nightclubs until 6AM.
Dress Code
The venues that mention (on their Instagram) Face Control/Dress Control, will require you to dress well to enter. This means at least a pair of pants, closed shoes, and a shirt.
Expats bars and pubs typically do not have any dress code.
ID Card
It is better to bring your ID with you as it is sometimes required to enter nightclubs.
Cost of Partying
It is generally affordable to party in Astana: For a full night out, you can expect to spend around 25,000 Tenge (65$).
The best clubs have an entry fee of around 3,000 Tenge (8$). A pint of beer will cost from 600 Tenge to 1,500 Tenge (1.5$ to 4$) and a glass of decent imported whiskey between 1,000 Tenge and 2,000 Tenge (2.5$ to 5$). A taxi ride will cost you 500 Tenge for 10 minutes.
When going to a nightclub, always consider buying a bottle to reduce your cost and to get a table.
The best clubs have an entry fee of around 3,000 Tenge (8$). A pint of beer will cost from 600 Tenge to 1,500 Tenge (1.5$ to 4$) and a glass of decent imported whiskey between 1,000 Tenge and 2,000 Tenge (2.5$ to 5$). A taxi ride will cost you 500 Tenge for 10 minutes.
When going to a nightclub, always consider buying a bottle to reduce your cost and to get a table.
Dating
Compared with Almaty, the people living in Astana are predominantly Kazakhs (Asian type), with a minority of Russians. An issue you may encounter is that many of them only speak broken English. If you know some Russian, it will certainly help you tremendously. Finally, it is also more conservative than Almaty: Almost all women in particular only date with long term relationships in mind.
The dating apps that work well are Tinder, Bumble, Mamba. Also many profiles on Seeking.com (luxury dating).
The dating apps that work well are Tinder, Bumble, Mamba. Also many profiles on Seeking.com (luxury dating).
Best Bars and Nightclubs:
You can click on the name of the club/bar to check their social media page. Make sure that the places are still open before heading there.
The trendiest bar in Astana. A large space where you can dine, drink, and dance. You need to dress up to enter. Live music/DJ. Expensive (6-7 dollars for a beer, 9-10 for cocktails). It only gets really full on weekends.
On Dostyk Avenue, in the city center, this is a fun place to go to on weekends. It starts as a chic restaurant and turns into a bar/club with a DJ after 12 (mainstream dance music). Crowd is 25+ executives and government employees. USD 7 for a cocktail.
This trendy bar/restaurant is frequently recommended by locals. Next to the Ritz-Carlton, in one of the city's most prestigious locations, it has a great terrace that is very enjoyable during the summer months. Quiet on weekdays, it can be packed and lively on weekends. Good cocktails.
Next to the 6/45 restobar, in the luxury shopping center Talan Gallery, this is a new club targeting wealthy Kazakhs. A bit too formal and exclusive to be really fun. Nice lighting, sound system and shows. Recommended for groups.
This pub has cheap drinks (especially for members who get an extra discount) and snacks. Popular with the middle-class crowd. Very loud music (house, pop, rock, etc). Small dance floor.
Intimate, laid-back live music pub and restaurant. Only 5 minutes away from Chechil. Open from Thursday to Sunday.
An Irish Pub, again, in Yesil district in the south of Astana. Modern design but quiet. Food and live music. They also have a branch in the airport.
A hipster burger restaurant serving beer. Popular with foreigners after it was featured in a Guardian article. Expensive but convenient. Check their IG for special events (live music, DJs). Shisha and foosball available. Open daily.
The Local
A chic, but unremarkable pub in the area of Highvil. You might bump into a few expats there.
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