As the most populous city in Central Asia (> 2 million people), Tashkent has a rather disappointing nightlife, especially when comparing it to Almaty or Astana.
Still, it is decent enough for a few days of partying while visiting Uzbekistan.
I have only spent a few days there, so this will be a short overview of the best bars and nightclubs. I noticed that venues open and close really fast, so make sure to check the Facebook or Instagram of the ones I list below. I invite you to leave a comment as well at the end of the article if you have any updates to share.
Where to stay near the nightlife:
You can click on the map above to enlarge it.
I would recommend staying near the Amir Temur Square, which is a walking distance from the city's most interesting avenue, Sailgokh Street (also called Broadway Street). Since hotels there are expensive, you can also choose a location a bit further away near the metro stations Abdulla Qodiriy or Minor.
The best hotels in terms of comfort and location in Tashkent are the following:
- Under 50$ per night: The Art Hotel
- Under 80$ per night: Ramada Encore by Wyndham
- Under 100$ per night: Wyndham Tashkent
- Under 200$ per night: Tashkent Palace Hotel or Hyatt Regency (it has a bar, see below)
- More than 200$ per night: Intercontinental
- More than 200$ per night: Intercontinental
Hotels in Tashkent are generally conservative. Some are even "halal", meaning they will not allow unmarried couples to stay in the same room. Hotels that have a reputation for being more open-minded are the Le Grande Plaza Hotel and City Palace Hotel. They are all centrally-located, but they have rather poor ratings on Booking.com or Agoda. Another one, Hotel Uzbekistan seems to be popular among Indian and Turkish tourists visiting Tashkent for prostitution.
What to expect at night:
When to Party?
As far as I know, the nightlife is rather dead on weekdays. Just focus on weekends, especially on Fridays.
Clubs tend to close late, around 5AM or 6AM, and they only really get busy by 1AM.
Dress Code
As a "westerner", you can enter most bars easily. However, in clubs with "face control/dress control/age control"(FC/DC/AC), you should wear pants and shoes. It is easy to do so during winter, but harder during summers as it can get annoyingly hot. You can normally see information about the dress code on the Instagram page of each venue.
Cost of Partying
Tashkent has become a relatively cheap nightlife destination, particularly after the Uzbek Som, the national currency, was heavily devalued a few years ago (it lost more than half its value). Bring dollars, and you will get an even better rate reselling them on the street than in ATMs.
A two-course dinner in an upscale restaurant is about 15 to 25$. A 10-minute taxi ride is about 3$. A beer will usually cost between 2 to 3$ in a bar and 5$ in a club. A cocktail between 4$ and 8$. The most expensive entrance fee I had for a club was 10$ on a weekend. Overall, I would say that 60$ for a night out is more than enough.
A two-course dinner in an upscale restaurant is about 15 to 25$. A 10-minute taxi ride is about 3$. A beer will usually cost between 2 to 3$ in a bar and 5$ in a club. A cocktail between 4$ and 8$. The most expensive entrance fee I had for a club was 10$ on a weekend. Overall, I would say that 60$ for a night out is more than enough.
Dating scene
There are very few foreigners in the clubs and bars of Tashkent and for this reason, you might get some positive or negative attention (depending on the venue).
I found Uzbeks to be friendly and warm, both the men and women. I did have a problem with the language, though, as I do not speak any words of Russian. This meant I could only communicate with a tiny portion of the population.
Uzbeks are quite mixed ethnically, and they may look Arabic, Asian, Turkish, Russian, or a combination of those.
They tend to be conservative, especially the younger ones who have never been married and who still live with their parents.
You can meet them in clubs, but be careful as some may be escorts/prostitutes/semi-pros (the ones who use the website Seeking.com). An easier way is to use online dating apps like Tinder, Bumble, or Mamba (if you speak Russian).
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.
Bar/lounge in Central Tashkent. Hip design with a square bar on one side and a small dance floor on the other side. Rather crowded party place on weekends so the bouncer will not let everyone inside (face control). Trendy and upmarket crowd, fun to hang out with. Music is a mix of house/rap/R'n'B. Some sexy dancers and bar-flairing. Prices are reasonable at around 7-8 dollars for cocktails.
Near Onemore, Steam is a beautiful bar with a futuristic punk theme (think Mad Max). Daily live band playing famous songs (international and local hits). Craft beer on tap. Easy-going and laid-back crowd. Some foreigners. A good spot to meet people.
One of the oldest clubs in Tashkent still operating today. It is a restaurant that becomes a club later in the evening (after 11pm). DJs or live music are playing, depending on the night. Even though it calls itself an after-party bar, it is busiest around 1pm, then closes at 3-4am. On normal days, you will have to pay a 10$ entrance fee (with drink). If a famous DJ is playing, it can reach 20$.
A popular local restaurant with a different live band every night. The crowd is diverse and includes people from every age group.
Currently, it's the only place in Tashkent that only plays hip-hop/rap. Ladies night on Thursday with 50% off for all girls.
The Bar Speakeasy
London Pub is your not-so-typical Uzbek "British" pub with a quaint interior design, Western and local food, imported beers and sports channels on TV. It doesn't get too crowded but it is still recommended if you're desperate to meet other foreigners.
A similar place is the Irish Pub and Chester. Both of which have some expat regulars.
A similar place is the Irish Pub and Chester. Both of which have some expat regulars.
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Trendy, spacious bar with live music and reasonable prices.
One of the most expensive clubs in the city. Recommended if you are a group and you are willing to spend money on bottle service. Live music and DJ.
The Time Bar
An upmarket bar/restaurant/club, a bit out of the center, with regular theme nights and pretty hostesses. Face control.
This rooftop bar/restaurant serves Italian food and it is part of the Hyatt Regency Hotel. A bit overpriced, but nice enough for a date or dinner before partying. Live music.
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