The wave of new cafes and restaurants that have opened in Almaty over the last 3 years has brought in entrepreneurs, chefs, patissiers, and even baristas of an international standard.
The cafes boast lavish espresso machines, the display cases are full of desserts and cakes with local and Parisian inspiration, and the best of them also offer excellent food.
More on Almaty on the Rex website:
- Almaty: The guide to restaurants, bars, and cafes in Central Asia's cultural capital
- Almaty's 5 recommended cocktail bars
Here are 5 restaurants and cafes in Almaty that offer great breakfast and fantastic pastries, espresso – and matcha lattes.
Aqqu
Almaty's urban renaissance has led to the revival of historic institutions and buildings in the city center. Aqqu ("The White Swan") is one of them. This beautiful cafe is located in a pavilion in the city center's park area and has now come back to life after being abandoned for over 30 years.
Aqqu is named after the swans that once swam in the fountain pool in front of it. After years of restoration and preservation, the building was recently relaunched. The exterior remains the same, and inside, the swans are immortalized in retro mosaic walls. The interior design masterfully blends Scandinavian design with Soviet brutalism, featuring furniture handmade in the city to create a welcoming and elegant atmosphere.
The menu is also nostalgic and pays tribute to the original Almaty. Dishes include massive syrniki, potato pancakes with poached eggs and jambon (excellent!), and more.
The dessert display case features rolls filled with a slightly sour milk cream and nuts in a Soviet style, savory pastries, and, of course, croissants and the like. Overseeing it all is a futuristic coffee machine, and the blend itself is roasted on-site.
Fika
The excellent food, atmosphere, and design at Fika makes it a perfect location for breakfast.
Fika is located in the city center, not far from the National Theater building, in a sleek Soviet-era space that has been minimally stripped back to its concrete shell, with large windows overlooking the avenue.
The morning menu (served until 6 PM) features a dazzling number of breakfast pastries and multi-layered cakes.
The star of the category in my opinion is the carrot cake, and there's also traditionally made matcha, freshly squeezed juices, savory pastries, and, of course, a variety of egg dishes of all kinds.
Despite its nordic name, Fika is also well rooted in the region: a kind of local brasserie with an Eastern European twist.
Chef Nikita Zakharov has created a menu that includes excellent food for lunch and dinner, making this place one of the most enjoyable restaurants in the city.
The menu includes Beef tartare and cold okroshka and borscht soups, to die for salmon crudo, steaks, and the hamburger, which is rightly claimed to be the best in town.
All beautifully made, just bare in mind: The food and coffee prices at Fika are among the highest in Almaty.
Julius
To me, this is where the best espresso in Almaty is served. This small specialty cafe, located down the same avenue as Fika, is a place for which the word "minimalism" was invented.
A quiet, pristine white space with just a few seats, centered around a coffee machine that justifies its price by producing exceptional coffee.
The selection of pastries and food in the display is limited but well-made. The small choux puffs filled with pastry cream are outstanding.
And sometimes, next to a macchiato or a short doppio, that's all you need in the morning.
Refugio Del Monte
The elegant alpine chef restaurant offers an extensive breakfast menu in the cabin with the beautiful view it's located in.
On weekends, it's best to book a table in advance.
Ogonek
The retro restaurant in the center of Almaty offers brunches and a variety of egg dishes in the morning. It's worth pairing with a mimosa or a glass of bubbly from the impressive champagne "bath" at the entrance.
