Fine Dining with a View: Where to Eat with Panoramic Vistas

When you’re in the mood to dress in your most luxurious outfits and shine, head to Selfie on the 18th floor of The Ritz-Carlton. Here, you’ll be greeted by a magnificent panoramic view of Bayterek Square and the Singing Fountains Promenade. The interior is equally captivating: an open kitchen enlivens the space, an impressive wine cellar rises from floor to ceiling, fresh flowers subtly divide the space, and the tablecloths are crisp like the first snow.

Selfie’s diverse fusion menu skillfully incorporates national flavors: among Sicilian-style octopus, foie gras escalopes, and tartares with Parmesan foam, you’ll find intriguing dishes like corn baursaki with guacamole or kazy (horse sausage) with tonnato sauce. To introduce foreign guests to Kazakh cuisine, we recommend chef Yevgeny Chekalin’s tasting menu «Winds from North to South» — the result of his travels across the country, studying local products and recipes, culminating in an eight-course menu. Each dish tells the story of Kazakhstan’s traditions, from Balkhash zander to beef fillet mignon with horse heart.

Another reason to visit Selfie? It has been included in the international restaurant ranking La Liste 2025, which annually publishes the world’s top 1,000 restaurants based on evaluations by independent experts. The scoring considers over 700 international guides and review sites (such as Yelp and TripAdvisor), as well as critical reviews in the press (The New York Times, The Washington Post, etc.). Selfie scored 76 out of 100.

If you want tourists on Bayterek tours to hear you singing all of Meladze’s hits in alphabetical order, you’d better climb higher — to the 24th floor of the Moscow Business Center, to the karaoke bar Mercury. You can come here for a private girls' night or to celebrate a birthday with a big group: the karaoke bar has a main hall and three VIP rooms (for 12, 20, and 25 people), as well as a bar that can accommodate up to 80 guests.

Start the evening with the signature Bohemian Rhapsody shot set (orange liqueur, vodka, and apple juice), continue with a classic pepper steak, and finish this symphony with the signature Acapella cocktail (gin infused with basil, orange liqueur, and raspberry purée) — sounds like a hit.

For 12 years, this has been one of Astana’s most popular panoramic restaurants — with a summer terrace overlooking the lush Chubary Embankment. The interior exudes five-star hotel vibes: marble and wood paneling coexist harmoniously with plush sofas, while an abundance of greenery and starched linens add freshness. For those who value privacy, there’s even a private dining room for events (seating 10) with direct access to the terrace (during warmer months).

Chef Zhanibek Diyarov’s menu is full of bright ideas: start with baba ghanoush with wasabi and chili oil notes or scallop ceviche with strawberries and seaweed sauce, continue with ravioli stuffed with beef braised for 18 hours, and end with an original take on Pavlova, featuring fresh mango, passionfruit, and strawberries.

You can truly feel the spirit of old money and quiet luxury within the elegant walls of the St. Regis hotel. And if there’s a best terrace with a riverside view in the capital, it’s here — overlooking the Ishim River and the white arch of the Karaotkel Bridge.

You’ll only be able to fully enjoy the view during warmer months. Book ahead: this terrace is on the wishlist of every self-respecting newlywed bride for their dream wedding ceremony with a waterfront backdrop. But even inside the restaurant, there’s plenty of space and air: besides the floor-to-ceiling windows, the original dome-shaped shanyrak design floods the space with natural light.

A fun option on the menu is the Sunday brunch buffet (from 12:30 to 16:00). We recommend trying it at least once: sampling the entire menu at once, from banana pancakes to a classic English breakfast with a cup of espresso — absolutely yes!

To completely enchant everyone visiting Astana, book a dinner with a view of the EXPO International Exhibition Center from the ninth floor of the Hilton Hotel. The restaurant has access to a terrace: while the floor-to-ceiling windows only face the Nur Alem sphere, the terrace offers a breathtaking panorama of the entire exhibition complex — which, mind you, spans 47,160 m² (roughly 125 football fields).

The menu’s concept is described just as grandly: a journey along the Great Silk Road, from piquant Eastern spices to refined European sauces. For example, the classic Italian cacio e pepe spaghetti is elevated with Sichuan pepper and a fragrant sheep’s cheese sauce. For the view of one of the city’s most iconic landmarks and bold cuisine — this spot comes highly recommended.

When the setting sun dips below the Ishim River and both the Atyrau pedestrian bridge and the Karaotkel automobile bridge light up in the evening glow, stop by this intimate Asian restaurant, open Tuesday to Saturday, from 18:00 to 00:00. It’s the perfect place to enjoy the freshest fish, sip cocktails, have heart-to-heart conversations, and unwind after a long day in a relaxed atmosphere.

Plus, you’ll get a culinary teleport to Tokyo’s vibrant Asakusa district. Connoisseurs will appreciate not just the quality of ingredients, the creativity of recipes, and the umami richness, but also the striking presentation: the signature ribeye with teriyaki sauce and smoked green grape butter arrives sizzling on a Japanese grill, hand rolls are served on mikado plates, and appetizers come on natural stone platters. The bar menu won’t disappoint either: beyond classic drinks, there’s an extensive selection of traditional sake and signature cocktails crafted by St. Regis Astana’s mixologists.

A true chameleon in Astana’s dining scene: in the morning, it’s ideal for a leisurely family breakfast; by day, it’s a quiet spot for work meetings; and by night, Mokki transforms into a vibrant party venue with cocktails and laughter. In warmer months, all this can be enjoyed on the terrace overlooking the 1,5-kilometer Nurzhol Boulevard and the Bayterek Monument.

And every weekend, you can feel like a resident of the Upper East Side (Manhattan’s most prestigious neighborhood — Ed.) with access to the world’s finest hotels: Mokki lays out an incredible brunch buffet. You must try everything — from red caviar and gravlax to delicate syrniki, bagels, and poached eggs.

Each month, Mokki rolls out exclusive offerings: from Friday and Saturday night brunches (from 18:00 to 20:30) to its now-traditional tea ceremonies and culinary masterclasses with renowned chefs.

The highest-altitude restaurant on our list is perched on the 25th floor of the Moscow Business Center. Spotlessly clean windows are rare here (perhaps due to the dizzying height), and the menu — promising cuisine from nine Turkic nations — can be disappointing: the «Balkan appetizer» turns out to be basic meat jelly, while the «Balkar appetizer» is just an assortment of supermarket-style tomatoes and feta.

Luckily, the food quality doesn’t affect the bird’s-eye view. Sipping tea, sampling tandoor-baked pastries (we recommend the teardrop-shaped samsa), and gazing at the city from above remains a must. On clear days, you can see the entire Left Bank  — from Khan Shatyr to Ak Orda — and even the 111-meter flagpole at the Square of National Symbols in the distance.

The most budget-friendly peak on our route — and simultaneously the most beautiful panoramic view of the Botanical Garden. A ₸1,300 americano will pay for itself in Instagram likes and story reactions. The main menu here is bar-focused, plus desserts from the display case, so don’t expect culinary revelations — but if the goal is to impress on a first date with minimal investment, this is a solid choice.

Raul doesn’t take reservations and is open from 08:00 to 23:00, meaning you can catch not just sunsets but also sunrises over bustling Turan Avenue. Priceless for urban romantics: sip an almond cappuccino and watch the city wake up from above.