Pinterest-Worthy: The Most Aesthetic Restaurants in Almaty

Almaty’s most iconic red door — inspired by a La Marzocco espresso machine and brought to life by local architecture bureau NAWW — marks this specialty coffee gem. Tiny but mighty, Julius packs a minimalist beige interior with strategic accents, earning nods from Arch Daily and a Building of the Year 2023 nominee in Hospitality Architecture category — the only Kazakh project in its class. It’s also featured in Designing Coffee, Gestalten’s global roundup of inspiring cafés. Translation: swing by for third-wave brews and a photoshoot on the Kabanbai Batyr promenade.

A few steps away, Fika’s sky-blue façade — a restored 1950s railway workers’ house by local architecture bureau NAWW — hides a design fever dream. Original stucco ceilings, whimsical furniture, checkerboard tiles, and an arched window framing the heart of the space: the bakery. Beyond its legendary pastries, Fika serves serious coffee, wine, and mains. Vibe: Copenhagen. Soul: Almaty. P. S. Fresh off a Dezeen Awards 2024 longlist spot and Building of the Year 2025 nomination.

From the Golden Square, head to the Villa Boutiques & Restaurants district — a new «star» has risen. Astra is a grand café where everything is rich and luxurious, with no hint of modesty. Bartenders in crisp white jackets greet you behind a marble bar topped with elegant pastry towers by head baker Maksim Babich. The interior’s bold reds (stoking passion and appetite) are balanced by marble and white tabletops. The kitchen is led by Georgiy Troyan — familiar to locals from Blanca — and whether you come for breakfast or dinner, expect delicacies and finesse. The tableware alone deserves its own gallery. Downstairs: a cocktail bar by Agora, a mix of black-and-white New Orleans cinema and Gatsby-style revelry.

The concept behind Blanca: a modern Italian café you’d expect on a stylish street in Paris or London — now reimagined in Almaty. Traditional osteria-style white tablecloths meet marble surfaces, while shades of white and deep blue evoke the Mediterranean. Sunlight filters through arched windows, intensifying the colours. True to the bistro format, seating is compact — turn your head and you’re saying hi to your neighbour. The debut menu by Moscow chef Georgiy Troyan (Severyane, Le Pigeon) offers Italy’s greatest hits — arrabbiata pasta, margherita pizza — with a signature twist. Everything is served on renowned Bitossi Italian designer ceramics. Daytime dolce vita gives way to lively evenings. One thing Almaty has mastered from the Italians: living in the moment.

In the heart of Esentai’s luxury shopping district, a glass cube catches your eye. While ground-floor Cafeteria needs no introduction, the upstairs neighbour — Tör — calls for a closer look. Designed by K& K Architectural Design, the space reflects the restaurant’s concept: a fusion of traditional and contemporary, using local ingredients and local craftsmanship. With no internal walls (but breathtaking mountain views), Tör draws attention upward: the ceiling features woven textures and stylised Kazakh ornaments in pixel form, while hanging yarn adds softness. Tör has already appeared in The New York Times and La Liste, and received a 2024 Architecture & Design Leaders Awards nomination for «Atmospheric Concept in Restaurant Design.»

Most beautiful ceiling? Absolutely. It’s hand-painted with endangered animals and flora of Kazakhstan — and impossible to miss on social media. If we were curating a Pinterest mood board, Renée would top the list. The entire space is a love letter to French chic: everything is considered, from bird-shaped coat tags to antique tableware sourced from European flea markets, charming truffle boxes, and countless aesthetic details. Breakfasts here are a cultural event (start with the signature Renée set), the Mediterranean menu is tempting, and the pastry display — from canelés to berry tartlets — is a visual and culinary delight.

A neo-bistro from a name every Almaty local knows — Alexander Proshenkov, the chef who once defined Cafeteria and now runs his own project: Jent by Proshenkov. TheM strikes a rare balance: familiar yet distinctive. The interior pairs minimalism and metal with bold pink lighting and furnishings. The menu walks the line between approachable bistro fare and gourmet flourishes. Look around and you’ll spot magazines like 032c, Dazed, and local indie press ‘98mag — perfect for flatlay inspiration. Hidden below ground: Spirit, a moody cocktail room with a shamanic vibe, concept menu, and intimate setting. TheM works just as well for a girls’ celebratory brunch as it does for a gourmet date night.

Bella, grazie! This two-story villa with a garden and charming balcony feels like it’s been plucked from another world — and in warm weather, you’ll need to fight for a table. Giardino’s key attractions: the glazed veranda and Roman cuisine by chef Fabrizio Fatucchi. Here, coffee quality is sacred, Italian traditions meet modern twists, and service is warm and thoughtful. Several dining rooms offer different moods: antique mirrors, patterned tiles, tiny marble tables for two, large family-style wooden tables, fresh flowers, and lush greenery — every corner charms. Vitello tonnato, paccheri with oxtail, and profiteroles are season favourites, but don’t leave without trying the Roman pizza: thin crust, each ingredient seemingly dropped from the sky, yet somehow… perfetto.

Photo: websites and social medias restaurants, Yandex Maps