Kazakhstan food is a reflection of the country's unique ethnic and religious composition. Beer, vodka, brandy and sparkling wines are available in many restaurants.
National specialities:
• Kazi and chuzhuk, horsemeat sausages.
• Kaurdak, mutton stew.
• Sheep's head.
• Besbarmak, made from horse meat or mutton and dough.
• Shashlyk, skewered chunks of mutton barbecued over charcoal.
• Lepeshka (round unleavened bread) are often sold on street corners and make an appetising meal. • Plov is made up of scraps of mutton, shredded yellow turnip and rice, and is a staple dish in all the Central Asian republics.
• Manty (boiled noodle sacks of meat and vegetables).
• Samsa (samosas).
• Chiburekki (deep-fried dough cakes) are all popular as snacks.
• Almaty is renowned for its apples – indeed the city was named after them.
National drinks:
• Kazakh tea or chai is very popular and there are national cafes called Chai-Khana (tea-rooms) where visitors may sip this Kazakh speciality. It is drunk very strong with cream.
• Kumis, fermented mare’s milk. Cafes where this can be ordered are called Kumis-Khana. Refusing it when offered may cause offence.
• In the steppe and desert regions where camels are bred, the camel’s milk, called shubat, is offered to guests.
Tipping: This is not customary at restaurants and cafes, but is increasingly common in international hotels. A service charge is included in hotel and restaurant bills. There is also a fixed charge in taxi and railway transport.

There are a number of nightclubs and casinos in Almaty and several other cities. Many restaurants play music after 2000. Kazakhstan’s most reknowned concert halls and theatres are all located in Almaty.

Located north of Panfilov Park, Almaty has a bazaar, where a diverse range of items can be bought. Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0900-2000.