From Someone Who Spent a Rainy Week in Almaty Touring Each Single One of Them
Have you ever arrived somewhere with a whole list of things to see — only to wake up to rain hammering on the window, and the next day, and the next?
That was me in Almaty. I was travelling, I had one week in the city, and the sky had other plans for pretty much all of it. So I did the only reasonable thing a traveller can do when the weather decides to ruin everything — I hopped from one cafe to another, ordered one coffee too many (okay, several too many), read, people-watched and just… chilled.
And you know what? It turned into one of my favourite weeks of the whole trip. Almaty has a SERIOUS cafe scene — from cosy little hideaways to beautifully designed spaces that look straight out of an interiors magazine — and by the end of the week I’d tried so many that I think I can officially call myself an expert (self-appointed, but still haha).
So whether you’re stuck inside on a rainy day like I was, looking for somewhere to get some work done, or just want a really good pastry, here are my favourite cafes in Almaty, my friends. You know the list is real because I chose 9 – no other cafe I tried could make it to round it to 10.
1. Munch
📍 Address: Karmysov Street 82/2
☕ Vibe: cosy
Let’s start with my absolute favourite, accidental find as I was looking for the closest coffee place from my hostel. Most cafes in Almaty lean towards the cool, aesthetic kind (you’ll see plenty of those further down this list!), but Munch is something completely different. It’s small, it’s cosy, there are books lying around that you can pick up and read, there are plants everywhere – basically, the whole place just feels like a warm hug that pulls you in and doesn’t let you go. It’s the kind of cafe where you sit down for “just one coffee” and look up two hours later wondering where the afternoon went (which I did, on multiple occasions).
On a rainy day, this hits even more. With the drops running down the windows, a hot coffee in your hands and a book you just picked off the shelf, I was in my own happy bubble. It’s pet friendly too, so don’t be surprised if a little furry friend joins you at the next table. By far my favourite place in the city — if you only have time for one cafe on this list, make it this one!
2. Vanilla Coffee
📍 Address: a chain with around 20 cafes across the city — I liked the one on Kurmangazy Street 54 (corner of Panfilov Street), and there’s another central one on Kunaev Street 130
😌 Vibe: chill
Now, anyone who knows me knows that if given the choice, I usually go for independent cafes over chains. But Vanilla is the exception that proves the rule. It’s a local Almaty brand that roasts its own beans, and you can really tell: every single time I went, the quality was high, the service was great and the coffee was super yummy. With so many locations around the city, there’s pretty much always one around the corner — which, when it’s pouring outside, is exactly what you need.
The food deserves a mention too. The menu is really good AND affordable, which is not a combination you find every day, and whether you’re after a proper breakfast, a quick lunch or just something sweet with your flat white, they’ve got you covered. A chain, yes — but one that ALWAYS delivers.
3. FIKA
📍 Address: Kabanbai Batyr Street 104
💻 Vibe: effortlessly cool — aesthetic, productive and a little bit radical chic
Definitely more on the aesthetic side — and I mean that in the best way. FIKA is named after the Swedish tradition of taking a proper break for coffee and something sweet. Located close to Republic Square, it lives inside a 1950s Soviet-era building, so you get this really cool mix of old industrial details and modern Scandi design. My favourite design touch were the big arched windows, where the windowsills are covered in cushions so you can curl up and watch the city go by.
It’s the perfect place to settle in with your laptop and do some remote work, or just relax for a couple of hours. The pastries are to die for, and the food menu is good too (although, for my taste, the portions are a little on the small side :P). It’s right in the city centre, so it’s a great spot to stop by while you’re out sightseeing — or to hide from the rain in style.
4. AKKU
📍 Address: Panfilov Street 123 (corner of Bogenbai Batyr Street), in the small park named after Aliya Moldagulova and Manshuk Mametova
🦢 Vibe: iconic and dreamy
Probably the most beautiful cafe on this list — if not in the whole of Almaty. AKKU is a real institution in the city: the original cafe was a much-loved hangout for local artists and creatives, famous for its Turkish coffee brewed in hot sand and a little pond with two swans (“akku” actually means “white swan” in Kazakh!). It was destroyed by a fire around twenty years ago, but locals never forgot it — and now it’s been brought back to life right in the park, with a stunning view over it.
And the pastries? Absolutely incredible — they have their own in-house bakery, and you have to see them for yourself. Not gonna lie, the coffee itself is a bit mid, which surprised me. But honestly? The pastries, the interior and the location alone make it more than worth the visit. Go on a (rare) sunny moment if you can, grab a table with a view and just take it all in.
5. Coffee Roots
📍 Address: Bogenbai Batyr Street 140
📚 Vibe: cosy and productive
This is one I had originally ignored — walked past it more than once, thought nothing of it — and it truly delivered. From the outside it’s easy to miss, but once you’re in, it’s one of those places where you instantly feel comfortable, with that rare balance of cosy enough to relax and calm enough to actually get things done.
It’s a perfect place for remote working, the food menu is good, the coffee is great and the overall vibe is just super chill. It’s also only a short walk from AKKU, so you could easily pair the two in one afternoon. The only downside, at least for me since I love sitting in the sun, is there are only a couple of small tables outside, so if you also prefer that, you need to cross your fingers and be quick at grabbing a seat while it’s there!
6. Aurora Cafe
📍 Address: Abylai Khan Avenue 96 (corner of Zhambyl Street)
🥂 Vibe: fancy and elevated
I only made it here once, but I really enjoyed it. The interior feels a lot fancier than the others on this list — beautiful, spacious, the kind of place where you instinctively sit up a little straighter — and there’s a comfy outdoor area too for when the weather plays nice. It’s a proper city cafe with its own creative menu, and it stays open late, so it works just as well for breakfast as it does for an evening drink.
The best part? Despite looking this elevated, the prices are pretty much the same as everywhere else, and the quality is really good. Good food, good coffee, gorgeous setting. What more could you want? If you’re looking for somewhere to treat yourself (or impress someone), this is it.
7. Cafeteria
📍 Address: Baiseitova Street 32 (corner of Kurmangazy Street)
🌿 Vibe: relaxed
The coffee here is INCREDIBLE, and so is the food. Cafeteria has been a staple of the Almaty coffee scene for years (you’ll also find it at Dostyk Plaza and Esentai Mall), and it’s easy to see why — it’s one of those places that just gets everything right, from a lazy breakfast to an afternoon coffee.
And the pastries — oh, the pastries. They’re huge, and they’re the proper patisserie kind, a bit more intense than your regular pain au chocolat (in the best possible way). The vibe is good, the interior is cool and there are plenty of tables outside too, which is a big plus. Perfect for a coffee date or a long, slow chat with friends.
8. BAL
📍 Address: Abylai Khan Avenue 104 (there’s also a branch at Koktem-1 microdistrict 16)
🍯 Vibe: relaxed
My unexpected find! “Bal” means honey in Kazakh — hence the little bee you’ll spot on their logo — and it’s a bakery first and foremost, which explains a lot. The coffee is good, but the pastries? Absolutely unreal. The kind where you tell yourself you’ll just have one, and then you’re back at the counter five minutes later “just to try” another.
Despite the fancy interior, the prices are very reasonable, and the whole place has an easy, unhurried feel that makes you want to stay a while. I’ll be honest — I kept coming back here. Again. And again. And I regret absolutely nothing.
9. Tereze
📍 Address: Zhibek Zholy Avenue 60 (the entrance is from Zhibek Zholy, through the courtyard — ring intercom 17)
🎨 Vibe: artsy and peaceful
Tereze is the definition of a hidden gem — and I mean properly hidden. It’s tucked away inside a historic 1950s building in the old centre (you literally have to ring an intercom to get in!), and once you’re inside it feels less like a cafe and more like stepping into someone’s charming old apartment. The walls are decorated with work by local artists, the whole place has this lovely eclectic feel, and it’s become a bit of a hub for Almaty’s creative crowd.
The coffee is specialty and seriously good, and their seasonal drinks are worth trying for something you won’t find anywhere else — think local twists like kurt or Rakhat chocolate. It’s quiet, calm and made for settling in by the window with a book or your laptop. And since it’s only a short walk from the Green Bazaar and Zenkov Cathedral, it’s the perfect place to recharge after a busy morning of sightseeing.
Want the full guide?
If you’re heading to Almaty soon, I’ve got you covered! I’ve put together a PDF guide with all my favourite cafes, plus a Google Maps list you can save straight to your phone — so next time it starts pouring (and trust me, it might), you’ll know exactly where to run.
So tell me, my friends — are you a cosy-corner-with-a-book kind of cafe person, or a beautiful-interior-and-fancy-pastries one? Let me know in the comments!
As always, wishing you all a lovely day,
Elena
