Boutique hotel Yurta

The staff made this hotel memorable. When we were leaving, I was hungry but didn’t want a full lunch, so they offered us a generous spread of bread and cheeses for free and wouldn’t accept payment. That kind of hospitality is rare. The room was tastefully and warmly decorated, the restaurant is one of the best in town and has a great wine selection, and the location is excellent. I enjoyed even my one-night stay and promised myself I’d return to Almaty. I’d give it 9.5/10 and highly recommend it.

Breakfast was my main disappointment during the four nights I spent here on a business trip. There were just three set choices, mostly egg dishes with a few small snacks, and that got repetitive. I’d have liked more variety, especially for a longer stay. The location and rooms were great. The staff were okay, though not especially friendly.

I had a delightful stay right in the heart of town, just a minute’s walk from the Christmas and New Year festivities. The hotel brings nomadic heritage and life on the vast steppes into an urban setting, which feels original. For a quieter stay, I’d recommend a junior suite or suite: they’re much larger than the standard and superior kings. The restaurant is fun, with a shaman-inspired DJ set, creative cocktails that are a little small, a fantastic qymys menu and good food. My favorites were the daikon and veal salad, uch-panja shashlik and beshbarmak. At breakfast, the pancakes and scrambled eggs with kaza sausage stood out.

The hotel has an authentic feel, and the rooms and halls are clean. Staff are friendly and professional, and the restaurants serve delicious food, with live music in the evenings. It’s also well located, near the ice skating rink in winter and the cable cars to Kok Tobe. I definitely recommend it as the best hotel in Almaty.