City Center (Dostyk Avenue / Zhibek Zholy)

Almaty, Kazakhstan

Overall Safety
Good
3.7 / 5
Based on 12 Safety Metrics

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Summary

Most walkable area with the highest concentration of restaurants, cafes, and pedestrian streets. Safe during the day with decent evening safety on main streets. Skip the side alleys late at night.

Cafe cultureLaptop-friendly spotsPedestrian streetsInternational and local mixMarkets and shopping
Details

Dostyk Avenue and Zhibek Zholy (also called Arbat Street) are where the cafes are. People sit in Coffee Boom with laptops for hours and nobody bothers them. Eating alone is normal whether it's a Kazakh restaurant or an Italian place. Young professionals, students, and tourists fill the area during the day. You'll hear English more here than elsewhere, especially around Dostyk Plaza where the international businesses are. Arbat Street gets busy in the evenings - street musicians, art vendors, families walking between shops and cafes. Foot traffic keeps things visible, but stick to main streets after 10pm instead of wandering dark side alleys. Green Bazaar gets crowded, so watch your stuff in the market. Most walkable part of the city with teahouses and coffee shops close together.

Safety Ratings

Daytime Safety

Excellent

Night Walking Safety

Good

Harassment Risk

Moderate

Public Transport Safety

Good

Pickpocketing Risk

Moderate

Scam Risk

Moderate

Police Visibility

Good

Emergency Services

Excellent

Evening Venues

Good

Solo Dining

Excellent

Drug Activity

Moderate

Homelessness Visibility

Moderate

Getting By in English

Good

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Recommended Places

Cafes

  • Coffee Boom (Dostyk Plaza)
  • Bowler Coffee (Green Bazaar)
  • Pro Coffee

Restaurants

  • NAVAT Restaurant
  • Del Papa (Italian)
  • Beefeater Dostyk (Steakhouse)

Bars

  • Chaikhana (Traditional Tea House)
  • 4А Coffee (Zhibek Zholy)

Other Spots

  • Green Bazaar (Zeleny Bazar)
  • Arbat Walking Street (Zhibek Zholy)
  • Dostyk Plaza Shopping
Impressions & Tips

"Worked in cafes for hours, never felt rushed or uncomfortable"

"Arbat Street feels safe in evenings with families and performers around"

"Green Bazaar is packed so keep your bag close, but the coffee inside is good"

"Easy to find people who speak some English"

"Eating alone is normal - saw plenty of women doing it"

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Safety Reminder

Neighborhood conditions can change. Check recent news, ask locals or your accommodation about current safety, especially for nighttime plans.

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