If you’re wondering where to find the best coffee in Almaty, you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Kazakhstan’s largest city has a growing café culture where you’ll find plenty of options. In this guide, I’ve put together a list of the 9 best coffee shops in Almaty, with a mix of specialty roasters and cafés that locals love.
My focus is on specialty coffee in Almaty, since that’s where the most exciting developments are happening. Still, I’ve also included a couple of popular cafés where the atmosphere and cakes are just as much a reason to visit as the coffee itself. Together, they show how diverse and lively the scene has become.
I personally visited most of these cafés during my time in Almaty. So you’ll find my own impressions and recommendations throughout. But let’s start with a closer look at the city’s coffee culture.
Also read: Kazakhstan Itinerary | 9 Days Of Cities, Canyons & Culture
The Coffee Scene in Almaty
Coffee in Kazakhstan has traditionally taken a back seat to tea, but in Almaty the balance is shifting. Driven by younger generations and a wave of international influence, a real specialty coffee scene has emerged in the city.
Almaty’s cafés now rival those in many European capitals. Local roasters experiment with single-origin beans. Baristas take pride in their craft. And cafés often double as social hubs where students, freelancers, and creatives gather.
What makes Almaty unique is the mix: you’ll find minimalist specialty shops with precise brews. But also colourful cafés with Asian and European fusion menus. And places that are simply great to hang out in for an afternoon.
The city’s mountain backdrop and lively streets make the café terraces and modern interiors even more inviting. All this combined makes exploring the best cafés in Almaty as much about the atmosphere as it is about the coffee.
The 9 Best Coffee Shops in Almaty
1. Spectre Coffee
Spectre Coffee is a leader in specialty coffee in Almaty. With a sleek, minimalist design it puts all the focus on the cup.
The baristas here are passionate about their craft. When I visited, I ended up having a long conversation with one of them about the city’s growing coffee culture.
He explained how younger generations are driving demand for high-quality beans and alternative brewing methods, and how Almaty is starting to catch up with global trends.
That chat summed up what makes Spectre stand out: it’s not just a café, but a meeting place for people who care deeply about coffee.
2. Holder Coffee
Holder Coffee is another key name on Almaty’s specialty scene. The café offers single-origin beans and expert brewing, served in a cozy yet modern setting.
It’s a place where you can really appreciate the nuances of flavour, whether you go for a pour-over or a classic flat white. The atmosphere is relaxed, making it a good stop for both coffee lovers and casual visitors.
3. FLASK Coffee (with Chicken Star)
FLASK Coffee shares its space with Chicken Star, a restaurant with a Korean twist, which makes it a fun and versatile stop. You can come here for brunch or lunch and pair it with a meticulously brewed coffee.
The café side focuses on specialty beans and quality espresso, so you don’t have to compromise on your caffeine while enjoying a full meal.
4. Ichi Coffee
Ichi Coffee is one of the most stylish spots in Almaty, with a modern interior and attention to detail that extends to every cup.
The baristas here are knowledgeable and happy to recommend beans or brewing styles based on your taste. It’s a café that balances serious specialty coffee with a welcoming vibe. Somewhere you can come to learn as well as to relax.
5. DO.Star Specialty Coffee
DO.Star is another standout when it comes to third-wave coffee in Almaty. They serve high-quality beans with consistency, and their focus on presentation makes each cup feel special.
The name says it all, this is a place where specialty coffee is at the heart of everything. It’s a reliable choice if you want a carefully brewed coffee in the city. The place is tiny though, so don’t count on bringing your laptop here to get any work done.
6. Bowler Coffee (Green Bazaar & Tsum)
Bowler Coffee sits right inside the Green Bazaar and is a perfect spots for a caffeine break while doing some people-watching. What makes Bowler extra fun is its little nod to the Netherlands.
Every coffee comes with a large ‘kruidnoot’ on the side, a delicious, crunchy, spice-infused cookie. As a Dutch traveller, I was pleasantly surprised, because it’s not something I expected to find in Kazakhstan, but it instantly made me feel at home.
Despite the bustling surroundings, Bowler consistently delivers quality specialty coffee with skilled baristas behind the counter. It was one of my favourite stops, combining great coffee, a lively atmosphere, and a sweet taste of home.
7. Fika
If you love cakes as much as coffee, then Fika is a must-visit. The name already hints at the Swedish concept of coffee and cake breaks, and the café delivers exactly that.
The cakes here are some of the best in Almaty, and they pair perfectly with a cappuccino or latte. Fika is warm, welcoming, has a lovely outdoor terrace and is really the kind of place where you’ll want to linger.
8. Vanilla Coffee Shop
Vanilla Coffee Shop is one of the city’s most popular hangouts. It may not be a pure specialty spot, but it’s a café where atmosphere counts just as much as what’s in your cup.
Locals come here to meet friends, study, or simply enjoy the lively environment. If you want to see how Almaty’s younger crowd spends its time, Vanilla is the place to go.
9. Traveler’s Coffee
Traveler’s Coffee is a chain with a presence in Almaty. It’s not unique to the city, but it’s been part of the café scene for years and remains a popular choice.
While chains often get overlooked in coffee guides, Traveler’s maintains a level of quality that makes it a solid choice when you need a dependable espresso.
Map of the Best Coffee in Almaty
To help you plan your caffeine stops, I’ve pinned all of the cafés mentioned in this guide on the map below. That way you can easily combine a visit to the Green Bazaar with Bowler Coffee, or stop by Spectre or Holder while exploring central Almaty.
The city is quite spread out, so having the locations in one place makes it easier to build them into your itinerary.
Also read: Complete Guide Of Almaty With Things To Do And Day Trips
Tips for Coffee Lovers in Almaty
- Price range | A cappuccino or flat white usually costs half of what it costs in Western Europe or the US, making it easy to sample multiple cafés in a day.
- WiFi & work-friendly spots | Most cafés offer free WiFi, and places like Spectre, Holder, and Ichi are popular with freelancers and students. Bring your laptop and you’ll blend right in.
- Local taste | Espresso-based drinks dominate, but pour-overs and alternative brews are becoming increasingly common in specialty shops.
- Cakes & food | Don’t miss the cakes at Fika, or brunch at FLASK with Chicken Star if you want more than just coffee.
- Staying connected | Use a reliable eSIM like Saily to stay online across Kazakhstan, perfect for finding cafés on the go.
- Travel insurance | Even when your trip is mostly about relaxed city life, it’s smart to have coverage. Readers of Next Journey Ahead get 5% off on Heymondo travel insurance, so check it out for peace of mind while exploring Almaty’s café scene.
Final Thoughts on Almaty’s Coffee Scene
From minimalist specialty shops like Spectre and Holder, to cake-focused cafés like Fika, Almaty’s coffee scene has something for everyone. The mix of passionate baristas, stylish interiors, and lively hangouts shows how quickly the city has embraced coffee culture.
Whether you’re after a precise pour-over, a cappuccino with cake, or just a spot to people-watch, these 9 cafés will give you a taste of what Almaty has to offer.
Have questions? Then leave a comment below or reach out to me on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you! You can also sign up for my newsletter to get the latest itineraries and travel tips straight to your inbox.
Planning a trip to Almaty or Kazakhstan? Then head over to my complete Kazakhstan Travel Guide and check out the latest articles below:
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