For all intents and purposes, one can consider Bukhara to be an oasis in the middle of a desert. Though this is less true today, it used to be the case back when caravans trotted their way along the mighty Silk Road. After an 18-day trip that involved me seeing Turkistan, Shymkent, Tashkent, Samarkand, and Bukhara, I can confidently say that Bukhara still acts as an oasis of sorts, but this time for foodies in the middle of a desert full of not the finest spots to dine at. To be fair, it mostly comes down to an Indian restaurant that opened there recently, and to a long-established café or two serving fantastic drinks and sweets, but nevertheless, read on to find out why I think Bukhara is well worth a visit for its dining scene alone.
Labi Hovuz – https://maps.app.goo.gl/oe7Zrd1LdteyE8JH7
Some restaurants are worth going for the vibes and not the food or service, Labi Hovuz is one of them. Their fried fish was okay at best and the beer tasted just fine but given their prices (compared to Uzbek standard that is) they had to do much better. Furthermore, the fish had bones despite having been told that it would be boneless, and there seemed to be a 20000 UZS surcharge at the end that apparently was not meant for the waiters as they asked for a tip specifically. With that being said, you will not find a more authentic place to wind down in Bukhara so you might as well just enjoy the moment alongside a peaceful pool, swarming with some of these cute cats no less! That latter point may or may not be good news for those with an allergy…
Salom Namaste Indian Restaurant – https://maps.app.goo.gl/EeXGfBwXjkY7EAfz6
I just might have had the best Indian food of my life here, and sadly this is not an exaggeration. Sadly, because Bukhara is far away from home, no matter where that home is… Their jeera rice includes a lot of fried onion that gives it incredible umami, and that paneer butter masala actually has a whole stick of butter melting on it, which is all I can ask for. This is a must go in Bukhara, and in fact, in Uzbekistan as a whole. It is well worth the trip just to eat here, though Bukhara itself is a magical city that one has to see before, well, the end.
Silk Road Teahouse – https://maps.app.goo.gl/kuNYQhPZRQyn1zQk7
I am not a huge fan of drinking outside of my home, especially if it involves non-alcoholic beverages. It is almost never worthy to do that, unless you really cannot invite people over for some tea of coffee, or better yet, beer. However, if more teahouses/coffee shops had the level of quality Silk Road Teahouse had, I just might change my mind. The tea you will drink here is of a high quality, that much is for certain, but what really got to me was the quality of their nuts and desserts, which just tasted amazing. Though some say that it is a bad bargain, I struggle to understand how paying 4 USD for an entire teapot of herbal tea (that can be ordered again, free of charge) alongside some appetizers can be a bad deal at any part of our globe…
Wishbone Café – https://maps.app.goo.gl/EzXLrVPteRGfBrQG6
If you want to enjoy a more European “teatime,” then I can recommend a visit to the nearby Wishbone Café. Founded by a German couple, to my knowledge, this place excels in coffee and some German cakes. I had quite possibly the crumbliest cheesecake of my life there, and it was worth every single UZS I paid. Most certainly well worth a visit!
