Along tree-lined boulevards, the heft of Soviet architecture and statuary meets the elegant onion-domed roofs of mosques and churches. This is Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan and one of the world’s most fascinating cities, where history is writ large over the cityscape – backed by the snow-capped peaks of the Tian Shan mountains rising from its southern border. Stay in style at one of these top hotels in Bishkek – bookable on Culture Trip.
On the southern edge of the city in a relatively new area of development, the Jannat Regency is a perfect base for those looking to head into the Tian Shan mountains. Rooms are spacious, with millefleur wallpaper and carpets, a separate seating area and a minibar. Hotel amenities include a massage salon and a fitness centre, containing a weights bench and running machines.
At the Golden Dragon, little touches make a big difference. There’s an outdoor pool – surrounded by deckchairs – which is fenced off like a small amphitheatre for added privacy. The rooms have plenty of useful furniture, including a writing desk and mini-fridge, and there’s the option of a half-board stay, as well as the standard bed and breakfast. Alternatively, grab the occasional meal from GangNam – the on-site Korean restaurant.
Are you visiting Bishkek for the city’s cultural institutions? If so, the Park Hotel couldn’t be better placed to provide access to them. Panfilov Park, the National Museum of Fine Arts and numerous theatres are all minutes away, while the White House national government building is right across the road. The hotel has plenty of upscale comforts, including an indoor pool and sauna, a Mediterranean restaurant and a cigar bar.
A few blocks from the city centre to the north and Bishkek’s train station to the south is the Orion Hotel, one of the country’s most elegant places to stay. Common areas including the dining halls and bar are designed with fine wooden wainscoting; pine, cream and royal blue form the main colour palette, punctuated by bronze ornamentation. Rooms contain antique furniture, while Kyrgyz art tastefully adorns the walls and cushions.
Housed within a sturdy and handsome Soviet-era building, the Discovery Hotel is a pleasant accommodation one block away from a botanical garden. During warmer months, there’s a pleasant outdoor dining terrace with good sunset views, while within, you can order coffee or European wines. Rooms are a riot of floral patterning on silk throws and carpets, with purple velvet curtains completing the aesthetic.
Over near the Kyrgyz National University, the Grand Hotel lives up to its billing with a large, marble-floored lobby, overlooked by Greco-Roman-esque paintings. Rooms have a distinct Central European charm to them – floral wallpaper and silk curtains give rooms decked out in orange, fuchsia and chocolate tones a distinctly warm atmosphere. A continental breakfast buffet is included in the room price, and you can also dine out in the pleasant, well-manicured garden.
As you might expect from the name, the Smart Hotel is among Bishkek’s more modern accommodation. Here, it’s all about amenities that are almost unheard of elsewhere in Bishkek hotels – free bike hire, an indoor swimming pool, orthopaedic mattresses and iPads to borrow on request. The hotel’s Finnish-style sauna is an ideal place to unwind after an active day exploring the city.
Fittingly, the Ambassador is a hotel situated in the part of central Bishkek where much of the administrative action takes place – with a number of embassies nearby. Expect international hotelier standards here, with a comprehensive breakfast buffet, a small gym and sauna and even a mini-library. You might even meet some eminent guests in the Times Bar, with its panoramic city views and seasonal dining menu.
If you’ll settle for nothing less than international standards and are happy to pay international prices, the Hyatt is one of a small number of globally recognised brands in Bishkek. And they’ve gone all-out here: between the huge fountain at the front and B-shaped outdoor pool at the rear are the pristine rooms – bathed in natural light during the day and decorated with Kyrgyz artwork and photography.
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