SomeWhere Bistro — Restaurant in Bishkek City

I had been living in Kyrgyzstan for about four years when I moved up to Bishkek. My time until then had been in the south of the country - not really known for its pub life. ;-) Having said that, I do NOT like the big, noisy, 'brand name' pubs. I just like to put my elbows on the bar, BS with the bartender, and enjoy a quiet beer. After midnight, of the Bishkek pubs generally turned into discos filled with over-zealous youth (of both genders) that were looking for fun in the form of either "rentable company" or "let's harass the foreigners". Not really my cup of tea (or glass of beer).

About six months after moving to the big city, someone at work mentioned a new place that had opened. "You'll like it, Bill. Nice, not too big, not a dive. Good folks."

So, I went. I am SO glad that I did. The staff there is just phenomenal. Friendly, honest, sympathetic (we all need that sometimes ;-) ). Prices are VERY reasonable - they have a wide selection of beers. Various entertainment throughout the week - from pub quizzes to live music. I never tried the food, so I cannot address that aspect.

On the slow nights, the owner, Sandeep, would even let me play DJ so that I could listen to 'my' music - which isn't always popular with others. THANKS, BROTHER!

On to the main thing for folks that use sites like this when planning their travel - this is THE MOST EXPAT-FRIENDLY PLACE IN KYRGYZSTAN! By no means do they exclude locals, but the ambiance simply isn't the kind that the youth I mentioned earlier are looking for. It's quiet, but not dead silent, everyone knows pretty much everyone else. When a new guest arrives, both staff and patrons alike do their best to ensure that they feel welcome. On a Friday or Saturday night, you can hear up to ten different languages being spoken - the crowd is THAT diverse. It's really fun! (oh, and the fact that you can actually hear what someone is saying to you is a plus, as well).

Anyway - after about six months, I sadly left Kyrgyzstan. I really, really miss Somewhere and the gang there. Even if you only stop in one time on your way through Bishkek, you'll have similar feelings. If you go, please tell Nataliya, Jazgul, Sandeep, and everybody else that Bill misses them and hopes to come back again someday soon!

Oh, and be careful with the B-52 shots. They...

As other reviews have described, this is a great place to hang out, get a simple meal and drink and enjoy live karaoke or quiz nights. My partner and I attended the Silk Road Mountain Race finish party that was hosted here, and had a blast thanks to the cozy, friendly atmosphere and nice Indian food that was served in the backyard.

During an event like that, even though there’s two squatting toilets available, they can’t cope with capacity and turn into… literal shitholes, with a stench you’d not wish your worst enemy to smell. Not too bad if you’re a guy who can stand upright for a number 1, but I can imagine that women have a hard time squatting there. Would love to see this improved.

As for drinks, this place is great! You’ll meet lots of expats and travelers over beers or shots and attending events here is solid fun. One of the owners, Sandip, is such a funny and friendly host, I’d come back just to chat with him!

And Sandip, if you’re reading this, send...

Accidentally, the softness of a 80s song whispered to me and my Japanese pal and drew us into a dance floor upon which a dozen round tables sternly stood and jiggled nervously to foreign drinkers' giggles over an oak wood counter where half filled beer galsses clinked and danced.

Given 200 som a pint, we sat down by the counter, satisfied, clamped our fingers around our overly washed glasses. Stared lightly into the foam flickering out of the rim under a taunt tap, we slowly rose our subtle smile to the bartender's exhausted face from arguing over the dishes piled up in the sink with the other redhaired female waitress who tossed a warm grin at us despite her shuffled turning around and...