If, by pure chance, you are tired of the Almaty hyper-shashliks cooked on saxaul firewood and “your heart longs for a little luxury” (c), but isn’t yet fucked up to the extent at which you’re ready to throw out $250 per person in some local version of “Soho Rooms”, go to Ritz and safely press the 28 button in the elevator.

I have to warn you – steaks are at (around) $100.

However, this is the real challenge to those ultimate animal shashliks in the fucking awesome cafes below.

It’s just about some different stuff: like, if you wanna feel yourself in Hong Kong or even in Tokyo. There’s a skyscraper view, complements, super service, and food that is very tasty nevertheless.

Just sit there on your own in an almost hollow lobby of the hotel and eat the salad made with three types of beetroots: pink, yellow and some other one baked with goat cheese, – and wait for a mad tasty steak, and look down at the mountains and the city from behind the windows with a plane view.

The octopus is like an octopus. Of course, it’s more tasty than in Williams. And, oh yeah, this place is the closest one where you can get octopus within around 3000 miles.

This is the place to be with someone tête-à-tête or alone: a meditative place. The waiters hide at once. The wine list is huge (Pino Noir is strictly recommended; really, check it out!).

Plus they have some super generous complements: a cored bun with gruyere, some damn good pâté and homemade pickles – actually, you can safely leave right after them – you’re full.

Do enjoy!