Engels Pub
Engels Pub brings British pub culture to Central Asia, complete with dark wood paneling, brass fixtures, a dartboard, and a bar stocked with whisky, gin, and real ales. The space seats about 70 across booths, bar stools, and a few standing tables near the entrance. The menu features fish and chips, bangers and mash, shepherd's pie, and a burger that's become a local favorite. A weekly pub quiz on Wednesdays draws expats and English-speaking Kazakhs. Live sports broadcasts cover Premier League, Champions League, and major events on multiple screens.
What to Expect
A pub that feels like it belongs in London except the conversations are in Russian and the prices are a fraction. Darts, sports on TV, and the comfortable familiarity of a well-worn bar.
Warm, familiar, and sociable. The expat hub where strangers become drinking partners by the second pint.
Classic rock and British indie at background level, muted during sports broadcasts
Casual. This is a pub. Wear what you'd wear to any neighborhood bar.
Expats, English-speaking travelers, pub quiz fans, and anyone craving a familiar drinking environment.
Cash and cards accepted
Price Range
Pints 1,000-1,500 KZT, whisky 1,500-4,000 KZT, food 1,800-3,500 KZT
Pints ~USD 2-3/~EUR 1.85-2.80, food ~USD 3.70-7/~EUR 3.35-6.50
Hours
14:00-01:00 daily, until 02:00 on weekends
Insider Tip
Wednesday pub quiz starts at 8 PM; arrive early for a table. Ask about the whisky selection, which goes deeper than the menu suggests. Match days fill the place; arrive an hour early for Champions League nights.
Full Review
Engels exists for homesick Brits, sociable expats, and anyone who finds comfort in the universal language of a properly pulled pint. The interior commits to the theme without becoming a parody: real dark wood, comfortable seating, and a bar that's clearly seen thousands of rounds served across it.
The beer selection mixes imported bottles and cans with whatever's available on draft, which usually includes a pale ale or IPA alongside standard lagers. The whisky shelf is the hidden gem, with single malts that the staff can discuss knowledgeably. Prices across the board are remarkable by Western pub standards.
Food hits the comfort-food mark reliably. The fish and chips use proper battered cod (not the frozen variety), and portions are generous. The shepherd's pie is hearty and fills the role of pre-drinking sustenance effectively. Nothing on the food menu will win awards, but nothing will disappoint either.
The pub quiz is the weekly social anchor. Held on Wednesdays at 8 PM, it draws teams of expats, embassy staff, international school teachers, and Kazakhs who want to practice English while competing. Questions cover general knowledge, music rounds, and picture rounds, delivered in English with occasional Russian translation. Winning teams get bar credit.
The main limitation is size. On busy nights and during major football matches, the 70-person capacity feels tight. Standing room fills quickly, and late arrivals may not find a seat.
The Neighborhood
In the Arbat area, within walking distance of other bars and the pedestrian zone. The pub's expat clientele means you'll often hear about other events and venues through conversations here.
Getting There
A short walk from the Arbat pedestrian zone. Almaly metro is 10 minutes on foot. Yandex Go from central Almaty costs 300-600 KZT.
Other Venues in Arbat
Gakku Bar
Live music venue showcasing local Kazakh and Russian rock, folk, and indie bands. Affordable beer, standing-room stage area, and a crowd that actually listens to the music.
Pivnaya No.1
No-frills beer hall with a rotating tap list of local and Russian beers. Long communal tables, cheap prices, and a loyal local following.
Soho Almaty
Multi-level bar and restaurant with a terrace overlooking the pedestrian street. Cocktails, hookah, and a DJ on weekend nights. More polished than its neighbors.
Che Guevara Bar
Latin-themed bar with Cuban cocktails, salsa nights on Thursdays, and a kitschy revolutionary decor that somehow works. Cheap mojitos draw a young crowd.
Republic
Mid-range nightclub at the edge of the Arbat zone playing commercial dance music and Russian pop. Gets packed after midnight on weekends with a local crowd.