Cafe Milliy
Cafe Milliy sits near the southern end of Sayilgoh Street, close to Amir Timur Square, operating as a traditional-style Uzbek cafe and bar that has served the Broadway crowd for years. The interior blends local design elements with simple comfort: carved wooden screens, low cushioned seating areas alongside standard tables, and warm lighting from lantern-style fixtures. The menu spans Uzbek classics like shashlik, somsa, and manti alongside a selection of beers, teas, and basic cocktails. Capacity is around 50 inside, with an outdoor terrace adding another 20 seats. The crowd skews local, with regulars who come for the familiar atmosphere and reliable food. Evening service brings out the tea and beer drinkers who use the terrace as a watching post for the Broadway evening promenade. The pace here is slower than the bars further north on the strip, making it a comfortable starting point or wind-down spot.
What to Expect
A laid-back traditional cafe with an Uzbek atmosphere and local crowd. The pace is unhurried, the food is honest, and the terrace puts you right on Broadway's evening scene without the louder energy of the bars further north.
Warm and unhurried, with a neighborhood cafe feel. The carved wood interior and lantern lighting create a cozy setting that feels rooted in Uzbek tradition rather than chasing trends.
Uzbek traditional and pop music at low volume from speakers. No live music. The soundtrack is mostly conversation.
Casual. Locals come in everyday clothes. No standards enforced.
Travelers wanting an authentic local cafe experience, people-watchers, those seeking a quieter Broadway option
Cash preferred (Uzbek som). Cards accepted but occasionally unreliable.
Price Range
Beer 15,000-22,000 UZS, tea service 10,000-15,000 UZS, cocktails 25,000-40,000 UZS, shashlik 20,000-30,000 UZS, somsa 8,000-12,000 UZS
Beer ~$1.25-1.80/~1.15-1.65 EUR, cocktails ~$2-3.30/~1.85-3 EUR, shashlik ~$1.65-2.50/~1.50-2.30 EUR
Hours
10:00-23:30 daily
Insider Tip
Order the green tea with honey and lemon if you want a break from beer. The somsa (meat pastries) fresh from the tandoor are best before 8 PM. The terrace tables closest to the street offer the best people-watching position.
Full Review
Cafe Milliy is Broadway at its most authentic. While the bars further north on Sayilgoh Street have adopted European or international formats, Milliy remains an Uzbek cafe that happens to serve beer alongside tea. The difference is felt immediately upon sitting down: the pace is slower, the menu is local, and the crowd isn't performing for anyone.
The food is the first reason to visit. The somsa, baked in a clay tandoor, arrive flaky and hot with seasoned lamb or beef inside. The shashlik is grilled over charcoal and served with raw onion and flatbread, exactly as it would be at any respectable Uzbek gathering. The manti (steamed dumplings) are handmade and filled generously. None of this is fancy, but it's executed with the consistency that comes from doing the same dishes for years.
The tea service deserves special mention. Uzbek tea culture is deep, and Cafe Milliy takes it seriously. Green tea is the default, served in a traditional pot with a small bowl rather than a cup. Adding honey and lemon is common. Sitting on the terrace with a pot of tea and a plate of somsa while Broadway's evening crowd walks past is one of Tashkent's simplest and best experiences.
The beer selection is limited to local brands and a few Russian imports, served cold in half-liter glasses. Cocktails are basic and not the bar's strength. Come here for tea, beer, and food rather than mixed drinks.
The terrace is the prime seating. Positioned at the southern end of Broadway near the natural pedestrian entry point from Amir Timur Square, you see everyone arriving for the evening. Families with children early on, then couples and groups of friends as the hour gets later. The transition from daytime market street to evening social promenade unfolds in front of you.
Milliy's limitation is also its strength: it doesn't try to be anything other than what it is. If you want cocktails, music, or nightclub energy, walk north. If you want good food, genuine atmosphere, and a window into how Tashkent locals actually spend their evenings, pull up a chair.
The Neighborhood
Near the southern end of Broadway (Sayilgoh Street), close to Amir Timur Square. Steam Bar and Zarafshon are further north on the strip. The metro station is a 3-minute walk south.
Getting There
Walk 3 minutes from Amir Timur Hiyoboni metro station heading north onto Sayilgoh Street. The cafe is on the east side near the southern entrance to the pedestrian zone. Yandex Go from central Tashkent 8,000-15,000 UZS.
Other Venues in Broadway (Sayilgoh Street)
Steam Bar
Popular craft beer bar on Broadway with an industrial-themed interior and a solid selection of local and imported beers.
Zarafshon Restaurant & Lounge
Upscale lounge and restaurant on Sayilgoh with live music on weekends, hookah, and a menu blending Uzbek and European cuisine.
Rock Pub Tashkent
Small rock and live music venue off Broadway that books local bands and occasional touring acts. Grungy atmosphere and cheap beer.
The Garden Bar
Open-air bar with a tree-shaded courtyard just off Broadway. Draws a mixed crowd of students, expats, and young professionals on warm evenings.