Rock Pub Tashkent
Rock Pub Tashkent sits just off Sayilgoh Street in a basement space that channels the underground bar aesthetic found in post-Soviet cities across Central Asia and Eastern Europe. The room is small, holding about 40 people at a tight squeeze, with concrete walls covered in band posters, stickers, and graffiti left by patrons over the years. A small stage at the far end hosts local rock and alternative bands three to four nights a week. The bar counter is basic, stocking local beers, cheap vodka, and a limited cocktail selection. The sound system is decent for the room's size, and when a band hits its stride the energy in the confined space gets intense. The crowd is younger and more alternative than the typical Broadway cafe scene, drawing musicians, art students, and Tashkent's small counterculture community. This is not a polished venue; it's a place where the beer is cold, the music is loud, and nobody cares what you're wearing.
What to Expect
A small, grungy basement bar with live rock music most nights. The space gets hot and loud when packed. Expect cheap beer, band posters on every surface, and a crowd that's there for the music rather than appearances.
Raw, loud, and unpretentious. The basement setting and small crowd create an intimacy with the bands that larger venues can't match. Sweat on the walls by the end of a good set.
Live rock, punk, alternative, and indie. Local Tashkent bands with occasional touring acts from other Central Asian cities or Russia.
Anything goes. Band t-shirts, ripped jeans, and boots fit the crowd. This is Broadway's anti-dress-code venue.
Live music fans, alternative and punk enthusiasts, travelers looking for Tashkent's underground scene
Cash only (Uzbek som). No card payments. Bring small bills.
Price Range
Beer 12,000-18,000 UZS, vodka shot 8,000-12,000 UZS, cocktails 25,000-35,000 UZS, entry free most nights, 15,000-25,000 UZS for special acts
Beer ~$1-1.50/~0.90-1.35 EUR, vodka ~$0.65-1/~0.60-0.90 EUR, cocktails ~$2-2.90/~1.85-2.65 EUR
Hours
18:00-01:00 Tue-Sun, closed Monday, live bands usually start at 21:00
Insider Tip
Check their social media (Instagram or Telegram channel) for the weekly band schedule. Friday nights usually book the best acts. Arrive before 9 PM on live music nights to get a spot near the stage.
Full Review
Rock Pub Tashkent is the kind of venue that exists in every post-Soviet city, and finding it in Tashkent feels like discovering a secret the tourist guidebooks missed. The basement location, reached by a narrow staircase off a side street near Broadway, opens into a room that smells like beer, cigarette smoke (drifting in from the stairwell), and the accumulated energy of years of live shows.
The live music is the entire reason to come. Tashkent has a small but dedicated rock scene, and Rock Pub is its primary venue. The bands range from competent cover acts doing Russian and Western rock standards to original acts playing material that blends Central Asian musical elements with punk and alternative structures. The quality varies, but even on a mediocre night the energy of live music in a space this small produces something worth experiencing.
The beer selection is basic but functional. Local lagers and a couple of Russian imports cover the taps. The vodka is cheap and served in proper shot glasses. Don't come here expecting craft cocktails or a wine list. The bar exists to keep you hydrated between songs, and it does that job efficiently.
The crowd is Rock Pub's other attraction. Tashkent's alternative community is small enough that regulars know each other, and the social dynamic of the room reflects this. Newcomers are welcomed with curiosity rather than suspicion, and buying a round for the band after their set is a reliable way to make friends. Conversations happen in Uzbek, Russian, and broken English, often within the same sentence.
The physical limitations are obvious. The room gets uncomfortably hot when full, the bathroom is best approached with low expectations, and the sound can turn muddy when the band pushes the system too hard. These are features of the format, not bugs. If you want comfort, Broadway has plenty of polished cafes upstairs. Rock Pub offers something different: a raw, sweaty, genuine music experience at prices that wouldn't buy a single beer in most Western cities.
The Neighborhood
Just off Sayilgoh Street (Broadway), down a side street in central Tashkent. Steam Bar and the main Broadway cafes are a 2-minute walk back to the main pedestrian strip.
Getting There
Walk from Broadway (Sayilgoh Street), turning down a side street near the midpoint. Look for a small sign or ask at Steam Bar for directions. Yandex Go from central Tashkent 10,000-15,000 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.
Cafe Milliy
Traditional-style cafe and bar near the south end of Broadway, popular with locals for evening drinks, tea, and people-watching.
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.