Madina Fabric Market

If you're looking for fabric, whether it's by the wholesale or just a few meters, the Madina Bazaar is the place to go. Most of the fabric is probably from China. There is shop after shop filled with all sorts of fabric: velvet, satin, cotton, polyester, corduroy, fabric for couches or curtains, and more. Of course there is also embellishments like lace, buttons, zippers, etc. It's possible to come here with a project idea, buy all the supplies, and have it made right there! On the third floor are many talented tailors ready to make anything you can imagine. I got a table cloth made here with the fabric and lace bought just downstairs.

This is the entrance from the street. There is a bus stop right in front so it's easy to come by bus. 

Really cute fabric!

This was my favorite shop with the fabrics pictured in the photo right above. The shop didn't have a name or label, but it was next to shop #1.

So much lace! 

The tailors on the third floor upstairs.

She was a super nice tailor and made the table cloth for me. Their number is 0705409082.

Vinoteka

Vinoteka was recommended by another foodie friend as one of her favorite spots for Italian food in Bishkek.  The atmosphere is great, especially for sitting outside. The wine and appetizers we tried were good.

Vinoteka has a really nice outdoor seating area with mist to cool down the hot days. 

Lovely French white wine perfect for a hot summer day. 

The veal beef carpaccio was quite decent.

This bruschetta was delicious! The tomatoes were of course so fresh and tasty.

People's Pub (Шашлычная #1)

People's Pub (Шашлычная #1) is located quite south of the main downtown area of Bishkek and to the west of the Botanical Gardens. It's a great spot for some beer and shish kebab.

Salty, stringy cheese and drinking beer with a straw!

Wonderful tomatoes!

These mushrooms with cheese on top were actually very good, and the lamb meat, grilled veggies, and picked onions were all great. The meat came out on a metal skewer, and she removed it at the table. Yum!!

I hope to try the duck at some point!

Baan Baan Thai Cafe

Baan Baan Thai Cafe just opened a few days ago and is the first and only Thai restaurant in Bishkek! It's located strategically right next to Save the Ales in the same building. It's possible to bring beer from Save the Ales into Baan Baan Thai Cafe. The food and "hipster" atmosphere are great. It's all perfect!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Baanbaanthaicafebishkek/287448451722294
Please note that the location on Facebook might not be correct. Baan Baan Thai Cafe is located right next to Save the Ales in the same building.

The shrimp pad thai was very good and not spicy at all!

Both of these sauces for the veggie spring rolls and tofu satay in the vegetarian combo platter were so delicious!

The red curry was extremely spicy even though we selected "not spicy." Watch out!

I would need a bucket of this yummy mixed rice to finish that super spicy red curry... And a few buckets of the purple butterfly iced tea!

These veggie spring rolls are yummy and a bit addicting....

The Southern Thai fried chicken was good!  It's not something I ever had in Thailand and reminded me of Korean fried chicken or fancy Japanese karaage.

This chicken satay wasn't exactly my ideal chicken satay but the chicken tasted pretty good and wasn't dry at all. The peanut sauce was yummy and not spicy.

The thai iced tea was too milky and not what I'm used to...

I really like this huge painting inside the restaurant.

Izum

Izum is a popular and affordable lunch spot and gets very crowded and full around that time! One of their signature dishes is the laghman noodles. It's possible to order a small or large-size portion.

It's possible to order the laghman noodles as a small or large portion. This is the large portion.

Yummy tomato and onion salad

It was a lot of food! The lamb meat was a bit gamey.

Where to Find Japanese Food and Groceries in Bishkek

Where is Kikkoman soy sauce sold? キッコーマン醤油はどこですか？

Kolobok Grocery Store has the largest and only selection I've seen so far!

Kikkomon soy sauce at Kolobok grocery store

Where is an authentic Japanese restaurant? 美味しい和食のレストランはどこですか？

Furusato has an extensive menu with so many options including saba, agedashidofu, karaage, tonkatsu, zarusoba, sushi, and beer! The owner, Yamada-san, is a wonderful host!

Where is Hello Kitty ketchup sold? キティちゃんのケチャップはどこですか？

Ok, joking a bit, and not something I actually was looking for, but at Alma Supermarket, it's possible to buy Hello Kitty ketchup from Austria!! (I didn't buy it though so I don't know how it tastes.)

Save the Ales

Save the Ales is probably the coolest place to have a beer in Bishkek with really nice outside seating. It's a very local spot, and all the beers are delicious. It's also next to the newly opened Baan Baan Thai Cafe so it can easily be combined with dinner before or after. It's possible to get beer from here and have it with dinner.

This fruit beer might be my favorite beer in the world! The beans are also really good and quite addicting.