ENTERTAINMENT

 
Although Bishkek, as the capital city, is a cultural centre, the theatres etc. do not show performances every night. When there are performances they often start at 5:00pm. Even in the height of the season there may be only one or two performances a week. There are usually posters outside the venue advertising performances — and occasionally adverts appear in the press or on Television. Except for special performances (by visiting troupes etc.) it is usually possible to get tickets on the night. Tickets are cheap by Western standards …

MUSIC
Philharmonia — on the corner of Manas and Chui — There are two concert halls, (large and small) which feature concerts of classical, traditional Kyrgyz, and pop music as well as variety shows.
 
The Opera and Ballet Theatre — Sovietskaya — the theatre has resident opera and ballet companies and there are sometimes performances by visiting companies as well. The season is usually held between Autumn and Spring — although there may be performances at other times of the year as well. There is a ballroom which is also sometimes used for concerts.

The Conservatory — 115 Jantosheva — occasional concerts by students and professors.

Seitek Youth Centre — Abdumomunova, between Enkindik and Tynystanova

Several restaurants also have resident musicians — or programs.

We can also arrange special concerts of traditional Kyrgyz Music. For example by professional performers from resident company at The Philharmonia or «Jetigen» — am award winning ensemble of children from one of Bishkek«s specialist Music schools.

(Incidentally, in Naryn — we can also organise concerts by the local Folk ensemble «Manas»).

DRAMA
 
Russian Drama Theatre — In Oak Park — the company performs a range of local and international plays — but performances are in Russian.

Kyrgyz Drama Theatre — Panfilova Street / Abdumomunova — the company performs a range of local and international plays — performances are in Kyrgyz or Russian.

Bishkek City Drama Theatre — in the Chernevsky Library — between the Theatre of Opera and Ballet and the Russian Drama Theatre — a small, intimate, theatre — the company performs a range of local and international plays — performances are in Kyrgyz or Russian. Often hosts visiting international troupes as well.

Youth Theatre — in the Pioneer House on Michurina.

Puppet Theatre — on the corner of Sovietskaya and Michurina — performances on Sundays at 11:00am.

Concerts are sometimes given in the Sports Palace and Spartak Stadium

CINEMA
Dom Kino : the House of Cinema — Logvinenko Street — home to the Cinematographer«s Union, which often hosts seasons of international films. Films are often shown twice — once in their original form and the second time dubbed into Russian. Other event often take place here, such as jazz concerts and poetry readings.

Ala Too — Prospect Chui — on the corner with Erkindik

Russia — on the corner of Prospect Chui and Togolok Moldo — a «multiplex» with three screens, this has the largest screen in town.

Issyk Kul — Jibek Jolu

Manas — Prospect Mira, South of Akunbaeva

October — Prospect Chui near the corner with Molodaya Gvardia.

Marine House — Radicheva — home of the US Embassy Marine Corps — shows American Films. Call ahead for details (Tel. 551262)

CIRCUS
Circus — Frunze — sometimes local acts perform — but the Circus also plays host to a number of visiting troupes from China and other CIS countries.

DICOTECQUES / NIGHT CLUBS
There are a variety of discos and nightclubs - and many restaurants/bars also double as dance venues. The situation changes frequently as establishments change owners/names etc.,but the most well known are::

Carousel — Panfilova, on the corner with Frunze

(formerly known as "Lucky Town" - On Frunze between the Circus and Hotel Dostuk

San Fidele — Orozbekova

Soho — Orozbekova

Space — in the Philharmonia building

Red Fox — in the Philharmonia building

Boys Town — in the old Planetarium building on Togolok Moldo — One of Bishkek«s gay nightspots complete with Drag shows at weekends

The American Pub on the corner of Prospect Chui and Turisbekova used to be the home of the Puppet theatre and the room at the back is often used for discos. (The room is well worth a visit in it«s own right — Look for esoteric artwork in the alcoves, including the "copy" / "reproduction" of Salvadore Dali»s «Columbus Discovering America»)

The Manchester. — Kievskaya

BOWLING
 — These venues have a variety of facities — e. g. bar, cafй/restaurant, billards, sauna — but have Bishkek«s ten-pin bowling alleys:

The Bowling Centre — Frunze

Florida — in the building behind the Adriatico Restaurant. on Prospect Chui.

SPORTS
There are a number of Gymnasiums, and fitness clubs. Martial Arts are very popular and there are Judo, Tae-Kwan-Do, Ju-jitso and other clubs based in Bishkek.

Karven Club — Gogol Street — Tennis courts, swimming pool, Fitness centre, Aerobics, Sauna, Solaria, Mini football, volleyball, badminton …

Sports Palace — Togolok Moldo — also used for exhibitions and concerts, behind the building is an open air swimming pool.

Dolphin Swimming Pool — Molodaya Gvardia — Two swimming pools and a small gymnasium.

Tennis Courts — behind Spartak Stadium

Shooting Range — Tashkumirskaya

GOLF comes to Bishkek.- Just a 20 minute drive from the center of Bishkek, The Maple Leaf Golf and Country Club offers a challenging 3207 yards of golf. This 9-hole golf course has a spectacular view of the Tian Shan mountains and a setting of tranquil beauty and fresh air. Created by a Canadian designer, this is the second golf course in Central Asia. Players can enjoy a challenging course with narrow fairways, lakes, smaller greens and more to give you a true test of your skill. For beginners a driving range and practice putting green areavaialble. The club also offers a Pro Shop and Club House for your relaxation before and after your game.

Spartak Stadium — Togolok Moldo — in the grounds there is a Boxing Centre — with weight-training and other facilities. The stadium has an all weather athletic track. Sometimes, in summer, it is also used for concerts.

Equestrian School — Bakinskaya — gives lessons in horsering … The Hippodrome Race Course is sometimes host to traditional games.

Just outside Bishkek are a number of ski-centres, including the Norus center, 35 km from the city centre. Modern equipment is available for hire, instructors, ski-lifts serving a number of different ski paths (16.5 km in total at altitudes between 1950 and 3010 meters, a hotel-chalet with comfortable rooms and a restaurant. The skiing season lasts from November till April.

SAUNAS
Bishkek has a number of saunas — ranging from the City Municipal sauna on Ibraimova, the swimming pools (Dolphin and Sports Palace), Karven Club, several in various hotels (including the Silk Road Lodge), private establishments, and even some in private homes.

CAFES, RESTAURANTS AND BARS
There is a wide range of cafes, restaurants and bars in the city — something to suit almost any taste, (although vegetarians might have a bit of difficulty finding suitable dishes) and pocket. Of course, new establishments are opening all the time, some change management, so a comprehensive list of «recommended» places to eat is difficult to maintain. Although the following is by no means an exhaustive list, we have eaten in all of the following — and would be happy to do so again (if an establishment is not in this list it doesn? t mean it isn? t good — just that we need to try it!):
2 × 2 — Isanova — Cocktail bar with a limited menu — light meals
Adriatico — Chui — Italian and European
Appelsin (Orange) — Togolok Moldo — European
Aristocrat — Ahunbaeyva — European
Balasugin — Chui — Chinese
Beta Gourmet — Chui — Fast Food
Classic — Manas — European
Continental — Ibraimova (Pravda) — Chinese
Dasmia — Gorkovo — Traditional
Fatboys — Chui — Light Food
Navigator — Moskovskaya — Continental and European
Parnas — Manas — Russian, European
Pitstop — Toktogula — Russian
Planet Holsten — Tynystanova (in Oak Park, outside the Russina Drama theatre)
Santa Maria — Kievskaya — European, Korean
Siberian Crown — Molodaya Gvardia — Russian
Steinbrau — Gertsena — German, and Eurpoean — locally brewed German style beer
The Pub — Chui — International
Time Out — Togolok Moldo — European
Yusa — Logvinenko — Turkish
And, of course, many of the hotels such as the Hyatt, Silk Road, Pinara, Dostuk … also have restaurants and bars.

«Street Food» — It is possible to find at many places throughout the city street vendors selling local dishes, plof, samsi, piroshki … but like «street food» anywhere — you should only really decide to try it if you are sure of your stomach.