Welcome to Baku’s premier nightlife guide.
On this page, you’ll discover the vibrant and varied nightlife scene in Baku. You’ll find the perfect venue for you and your preferred night out. Whether you want to go all-out clubbing or if you’d like a more laid back dinner and drinks with a view, we’ve got your covered.
Enjoy!
A little Introduction to Baku
Baku is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, located near the Caspian Sea. It is the economic capital and biggest city of the beautiful Caucasus region. Because of its lower elevation which is around 28 meters below the sea level, it is also known as the lowest lying national capital in the world. Being the sole metropolitan area of the county, it inhabits about 25% population of the country. Some 2.3 million people live in Baku, making it largest below sea level city in the world. The city is nicknamed as the “City of Winds” all thanks to fierce winds that blow over the city all the year.
Baku is a perfect combination of old medieval civilization, 19th-century European imperial palaces and the very modern lifestyle of the 21st century. The living standards of the city are remarkably high, therefore, it remains among the most expensive cities in the world. With time and due to some economic recession, the city is now among the affordable cities in the world. Culturally, the city is very diverse and has something pleasant to offer for all types of adventure lovers. The city is full of historic treasures, modern recreational activities, and very own culinary culture.
For history students and admirers, there is no better place other than the Baku’s old town named “Icheri Sheher”. It is UNESCO-listed fortified historic town that was once the capital of the Shirvan Shah’s dynasty. Today, it is a major tourist hotspot in the city with Maiden Tower, lavish bars, and top quality restaurants. The cylindrical Maiden Tower is a 1000-year-old landmark, served as Zoroastrian temple throughout the history before becoming a watchtower in the 18th century. Shirvan Shahs’ palace is another historic architecture located in this old town. The wide building is home to a mosque, a palace, a mausoleum, and burial vaults, making it a must-visit place for everyone.
Baku Boulevard or Seaside National Park, located along the Caspian Sea coast is the best place to enjoy the beautiful night views of the Baku with refreshing air blowing from the sea. This is a good escape from the warm, humid weather of the city. Here several restaurants, shopping malls, and tea houses are located. For shopping lovers, the famous Nizami Street in the heart of the city is highly recommended. This city street is named after the former Azerbaijan’s poet the Nizami Ganjavi.
Heydar Aliyev Center is a wonderland for architecture admirers. This multipurpose exhibition center won the Design of the year award back in the year 2014. Baku is famous for museums, with, the Museum Center, Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography, Azerbaijan State Carpet Museum, and Azerbaijan Museum of Geology are on the top of the list.
For night owls, the city is here to impress you with top-class restaurants, bars, clubs, and other famous attractions. According to the Lonely Planet’s ranking, Baku is also among the world’s top ten destinations for urban nightlife. In the upcoming sections, an overview of Baku’s famous nightlife is given.
The Nightlife in Baku
While the daily life of Baku is pretty impressive, its nightlife is what attract you the most towards this city. Though the city lifestyle tends to be more towards the conservative side, exploring this great city during night time can give you many pleasant surprises. When the sun goes down, Baku starts to transform into a magnificent and beautiful looking city with much more to explore during these hours. From shopping, eating tasty foods in one of the traditional restaurants to spending the night in bars, there is something really pleasant for all and sundry. You’ll never fall short of finding a nice spot to enjoy your evening and night hours in the largest city of Azerbaijan. Let’s explore some of the most attractive places and activities to spend a remarkably different night at Baku.
Wander Through the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum
In Azerbaijan and adjoining areas, carpet weaving has special status and considered part of their culture. This art has become the national identity and symbol of Azerbaijan. You can find carpet use all over the Baku, they are used to beautify the walls, floors of the home, mosques and almost every government building. To preserve this tradition, Azerbaijan carpet museum was established in 1967. The museum not only showcases the variety of carpets, but has a collection of over ten thousands precious objects such as ceramics, metal works, and jewelry from the past.
Do a Walking tour of the old city
Old city of the Baku also known as the Icharishahar is among the UNESCO world heritage sites. It is located in the center of the city, rich in culture and home to multiple historic landmarks. This part of the city has become more clean and beautiful after the recent major renovation. During evening hours, this historic town becomes the main attention for local and tourists. Walking through it brings you a whole new experience and teach you the glories of the past. During walking you can touch the stones of ancient walls, can explore the historic fortresses and admire the mystical art of the doors.
For better experience and knowledge, you can book an audio tour that will explain the main sightseeing landmarks of the old city. Besides these historic places, you can enjoy tea at café shops and check out the traditional foods at one of the restaurants there.
Visit the Flame Towers
The shape of these huge towers are similar to flames, probably to rememorize the past days of local people’s fire worship. During the night time, the LED lights fitted in the structure of these towers resembles with the three big flames. These towers dominate the skyline of the city and can be seen from any part of the city. Moreover, these towers tell the story of the past and give hope for the bright future. To maximize your experience, visit the TV tower situated above, the stunning view from above is what you need to make your night worth remembering.
Enjoy dinner at Aroma Café
Aroma café offers the traditional as well as best recipes from all over the world. The café remains open till midnight, making it a perfect place to have a dinner during late night. The café is best for tourists, all thanks to English speaking and very friendly staff. The interior design of the restaurant is just amazing, with charming arm-chairs and conformable couches. You have access to free Wi-Fi as well. The nearby restaurant known as Moaziz provides an opportunity to enjoy decent foods with folk and pop music.
Try a tasty drink at Finnegan’s
There is no shortage of quality bars in Baku. The area of Fountain square is particularly dotted with one of the best bars in the city. Among all these bars Finnegan’s bar is the most popular one and offers super tasty drinks for all type of people. The nearby Phoenix Bar looks nice inside and attracts huge gathering during all the evening and night hours. These bars not only offer drinks of your choice but offer all these services at a reasonable price. ISR Plaza is your best bet when you want to see the picturesque panorama of the city during night time. Imagine sipping your favorite drink seeing the night view of the city.
Spend some time at Capitol Night Club
There is no shortage of stylish night clubs in the Baku. If you want to enjoy something western, Capitol Night Club should be on the top of your list. This club not only offers local music but play equally good international music. This club boasts diverse crowd all night which is a rare sight in the city club scene. The show is at the peak around 1 am. During weekends, Hyatt Disco provides real fun all night. Other worth visiting clubs include Sherwoods, the carol, and the Blackjack.
The Best Bars in Baku
Though the city of Azeri capital has a conservative outlook, and normally there is a misconception about its drinking culture. Hardly anyone knows it is among those cities that have a very active nightlife with remarkable numbers of bars serving costly cocktails. Why the city should stay behind from other similar cities when it is sitting in the Caucasus region, well known as the place where wine was first introduced. You can find many lavish bars in all parts of the city, but we are bringing a list of most popular and high ranked bars below that needs your attention for sure when you visit Baku next time.
William Shakespeare’s Pub
This English style bar is a unique one in Baku, and probably the only bar where you can find the native English dish, the curry. It is a hotspot for dinner and a decent beer afterward. Located at Əbdülkərim Əlizadə, Səbail Bakı, the bar is the main attraction for expats working in the oil industry. It is located right in the middle of two main parts of the city, between Boulevard and Fountain Square, therefore, it is very accessible from all parts of the city. It not only serve the curry, but it is also the right place to enjoy Mexican foods, different cuisine of beers from all over the world. The best thing for tourist is the English speaking staff that is equally friendly. This place is the first choice for delicious foods, tasty cocktails, and to make new friends in the city.
BeerBasha Restaurant
This bar is not only well known for quality drinks that are served here, but the real attraction of this place is probably the high ends sports. If you want to have some fun with live spots, tasty cocktails, and delicious foods at the same time, there is no better place other than BeerBasha Restaurant in the whole Baku. The bar is located at 8A Parlament Prospekt, Yasamal Baki, with all its glories. Another attraction of the bar is its beautifully designed interior that makes you want more. The bar is divided into three portions and offers a great variety of beers, not only locally crafted but the international ones as well. Coming towards the foods, you won’t disappoint because they are serving an equally attractive food menu.
Pivnaya Apteka
Pivnaya Apteka or the Beer Pharmacy is a beautifully decorated bar serving the well-mixed drinks at very reasonable prices. They are serving a variety of beer, cocktails, and a special range of beertails, you won’t find anywhere in the city. Situated at the 147 Neftçilər Prospekt, Nəsimi Bakı, Pivanya Apteka is well known for some homemade dishes especially the burgers. Coming towards the foods, the bar is serving a solid menu of local and international foods. If you are fond of tasty cocktail besides some delicious foods, come here to fulfill your hunger for both. The bar stays open until 2 am from Monday to Thursday, it stays open until 3 am on weekend, Friday and Saturday.
Harbour Tap and Grill
This bar is situated near the Port of Baku and is famous for its British style. The bar maintains a natural look and probably influenced by the English culture. The atmosphere inside the bar is quite phenomenal in warm throughout the year, perfectly what you need in a bar to sip your favorite drink. They are serving best locally crafted beers and cocktails. When it comes to foods, Indian and traditional local foods are their focal point of selection. The place is equally good for music lovers because they offer some electric music to keep you active all night. Coming towards the timing of the bar, they are open until 11 pm in the night.
Camel Pub and Cafe
The bar is located in the famous area of 191 Bashir Safaroglu Street, Nasimi Baku. Their cheap but tasty cocktails are the main reasons why a large number of people attracts to this place. Sometimes it is hard to find a sitting place, so be ready for some waiting problem, but it has all reason to do so. The interior design of the bar is unique, it feels like a big cylindrical can. Besides offering some cheaper cocktails, they also offer drink promotion of shots regularly. Exactly what you need to be in this bar every night with your friends. The bar opening times are very flexible because it stays open and full all time of the day and remains open till late in the night.
Offside Pub
This is one of the biggest sports bars in the city which not only offers quality drinks but provide an equally good chance of watching a football match. Several large screens fitted inside the bars made it worth visiting and sporting your favorite football team. Coming towards their drink selection, well, they are inclined towards the German drink brands. Another attraction of the bar is equally impressive bar snacks and a big menu of foods. So you never stay hungry while sporting your favorite team. If you are getting bored and want some alone time, the equally comfortable outside sitting arrangements is what you need to enjoy your favorite drink. You can find Offside Pub at Izmir Ave. 5 and can easily be recognized with its green and white façade. The bar stays open till 2 am.
Fairplay Pub & Café
Fairplay is among the most popular bar in the city. The inside décor of the bar is attractive and beautiful. This bar has something to offer for everyone, draft beer, a long list of cocktails, hip vibe, and then the non-alcoholic beverages, you have plenty of drinks to choose from. During weekends, the atmosphere is further electric, all thanks to the best local and occasional international talent that present the best possible music. They are offering a variety of foods from local and international cuisine presented with unique styles. The bar is located at FairPlay Pub & Cafe at 20 Yusif Mammadaliyev St in Baku. The bar stays open till 2 am every day of the week. Visit it and learn by yourself why this is so famous among the local population.
Beer Office Cafe Pub
Located at Nasimi Baku, 1005, the well-known area of the city, Beer Office Cafe Pub is the last thing you need to make your night remember-able. Their selection of drinks is quite impressive and lavish. They are not only offering a wide variety of alcoholic drinks but equal number of non- alcoholic drinks. The atmosphere of the bar presents the right setting to relax for a few hours and chat with some new friends. The bar tends to stay busy during the weekends if you don’t like the rush hours visit it from Monday to Thursday when few people visit this place. Another remarkable thing about this bar is the energetic atmosphere and cost-effective drinks. The bar stays open till late in the night.
Etud Café & Bar
ETUD CAFÉ & bar is located in the center of the city that presents the best great opportunities for hand out. This place is a must-go place for music lovers, all thanks to its rich musical traditions. The bar is not only famous for the quality music but for the equally refreshing drinks that are available with different price tags from costly to very affordable ones. The bar has its own jazz identity and blues nights. The bar has become a great party place where all and sundry enjoy gathering with their friends. Coming towards the menu of foods serves here, there are great options available from best locals to well-known European cuisine. The bar is located at ETUD Cafe & Bar at 131 Lev Tolstoy in Baku and stays open till 2 am normally and till 1 is during weekends.
The Best Bar Restaurants in Baku
For those looking for rich culinary culture as the main reason to travel around the world, Baku is here to stun you with its rich culinary culture. The unique location of Baku makes it a hotspot for different types of cuisine cultures to grow. You can find different types of restaurants offering European and Asian cuisine here, all thanks to its location in-between Europe and Asia. We have selected a list of best bar restaurants in the Baku you should never miss in your next tour to Azerbaijan.
Located near the 8A parliament Avenue, Nakhchivan is a great project launched by Beat Group. It is by far the most attractive and romantic restaurant in Baku that gives supreme importance to preserving their great cuisine. The décor of the restaurant brings you in the 19th-century era with modern furnishing. There are two parts to this great restaurant. First part is a sitting place with comfortable couches, while the 2nd part of the restaurant is, of course, the dining area with beautiful tables and furnished in vintage style. The restaurant is very famous for the variety of delicious Nakhchivani kebobs, appetizers, and desserts from Ordubad. Besides these foods, you can enjoy the tasty pilav here.
Muzey Shirvanshah
Well, this restaurant interior is more like a museum and I think you won’t mind eating in a museum. This is not the lone reason for its popularity, the restaurant offers excellent service and the food available here is outclass. You will encounter numerous attractive artifacts arranged inside the building that adds up to the beauty of the restaurants. The restaurant can be divided into two parts, the first part contains large tables in a wide hall. The second part consists of small rooms for private gatherings. To make your experience further soothing, traditional music played here to make the atmosphere further romantic. The last thing you need to make your visit just unforgettable, try some wine at the end of your meal. This restaurant is located at 86 Salatin Asgerova Str.
Sehirli Tendir
Located near the Kicik Qala 19, Icherisheher, Old City, this place is popular for traditional and tasty breakfast. When you visit this great restaurant, you can avail an opportunity to explore the nearby old and historic part of the Baku city. Coming towards the dishes available here, especially baked bread solely available here can take you to another world. You can enjoy it with pomegranate jam and pomidor-yumurta (made with eggs and tomatoes). Besides this special bread, you can try other famous local cuisines at this restaurant. What makes it even better? The very reasonable prices of for all types of dishes make it a hotspot for food lovers.
Eleven Restaurant & Lounge
If you are fond of Japanese foods, Eleven Restaurant & Lounge is your destiny. The restaurant is located on the 11th floor of the Park Inn Hotel, hence eleven in the name of this restaurant came from this floor. This height of the restaurant is a real blessing for people because one can enjoy the night view of the city besides enjoying Japanese cuisine. Those want to try sushi and all the other dishes from Japan and East Asia, this place should be on the top of their list. Night hours brings another special thing to this restaurant, yes you guess right, it’s the live jazz music. All these attractions make this place hot favorite not only for locals but tourists alike. You can find the restaurant at 1 Azadlıq prospekti, Səbail Bakı.
Avaz Dining & Lounge
Avaz is a unique restaurant in the city that is struggling to preserve the local cuisine in the best way. They are not only offering the best of the local foods but give special care to visitors with their friendly staff. During weekends, the restaurant becomes further attractive with local jazz and folk music performances. During weekends, they also offer chef’s weekly specials which make it one must-visit place during the weekends. They are obsessed with everything locals, this is why they use locally grown vegetables in their recipes. You can find the restaurant in the area of Nasimi Baku.
Café City
Café City is located at 1 Islam Safarli, Fountain Square, Baku, with all its glories. One of the finest restaurant in the city and a winner of TripAdvisor’s ‘Certificate of Excellence’ in 2014. What makes it even attractive are the very reasonable prices of the delicious foods. Among the best dishes served here include deep-fried dumplings, prawn tempura, eggplant, potato pastries, and smoked beef rolls. You will find one of the tastiest salads variety served here with other dishes. Want more? You can try shrimp, fresh soups, pasta, pizzas and home-made desserts from tiramisu to ice cream. The restaurant is best for hosting parties or inviting guests.
The best Night Clubs in Baku
Baku’s nightlife is incomplete without talking about the famous nightclubs that are still thriving and entertaining the people of all ages and groups. Like other attractions including bars and restaurants, Baku has no shortages of thrilling night clubs. The nightclubs of Baku’s are not as over-crowded and boast a welcoming web. Most of the people believe nightclubs are now a dying tradition but contrary to what people think, Baku has a thriving nightclubs culture. We are listing here only the topmost nightclubs in Baku in the following section.
Enerji Club
Enerji is a relatively new addition to the club scene in Baku as it starts working in 2015. Located near the National Flag Square in Baku, this place is not only a decent club but also operate as a restaurant and lounge. We can divide club into two floors, the first one or the ground level of the club is themed Red Fired. The upper floor themed Black Diamond used as a restaurant and a supper club. The tourists feel comfortable here, all thanks to English speaking and friendly staff of the club. The main reason for its popularity is the high-quality DJ music played on a super energetic sound system. Another advantage of the club is its wide space, because of its wide space everyone can dance easily here and there is no rush scene in peak hours.
Buddha Bar
This super energetic club is located inside a very popular hotel named JW Marriot Absheron Hotel. Budha bar used for multi-purpose, it is a bar, a restaurant, and during night hours it is an impressive nightclub as well. The inside atmosphere of the club is very attractive and the use of amber-colored lights make it even more glamorous. Its décor is reinforced by the art pieces and glowing chandeliers imported from Asia. Most importantly, the music played here is quite electric and of different types including hip hop, jazz, classical, and much more. There is no shortage of delicious foods on the menu with top cuisine from Asia and Europe are part of it. During sushi mania days, people can get abundant of Japanese dish the sushi with super tasty wine. The bar is located at 99 Neftchilar Avenue Baku and considered a very popular one among the local population.
OTTO Club
OTTO Club was probably the first nightclub opened in the Baku, still working in the same way and local people like it the most. Live music and concerts are the real reason for its popularity. The atmosphere of the club is very charming and interior design of the club is equally attractive. The area of the dance floor is remarkably wide, where you’ll surely want to dance with your friends. You can enjoy live music till the morning and every day you can dance to DJ music. Not only these live concerts make it the right choice but the drinks here are of unique standard. You can avail super tasty snacks with the minimal price here. OTTO Club is located near the Tərlan Əliyarbəyov küç area of the city.
Seaside Boulevard
As the name depicts, this club is located near the Caspian Sea area. There are other activities to do besides dancing and drinking, for example, you can spend some time in a museum or a mall situated next to the club. Means, this place has all the elements to make your night worth visiting. As we know that Baku is famous as the city of winds, and this club stays equally windy year round making it a perfect place to visit in summer months. Not only dancing and music, but you can also enjoy visiting nearby attractions including Flag Square, attractions, hotels, and restaurants.
Pivnaya Apteka
It’s a large bar or in other words a beer pharmacy when we translate its name. During night time, it is a decent club where you can enjoy music and dance till late into the night. This place is just perfect for partying with friends and sipping your favorite drink. The menu of the drink is relatively large and locally crafted as well as international drinks are well served here. It offers not only beer and other types of drinks such as a large selection of vodkas and exclusive costly drinks. This place function as a restaurant where you can order delicious dinner. The weekend is special where you will see live music and concerts all night. You can find the club at 153, Port Baku Residency Baku.
Pacifico
This multipurpose located is used as a restaurant, a club, and a cozy bar. You’ll find here the most enthralling music played at an equally electric sound system. A permanent DJ station and live performance stage host events and international guest artists year-round. The stylish and design with wooden pieces terrace offers great views of the water. You can enjoy a delicious meal here before heading to the bar and nightclub. The menu of the location is prepared by an experienced team that brings flavors of American cuisine, all the way to Baku. Besides Peruvian ceviche and sushi, Brasilian salads and grills, you can try Argentinian and Chilean cuisine and seafood as well. Located at Azərbaycan Baku, Pacifico is perfect for an unforgettable after-party till 06:00 am.
Barrel Playground
Located at New Boulevard / Sabayil District Baku, Azerbaijan AZ1003, Barrel Playground is located just 5 KMs away from the city center. Located right at the seafront, this seasonal club is perfect to spend your night outside. Music played it is just amazing and there is no shortage of live concerts and parties. Local and international DJs show their talent regularly here and genre of music is quite diverse that ranges for jazz, deep house, to hip hop. This place hosts few regular events during the season and you should never miss this place when they are hosting an event during weekends.
Sintetik
Are you fond of techno types of clubs? If yes, Sintetik is your best bet in the city. The management of the club claims that this club is only techno club in the city and this is another reason you should visit this place to explore the reality. The inside atmosphere is what most of the people want in a club and bar. The bar is small and the outlook is dark, once it was smoky but now thanks to new regulations it is smoke-free. International DJs regularly perform here that mostly came from Georgia and Russia. Music played here belongs to the different genre including classical, jazz, and rock one. Located at 26, S. Vurgun St., Bakı, Azərbaycan Baku, this place is perfect to spend a quality night out.
Jazz Club
This club is devoted to promoting great jazz culture in the city of Baku. This club is more for serious music lovers and offers a great variety of local as well as international music variety. Guests can listen to famous jazz musicians and admire the local young performers working in different jazz styles. Everyone can see concerts and movies on the large screen fitted there. The restaurant offers a menu of the Asian, European cuisine. The more impressive things are professional service and qualified personnel creates a cozy and friendly atmosphere. More attraction comes from the spacious and beautiful banquet-room decorated in modern style. The atmosphere is suitable for conducting the banquets, corporate parties, and presentations.
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Conclusion
The City of Winds, the Baku is a real hidden gem sandwiched between the European luxurious lifestyle and Asian folk culture. Because of its lower elevation several meters below the sea level, it is also known as the lowest lying national capital in the world. Baku offers views of old medieval civilization, 19th-century European imperial palaces and the very modern lifestyle of the 21st century at one place. The city is well known for historic treasures and modern recreational activities. “Icheri Sheher” a UNESCO-listed fortified historic town is a major tourist hotspot in the city with Maiden Tower, lavish bars, and top quality restaurants.
For architecture admirers, Heydar Aliyev Center is a perfect place. This multipurpose exhibition center won the Design of the year award back in the year 2014. Baku has numerous museums, with the Museum Center, Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography, Azerbaijan State Carpet Museum, and Azerbaijan Museum of Geology are among the most visited. Baku Boulevard, located along the Caspian Sea coast is the best place to enjoy the beautiful night views of the Baku Here you will find several restaurants, shopping malls, and tea houses. The historic Nizami Street is very suitable for shopping lovers. This street is named after former Azerbaijan’s poet the Nizami Ganjavi.
According to the Lonely Planet’s ranking, Baku is also among the world’s top ten destinations for urban nightlife. This simply means, the night owns won’t get disappointed visiting this city. The growing culture of bars and nightclubs is challenging the conservative image of the city. To name a few bars, we can shortlist William Shakespeare’s Pub, BeerBasha Restaurant, Pivnaya Apteka, Harbour Tap and Grill, Camel Pub and Café, and Offside Pub. This list is just a tip of the iceberg because the city is dotted with numerous quality bars and pubs.
Coming towards the nightclub scene, Baku is here to impress you with several bars similar to most developed clubs in Western Europe. To name a few clubs, we can mention Enerji Club, Buddha Bar, OTTO Club, Pivnaya Apteka, and Pacifico. In these clubs, you can enjoy dance on electric music and favorite drinks till late in the night.
