Gastronomy
Almaty’s Gastronomic Street: A New Chapter for Masanchi
Amira Kassenova, Gulsara Kenbaeva
Almaty is a city where gastronomy has long been an integral part of urban culture. Cafés and restaurants are more than just places to eat: they are spaces for meeting, socialising and discovering cuisines from around the world. One notable example of this culture is Gastronomic Street, formerly known as Masanchi Street.
At the initiative of the city authorities, part of the street was transformed into a dedicated space for restaurants, cafés and leisurely strolls. The akimat’s project combined improvements to the urban environment with the development of gastronomic culture and support for small businesses, turning a familiar stretch of street into a new attraction for residents and visitors alike.
Work began on 14 June 2026. Along the section between Abai and Satpayev avenues, façades and infrastructure were renovated, pavements were widened and a semi-pedestrian zone was created. According to figures published in the media, the contract value for the works was 918 million tenge. The official opening of the city’s first gastronomic street took place on 20 September 2026, as part of City Day celebrations.
Masanchi has gradually gained a reputation as a place where establishments with different concepts, flavours and atmospheres sit side by side within a relatively small area. Here, culinary traditions blend with contemporary restaurant formats, turning an ordinary city street into a destination for Almaty residents and visitors alike.
The appeal of such spaces lies in their diversity. Visitors can choose between a leisurely breakfast, a business lunch, a coffee with friends or dinner in good company. Each establishment offers its own approach to hospitality, while together they give the street its distinctive character.
Gastronomic Identity of AlmatyRamen, borscht, kuksi, plov, homemade teas and modern interpretations of Kazakh dishes - Almaty’s restaurants have long moved beyond the concept of “national cuisine.” The city is developing its own urban gastronomic culture, in which different traditions mixmag.humodoc.com
The reimagining of Masanchi as Gastronomic Street reflects broader changes taking place in Almaty. The city is developing, new public spaces are emerging, and an interest in good food and dining experiences is becoming part of everyday life. In this context, gastronomy is not merely an industry, but also a way of shaping the city’s identity.
Gastronomic Street tells the story of how a familiar urban space can take on new meaning. Here, flavours, people and ideas come together, and the street itself offers another reason to discover Almaty from an unexpected perspective.
Read also:
A Restaurant is Urban InfrastructureIf we stop viewing a restaurant solely as a business, it becomes clear that public catering is a fully fledged part of urban infrastructure. Veronika Daugaliyeva, chair of the Self-Regulatory Association of Public Catering of the Republic of Kazakhstan (SOOP RK), told HD magazine why public catering should be regarded as a sector of the economy.mag.humodoc.com
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