Expatriates Forums in Azerbaijan

NIGHTLIFE IN AZERBAIJAN / AZERBAIJAN NIGHTLIFE GUIDE

Azerbaijan Info — Mon May 07, 2007 9:09 am

Author: Azerbaijan Info

Posted: Mon May 07, 2007 9:09 am

NIGHTLIFE IN AZERBAIJAN

GENERAL

Baku has a vibrant life regarding theatre, opera and ballet, drawing both from the rich local dramatic portfolio and from the international repertoire. Prices are very reasonable by European standards. Shows are plentiful for all ages and tastes, and companies from neighbouring countries are regular visitors.

Today in the theatres you'll find plays both in Azeri and Russian, even so a lot of older residents have a certain nostalgia for the pre-war times, when in this area the cosmopolitan character of city's population was translated in a rainbow of events.

Most occasions are informal, but there are some exceptions, so if you want to avoid feeling awkward don't forget to check the dress code in advance for each performance.

During the last 8 years, nightlife and entertainment scene in Baku has undergone a dramatic change - mainly because of the oil boom. The ongoing oil exploration has resulted in creation of a large expat community (mainly British) who work for different multinational oil companies. A large number of nightclubs, bars, pubs and discotheques have sprung up, catering mainly to this expat community. Most of these pubs & bars are located in and around the Fountain Square and are open till very late in the night (usually till the last order). Discotheques are open till the wee hours in the morning; at least at the weekends.

Popular bars include Chaplin, Finnegan’s and Lancaster Gate. Concerts, theatre, opera and ballet are a source of local pride and very popular.

PLACES TO UNWIND

Amburan Beach Club
Bilgah Settlement,
Baku
Phone: (+994 12) 453-8685/ 4
E-mail: info@amburanresort.com

Black Jack
20, Bul-Bul Avenue,
Baku
Phone: (+994 12) 493-7171

Chillout
1, Natavan Street,
Baku
Phone: (+994 50) 527-5000
E-mail: relax@chillout.az

Le Chevalier
Block 1025/ 30,
Tbilisi Avenue,
Baku
Phone: (+994 12) 490-7086/ 90
E-mail: info@lechevalier-nightclub.com
Website: www.lechevalier-nightclub.com

Vanilla Sound Lab
Mardakan Settlement,
Vanilla Beach,
Baku
Phone: (+994 50) 336-4343

FOOD & DINING IN AZERBAIJAN / AZERBAIJAN DINING GUIDE

Azerbaijan Info — Mon May 07, 2007 9:00 am

Author: Azerbaijan Info

Posted: Mon May 07, 2007 9:00 am

FOOD & DINING IN AZERBAIJAN

GENERAL

Azerbaijani food combines Turkish and central Asian elements. Rising pollution levels have given rise to alarm about falling fish stocks, but sturgeon is still widely available at a price. Baku has a reasonable selection of Western style restaurants which have opened recently. In the chai khanas (tea houses), men linger for hours drinking sweet black tea out of tiny glasses. A special place in the cuisine belongs to salads prepared from fresh vegetables. Salads are served together with main course. The national cuisine includes more than 30 kinds of soups.

Although the majority of Azeris are nominally Shia Muslims, alcohol is widely available.

National specialties

• The much celebrated plov is a delicious, spicy specialty made with pine nuts, vegetables and dried fruit, in addition to rice and mutton; certain types of plov use chicken instead of mutton and include chestnuts.

• Grilled kebabs of various kinds are popular, including lyulya kebab made from spiced, minced lamb pressed onto skewers.

• Meals often start with rich, heavy soups: piti is a mutton soup bulked out with chickpeas and slowly cooked in individual earthenware pots in the oven and served in the same pots; dogva is a sharp, yogurt and spinach-based soup containing rice and meatballs.

• Sturgeon is served both smoked and fresh.

• Caviar has traditionally been fished from the Caspian Sea.

• Kutab pastries are stuffed with spinach or pumpkin and are similar to Turkish birekas.

• Kutum Lavangy is stuffed fish with cherries, walnuts and raisins.

• Dolma is minced mutton flesh with onions.

• Badimjan Dolmasi is mutton served with plenty of aubergine and tomatoes, basil, sour cream and butter.

National drinks

• Wines and brandies are produced locally.

• Sherbets are popular soft drinks made of sugar, lemon, saffron, seeds of mint and basil and other fruit.

• Tea is often served accompanied by various jams such as quince, fig, apricot, white cherry and plum. Sometimes dried leaves or flowers of savoury, clove, cardamom and other spices are added to tea. Tea made of cinnamon (darchin) and ginger is popular. Sometimes rose water is added.

Legal drinking age: No minimum age.

Tipping: Expected by waiters and doormen in restaurants – sometimes in advance to ensure service.

PLACES TO DINE

Absheron
Azadlyg Avenue,
Baku
Tel: (+994 12) 498-9273

Anadolu
Pushkin Street 5,
Baku
Tel: (+994 12) 498-8758

Anna Belle
Mardanov Gardashlary Street 9,
Baku
Tel: (+994 12) 493-5546

Circus
Kirpichnaya Street 35,
Baku
Tel: (+994 12) 494-6597

Dionis
Iskenderov Street 22,
Baku
Tel: (+994 12) 497-1090

Dragon Baku
Neftchilyar Avenue 36,
Baku
Tel: (+994 12) 492-6709

Dolce Vita
A. AIiyev Street 8,
Baku
Tel: (+994 12) 492-7608

Gyulistan
Neftchilyar Avenue 81,
Baku
Tel: (+994 12) 492-0379

Hollywood
Tolstoy Street 154,
Baku
Tel: (+994 12) 494-8326

Lux Bay Oglu
28 May Street 54,
Baku
Tel: (+994 12) 493-0158

Mangal
Fountain Square,
Jagiyev Street 2,
Baku
Tel: (+994 12) 493-1822

Muller Brau
Nizamy Street 93,
Baku
Tel: (+994 12) 493-2512

Ocean
K. Karayev Street 102,
Baku
Tel: (+994 12) 474-2013

Paradise Club
U. Hajibeyov Street 26,
Baku
Tel: (+994 12) 498-7411/ 493-7386
Fax: (+994 12) 493-7386

Ragin Cajun
M. Rasulzadeh Street 5,
Baku
Tel: (+994 12) 498-9857

Teatral
Khagany Street 10,
Baku
Tel: (+994 12) 492-5256

Zumrud
8th Microdistrict,
Akhundov Street 6,
Baku
Tel: (+994 12) 461-5979

SHOPPING IN AZERBAIJAN / AZERBAIJAN SHOPPING GUIDE

Azerbaijan Info — Mon May 07, 2007 8:34 am

Author: Azerbaijan Info

Posted: Mon May 07, 2007 8:34 am

SHOPPING IN AZERBAIJAN

General

If visitors are intent on acquiring an Azeri carpet, they are advised to visit the carpet-weaving centre at Nardaran. Locally produced silk, ceramics and other craftwork is also sold at the Sharg Bazary (a modern, covered market) in Baku. Prices here are likely to be negotiable. Any carpet or other artifact made before 1960 is subject to an export tax and must be certified for export by the Ministry of Culture. Items purchased at official art salons or tourist shops will already be duly certified. This is not true of goods sold at markets or by private individuals.

Shopping hours

Mon-Sat 0900-2000.

Banking hours

Mon-Fri 0930-1730.

Currency

Azeri Manat (AZM). Notes are in denominations of AZM50,000, 10,000, 1000, 500, 250, 100, 50, 10, 5 and 1.

Currency exchange

US Dollar, Pound Sterling and the Euro are the preferred currencies and can be exchanged at the airport, bureaux de change, all hotels, some restaurants and major banks. However, many local hotels, exchange bureaux and restaurants will not accept dollar bills dated before 1992 or those which are torn or in any way disfigured. Travellers are advised to take banknotes in small denominations and change small amounts of money as required. Rates offered by banks and bureaux de change are unlikely to vary significantly.

Credit & debit cards

Some major credit cards are accepted in Baku, at large hotels, restaurants and banks. However, generally, Azerbaijan is a cash-only economy. Credit cards can be used to purchase tickets at the airport.

Traveller's cheques

Not generally accepted.

Currency restrictions

The import and export of local currency is permitted for residents of Azerbaijan provided the amount is declared on the customs declaration. The import of foreign currency is unlimited although it must be declared on arrival. The export of foreign currency for non-residents is limited up to the amount declared on arrival. The export of foreign currency for residents is limited up to US$10,000 or equivalent; amounts in excess of US$1000 or equivalent are subject to 1 per cent tax.