The largest city on the Caspian Sea has always impressed with its natural and cultural beauty—the gorgeous European architecture backing out onto the blues of the Caspian. But in the last decade Baku has been staking its claim as a major cultural and entertainment player. Jaw-dropping contemporary architecture, like the now-famous Flame Towers building, has sprung up across the city as major international events (the Eurovision Song Contest in 2010 and this year, the Formula 1) have chosen to call the Azerbaijani capital home. But perhaps nowhere has Baku been making as much fantastic noise as in its drinking and dining scene, where luxe hotel bars and restaurants, inventive local newcomers, traditional favorites and wild nightclubs attracting major DJs are making for a uniquely rich offering. Here we team up with Martini to bring you the best of the best. If you`re in the city for the big race—or visiting any time of year—you`re going to want to taste it all.
Eleven
Striking views of the Caspian with your dinner? And your drinks? And your dancing? All-purpose good times hot spot Eleven (Neftchiler Ave, Park Inn; +994-51-510-00-11)—named for its place on the eleventh floor of the Park Inn—is great for sushi and Japanese bites during the week and for throwing shapes until 3am on weekends.
Pasifico
Sure, you came to see Baku, but Pasifico (34 Neftchilar Ave, Seaside Blvd; +994-50-285-00-21) offers a fun pit stop in South America while in town. At this rooftop restaurant and lounge, the bar is covered in scale-like tiles like a giant anaconda—walk on up and order a refreshing Martini & Tonic—while the menu will transport you to Brazil, Chile and Argentina with plump steaks, ceviches and empanadas. Look out for the big-name DJs who sometimes play shows.
Enerji
Make a reservation if you want to guarantee yourself a place to perch at this mammoth club and restaurant that opened in 2015. There are two levels of drinking and dining spaces and a terrace at Enerji (National Flag Square, +994-12-404-82-08); the ground floor—with its plush red chairs and red walls, you won’t be surprised to hear it’s themed ‘Red Fire’—is where the action’s at.
360 Bar
The name gives away 360’s (Hilton Baku, 1B Azadlig Ave; +994 12-464-50-00) biggest draw—the bar revolves, which means you hold up your phone and get a perfect panorama shot of the Caspian Sea from 25 floors above it. The food can get fancy, if that’s your thing (caviar-stuffed olives), and they make a mean classic cocktail. Come at sunset to end the day on a wow.
Alov Jazz BAr
Azerbaijanis fell hard for jazz when it first came to the country’s shores in the early 20th century. At Alov (Fairmont Baku, 1A, Mehdi Huseyn; +994-12-565-48-48), in Baku’s famous Flame Towers, you can hear live jazz Wednesday through Saturday while noshing on delicious bar bites and seasonal cocktails (most feature cognac and whiskey) or a Martini & Tonic.
Chinar
Surrounded by bamboo trees, this former teahouse has been converted into one of the most stunning spaces in Baku to sip vermouth as you dine on a huge menu of Asian favorites (everything from Peking duck with pancakes to Singapore seafood laksa). The restaurant sits near the statue of local hero Bahram Gur, seen slaying a dragon—the myth inspired Chinar’s (1 Shovkat Alakbarova, +994-12-404-82-11) Dragon Lounge on the mezzanine level, where you can gorge on sushi before hitting the dance floor.
Mari Vanna
Like tchotchkes? You’ll love Mari Vanna, which takes you straight back to old Russia in a space that looks like a rich babushka’s home, frozen in time: elaborate chandeliers hang from the ceilings; Russian literature and nesting dolls adorn the shelves. The food at Mari Vanna (Zarifa Aliyeva St 93, +994-12-404-95-95) matches that theme (borsch, cubed bologna). If you’ve been to Mari Vanna in London and New York, you know what to expect from this Baku gem.
Buddha Bar
Since first appearing in Paris in 1996, the Buddha Bar franchise has spread to more than 25 cities, and one of its most special locations is in Baku (99 Neftchilar Ave, +994-12-404-82-09). Colonial Indian decor meets modern oriental with an Azeri twist at the low-lit bar and restaurant, and the menu is packed with famous Buddha Bar favorites—Pacific-inspired fare with artful and sometimes indulgent touches, like vodka calamari with Foie Gras.
Café Baku
This gleaming, sunblest café (153 Neftchilar Ave, +994-12-404-82-06) near Port Baku mall entices with great coffee, local artworks covering the walls and a California-style approach to food: a focus on the best local and international produce and a dedication to serving meals that contain no added sugars or preservatives. Pick up a magazine and plant yourself in a corner…you’re going to want to be here a while.
Merci Baku
Perhaps the best-named restaurant in Baku (Asaf Zeynalli 16, +994-12-492-36-10) is also one of the city’s most special, with detailed French styling (ornate mirrors, elaborate chandeliers) and fun quirks (you can choose a “random order” option on the iPad menus). The food is French-tinged, and there are great salads, and there is an inventive list of fruit-heavy cocktails, too, perfect for an afternoon on their popular terrace.
OroNero Bar & Ristorante
The signature dish here is the Risotto OroNero, a squid ink risotto with octopus ragout crowned in delicate shavings of gold leaf, and it sets the tone for this luxurious Italian restaurant in the JW Marriott (674 Azadliq Square, second floor; +994-12-499-88-88). The space was designed by London-based Henry Chebaane and every corner is manufactured to wow: gold baubles dangle from the ceiling, gold-rimmed portholes let in the light, the chefs move in shadows behind a gold screen and there is a walk-in wine cellar that will have aspiring vino collectors taking notes. Come summer, however, you may want to skip all that opulence and make for the terrace for some time in the golden sun.
Fireworks Urban Kitchen
There is a devotion to steak at Fireworks (674 Azadliq Square, +994-12-499-88-88) that would make many a meatlover weep with joy. Choose between American Black Angus (hand-cut in-house before being seared on the kitchen’s Montague Broiler and cooked at a super-hot 650 degrees Celsius) or the Australian “Stockyard” Angus (cooked on a charcoal Jasper for that delicious grilled flavor). If you’re feeling really adventurous, go for the 900-gram Australian Stockyard FW Tomahawk—huge!—and pair it with a drink (or three) from Fireworks’ extensive whiskey menu.
M`eat
If the name wasn’t enough of a hint that M’eat (25 Samad Vurgun St, +994-12-310-19-19) means business when it comes to beef, the decor will leave you with no doubts: a metal cow adorns an exposed brick wall, all segmented like a puzzle of choice cuts. The rest of the room is luxury-meets-meat hanger, with plush leather couches filling a chic industrial space, and the menu focuses on prime cuts of US-imported steak, most of it Halal. Don’t skip the drinks menu though: there’s a great selection of vermouth and inventive, American-themed cocktails.
Amburan Beach Club
Bilgah Beach, just a 20-minute drive from Baku, is a favorite among locals, and it’s not hard to see why: the blue water of the Caspian, gorgeous ancient trees and white sand paired with endless eating, drinking and party options at Amburan Beach Club (Bilgah, +994-55-300-50-00). Drink a Martini on the summer terrace while the kids are entertained, enjoy live music and, of course, get your bikini on and hit the pool.
Sea Breeze
Part of the burgeoning Caspian Riviera, the Sea Breeze (Nardaran, +994-12-310-22-22) is a quick 50-minutes north of Baku, and features a mix of beautifully designed homes and apartments that orbit the main attraction: a 19-room pure-white Miami-style hotel. Get your feet in the sand at the resort’s private beach and be sure to hit the Shore House restaurant for a bite to eat and an aperitif.
