Astana's original panoramic rooftop, design-led and easy to book. Reserve the summer terrace a week out for a relaxed dinner with the skyline.
The Reservation Problem at On The Roof
There is no scramble here, and that is the point worth stating plainly. On The Roof is a casual-fine rooftop, not a ten-seat counter, so a table is rarely more than a week away. The one thing that does book out is the open-air terrace on a warm summer evening, when it becomes one of the pleasantest seats in the city.
The Good Project group opened it as Astana’s first panoramic rooftop restaurant with a summer terrace, on the roof at Kadyrgali Zhalayyri 2 in the central business district. The room holds 74 covers inside and 40 more on the veranda, and Restaurants for Kings ranks it fifth in the city. It leans to Astana’s under-40 professional crowd rather than the formal state-occasion rooms along Nurzhol Boulevard.
How to Book On The Roof
Book direct by phone, or use a Kazakh reservation platform — 2GIS and the local restaurant apps both list the rooftop and take same-week bookings. There is no foreign-only barrier and no concierge needed. Give your date, your headcount, and say whether you want the open terrace or the enclosed glass section, because in Astana’s climate that choice changes the whole evening.
A week’s notice covers most dinners. For a Friday or Saturday terrace table between June and August, book earlier and ask for the first service; the terrace is small and the sunset hour goes first. In winter the glass-enclosed section keeps the skyline without the wind, and is easier to secure.
What to Order
The menu is short and moves across European, Japanese, Mediterranean and Central Asian registers without settling on one. Look for the beef tartare with quail egg and truffle oil, the tuna tataki with ponzu and shiso, the pan-seared sea bass with saffron risotto, and the charcoal-grilled lamb rack with za’atar and pomegranate molasses. Finish with the burnt Basque cheesecake, which has a local following. The bar builds cocktails on domestic Kazakh ingredients — sea buckthorn, steppe herbs, birch sap — and is worth arriving early for.
The Smart Play
Come for the golden hour: book the first summer service, take the terrace, and start at the bar. If the rooftop is full or the weather turns, Astana’s modern-Kazakh rooms are the alternative — Qazaq Gourmet on Nurzhol Boulevard for the city’s most polished table and Daididau for contemporary Kazakh cooking. Both sit above On The Roof in our city ranking and answer a more formal evening.
Not for a black-tie or state-occasion dinner, and not for anyone who needs total quiet. On The Roof is a lively, design-led rooftop pitched at a younger crowd. For a formal room, book Qazaq Gourmet on Nurzhol Boulevard instead.
View On The Roof on Restaurants for Kings →
Related Reading
- Our full profile: On The Roof in Astana.
- The wider city: Astana dining guide.
- Also in town: Qazaq Gourmet on Nurzhol Boulevard and Daididau for modern Kazakh cooking.
- By occasion: best first-date tables, the best solo-dining rooms and birthday dinners.
- Nearby cities: Almaty dining, Baku dining and Dubai dining.
- Strategy: how to get impossible restaurant reservations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I book On The Roof in Astana?
Book direct by phone or through a Kazakh reservation platform such as 2GIS, which lists the rooftop and takes same-week bookings. There is no concierge requirement and no foreign-only barrier. Give your date, your headcount and say whether you want the open-air terrace or the enclosed glass section, because in Astana's climate that single choice shapes the evening more than the time slot does.
How far in advance should I book On The Roof?
About a week covers most dinners, which makes On The Roof far easier than a Michelin counter. The exception is the summer terrace: between June and August the open-air seats and the sunset hour go first, so book earlier and ask for the first service. In winter the glass-enclosed section keeps the skyline view without the wind and is simpler to secure at short notice.
How much does On The Roof cost?
Plan on roughly KZT 25,000 to 60,000 per person for dinner, depending on how far you go into the menu and the bar list. That places it in Astana's upper-casual bracket rather than its formal fine-dining tier. The cocktail programme, built on domestic ingredients such as sea buckthorn and steppe herbs, is a real part of the bill, so factor a drink or two into the total.
What should I order at On The Roof?
Start with the beef tartare with quail egg and truffle oil or the tuna tataki with ponzu and shiso, then take the pan-seared sea bass with saffron risotto or the charcoal-grilled lamb rack with za'atar and pomegranate molasses. The menu is deliberately short and crosses European, Japanese and Central Asian registers. Finish with the burnt Basque cheesecake, which has built a local following.
Does On The Roof have a dress code?
The dress code is smart casual. On The Roof is a design-led rooftop pitched at Astana's under-40 professional crowd, so the room reads relaxed rather than formal; you will be comfortable in a jacket or in a good shirt without one. Save the black tie for the state-occasion rooms along Nurzhol Boulevard. In summer, bring a layer for the open terrace once the sun drops.