Chinar opened on the site of an old Baku tea house, under the plane trees that give it its name, and the London group Blue Sky Hospitality built it into the city's best-known Pan-Asian room. The kitchen runs sushi, Thai and Chinese lines side by side, and the dishes people come back for are the Wagyu oshi sushi and the A5 Wagyu tataki in a yuzu-truffle dressing. It sits on Shovkat Alakbarova Street, a short walk from Fountain Square. Mains start around 16 AZN and climb fast once the Wagyu and sushi arrive.
The Kitchen
Chinar is run by Blue Sky Hospitality, the London group behind several of Baku's higher-end rooms, rather than a single celebrity chef. The kitchen works three Asian lines at once: a sushi counter, a Thai section and a Chinese wok station, with raw fish flown in and a hard lean on Wagyu beef. The standouts are the Wagyu oshi sushi, pressed and rich, and the A5 Wagyu tataki dressed with yuzu and truffle; the Wagyu oxtail stew with five-spice gravy is the dish to order if you want something slow-cooked rather than raw.
This is one of the more expensive kitchens in the city. The seafood fried rice runs about 16 AZN, mains climb from there, and a full dinner with sushi, a Wagyu plate and a drink lands around 70 to 130 AZN a head. Chinar has been a fixture of Baku dining for more than a decade, on Shovkat Alakbarova Street near Fountain Square, and it stays a default for visiting business guests and a local see-and-be-seen crowd. Service is polished and the bar list is long.
The Room
Chinar is a big, contemporary building, glassy and modern, a contrast with the tea-house heritage of the spot. The main dining room hums on a busy night and the attached bar and lounge run louder, so this is a place for energy rather than a hushed dinner; ask for a table in the restaurant section, away from the bar, if you want to hear each other. Lighting is low and moody in the evening. Tables seat anything from two to large groups, and the room handles big bookings well. Dress is smart; Baku dresses up to come here. Service is attentive and quick with the sake and wine list.
Best for Impress Clients
Book Chinar to impress clients because the name carries weight in Baku. Locals know it as the city's flagship Pan-Asian room, the Wagyu and sushi give you a generous, shareable table that suits a group, and the polished service handles a business booking without fuss. Picture a working dinner in the restaurant section, a spread of oshi sushi and A5 tataki down the middle, the bar humming one room over while you talk. For a visiting partner who wants somewhere current and unmistakably Baku, this lands. See more restaurants for impressing clients.
Not for a quiet, intimate dinner. Chinar runs busy and loud, especially near the bar, and the bill climbs fast once Wagyu and sushi are on the table.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chinar worth it?
Yes, if you want Baku's best-known Pan-Asian room and you are not counting every manat. The Wagyu oshi sushi and A5 tataki are the dishes that justify the prices, and the kitchen is consistent across sushi, Thai and Chinese. It is pricey for the city and the room runs loud, so come for the scene and the Wagyu rather than a bargain or a quiet table. For a flagship dinner it delivers.
How expensive is Chinar in Baku?
Chinar is one of the more expensive restaurants in Baku. The seafood fried rice is around 16 AZN, but mains climb quickly and a full dinner with sushi, a Wagyu plate and a drink runs roughly 70 to 130 AZN per person. Sushi and Wagyu are the items that push a bill up. For a lighter spend, order from the wok and Thai sections. See the Baku dining guide for other options.
What should I order at Chinar?
Order the Wagyu oshi sushi and the A5 Wagyu tataki with yuzu-truffle dressing; they are the dishes Chinar is known for. Add the Wagyu oxtail stew with five-spice gravy if you want something cooked, and the seafood fried rice to share. The sushi counter is the strongest section, so build the table around it. Pair with sake or a glass from the long wine list.
Is Chinar good for a business dinner?
Yes. Chinar is a default for business dinners in Baku because the name is recognised, the sharing menu suits a group and the service is quick and polished. Book a table in the restaurant section rather than the bar so you can talk, and choose a midweek night when the room is calmer. See our picks for closing a deal over dinner.