City Pub Crawl Almaty

Fun starts after dark. This Almaty pub crawl turns a night out into a guided social game, with welcome shots and bar bonuses helping strangers loosen up quickly. I like the mix of different venues, and I like that the route can follow a concert, party, or dancing on the bar.

The main drawback is the late 9:30 pm start and the brisk pace. You spend about 50 minutes at each stop, so this is made for sampling Almaty nightlife rather than settling into one favorite pub. Guide Oleg has been praised for breaking the ice, which matters when the group includes solo visitors and local residents.

Key points before you book

• Four venues in about three hours and 20 minutes: You move through Ginger Beer & Shots, WL13Bar, All Saints Bar, and Никулин.
• A social format, not just a drinking tour: Games, contests, team points, photos, and prizes keep the group involved.
• The route may follow Almaty’s best event that night: The plan is adjusted for parties, concerts, or dancing on the bar.
• Welcome drinks are part of the evening: Expect shots at several points, though you should not assume every drink is included in the $40.72 price.
• Small enough to meet people: The maximum group size is 25, a useful limit for a guided night out.
• A late finish in central Almaty: The tour begins at Abylai Khan Avenue 141 and ends at Late Night Show, so plan how you will get back before you start drinking.

What this Almaty pub crawl is really like

This is a three-hour-and-20-minute bar party with a built-in social structure. You do not simply follow a guide from one bar to the next and stand around hoping someone starts a conversation. The guide sets rules, gives out tasks, tracks points, and uses photos, contests, and welcome shots to get the group talking.

That makes the experience especially useful if you are in Almaty alone or have just arrived in town. A normal night at a bar can leave you sitting with your phone while everyone else talks to friends. Here, the format gives you a reason to speak with people from different countries and cultures.

I also like the local angle. This is not presented as a sightseeing walk with a few drinks added. It is a look at Almaty after dark, with the route shaped around what is happening that night. A concert or live set can change the feel of the evening, and the organizers say they plan around the most exciting events available.

The tone is likely energetic rather than quiet. If you want a calm cocktail, a long dinner, or a chance to study the menu at one bar, this will feel rushed. If your goal is to meet people and see several nightlife spots in one evening, the pace works in your favor.

Starting at WL13Bar at 9:30 pm

The meeting point is WL13Bar, even though the venue list presents Ginger Beer & Shots first. At the start, the guide explains the rules and the group has a drink together. This opening 50 minutes gives you time to learn how the games work and get comfortable before moving on.

The listing also identifies Ginger Beer & Shots as the first stop, where the group completes tasks, earns points, takes pictures, and drinks. Since both WL13Bar and Ginger Beer & Shots are described as early stops, the exact running order may depend on the night’s plan. I would confirm the sequence with the guide when you arrive rather than rely too heavily on the published order.

That small point matters because a pub crawl works best when you know where to meet and when to be ready to move. Arrive with enough time to find Abylai Khan Avenue 141. Your mobile ticket makes the booking easy to carry, but it does not replace the need to check the meeting spot carefully.

The starting time is late by ordinary sightseeing standards. At 9:30 pm, Almaty’s nightlife is already getting going, and the tour is aimed at the main party part of the evening rather than an early dinner crowd.

Ginger Beer & Shots: tasks, photos, and team points

At Ginger Beer & Shots, the evening becomes more interactive. You take on various tasks, collect points, and take group photos while drinking. The tasks are not just filler. They give people an easy reason to speak with someone they have just met.

The scoring system adds a friendly contest to the route. You may find yourself paying more attention to the other people in the group than to the bar itself, which is the point. The winning team or participants receive recognition later, and the promise of bonuses gives the games a little purpose.

This stop should suit you if you enjoy light competition and do not mind being part of a group activity. It may be less comfortable if you prefer to keep a low profile. The available information does not spell out the exact games, so you should expect general social challenges rather than a fixed program you can prepare for.

The 50-minute stop also sets the pattern for the night. You get enough time for a drink, a task, and some conversation, but not enough for a slow evening. Keep your belongings together and stay aware of when the group is ready to move.

Никулин: music, dancing, and the middle of the night

Никулин is described as the third bar in the evening, though it appears as the fourth item in the supplied stop list. This venue is where you can expect live music or a DJ, along with more games and point-scoring.

The music gives the crawl a different gear. Earlier stops focus on meeting people and completing tasks. Here, the group has a chance to dance and enjoy a live performance or DJ set. The organizers choose their route to include events such as concerts, so the exact sound and mood can vary from one date to another.

I would treat this stop as the point where the evening may become louder and less structured. That is useful if you want dancing, but it can make conversation harder. If you are visiting Almaty with a mixed group, this gives everyone something to do even when not everyone wants to keep chatting.

Again, you have about 50 minutes. That is enough to get a taste of the venue, not enough to wait around for a slow start. The attraction here is the change in atmosphere and the chance to dance, not a long stay.

All Saints Bar: welcome shots and the final awards

All Saints Bar is described as the fourth bar, although it appears third in the supplied schedule. This is where the group drinks welcome shots, dances, and awards the winners.

The final awards give the games a proper finish. Without that closing moment, the contests would be little more than a way to pass time. Here, the points collected earlier lead to a result, and the group gets a shared ending before moving on to the late-night venue.

All Saints also sounds like one of the more dance-focused stops. If you prefer conversation, use the earlier bars to get to know people. By this point, the group may be more interested in music and movement.

The word welcome can be a little confusing late in the route, so I would read it as part of the organizer’s shot-and-party format rather than a sign that this is the first venue. The key point is that shots are part of the evening, not that every beverage is covered.

Late Night Show: the final stop

The tour ends at Late Night Show, listed at 7W2X+63Q in Almaty. The route description calls the last venue a good nightclub, which gives the evening a clear progression: start with introductions and games, move through bars with music, and finish at a club.

This is a practical design for visitors who want a night out but do not know where to go. Instead of choosing a single venue and hoping it suits you, the crawl samples several styles and ends somewhere built for a later crowd.

The drawback is the separate end point. You do not finish where you started at Abylai Khan Avenue 141. Before joining, I would save the end address and decide how you will leave from Late Night Show. The tour information says the route is near public transportation, but it does not provide a specific late-night route or return arrangement.

Since the tour ends after several drinks and a late night, that small piece of planning is worth doing. Keep your phone charged, and make sure you know the address before the music gets loud.

How the $40.72 price measures up

At $40.72 per person, the value depends on what you want from a night out. The price is easiest to justify if you would otherwise pay for a guide, several welcome drinks, entry to a social event, and the time spent finding different bars yourself.

You are also paying for the group structure. The guide handles the meeting, route, games, scoring, and movement between venues. For a solo visitor, that can be more valuable than a simple list of recommended bars.

Do not treat the price as an unlimited drinks package. The information confirms welcome shots, drinks at the stops, games, and bonuses, but it does not say that all drinks are included. I would budget for extra drinks unless the guide explains otherwise at the start.

The maximum group size is 25. That is not a private tour, but it is small enough for a guide to manage games and keep the group moving. The experience offers better value for someone who wants company than for someone already traveling with a large group of friends.

Who will enjoy this most

I would choose this crawl if you are traveling alone, want to meet people quickly, or would like a guided introduction to Almaty nightlife. The games remove some of the awkwardness of approaching strangers, and the bar changes prevent the night from depending on one venue.

It also suits visitors who want a local night out without planning every detail. The changing route can bring you to a party, concert, or DJ set that you might not find on your own.

You should think twice if you dislike drinking games, dancing, or group activities. The format is social by design. It is not a private food-and-drink tasting, a history walk, or a quiet cocktail tour.

The moderate physical fitness requirement is worth noting. You will move between venues and remain out for more than three hours. The description does not give walking distances, so I would wear comfortable shoes and keep your evening bag light.

Useful planning advice for the night

Arrive ready for a late start. The meeting time is 9:30 pm at Abylai Khan Avenue 141, and the first part of the evening is spent learning the rules and having a drink.

Bring a phone for the mobile ticket and photos, but do not rely on your phone alone for navigation. The route begins and ends at different places, and the final address uses a map code. Save both locations before you leave.

Expect the schedule to have some flexibility. The route may be planned around a party, concert, or dancing on the bar, so the exact mood can change. The published stop order also contains a small numbering mismatch, with WL13Bar identified as the meeting point while Ginger Beer & Shots appears first in the venue list. The guide should be able to clarify that on the night.

The cancellation terms are forgiving if your plans change early. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund, and the local time controls the deadline. The activity also needs a minimum number of participants, so if the organizer cancels for that reason, you are offered another date or a full refund.

What the strongest praise tells you

The clearest positive theme is the social energy. The format helps people meet quickly, and the point system gives the group a shared activity instead of leaving everyone to make small talk.

The range of venues is another strong point. One stop may focus on cocktails and shots, another on games and photos, another on live music or a DJ, and the final stop on club-style dancing. That variety is more useful than a single bar recommendation when you are new to the city.

The experience also seems to work for local residents, not only first-time visitors. One account describes seeing a hometown nightlife scene in new colors and learning something new about Almaty’s bars. That is a good sign for anyone who wants a less predictable evening.

Guide Oleg is specifically praised for breaking the ice. A guide’s personality can make or break this type of tour, so that detail is important. The games and route matter, but the person leading the group has to keep the evening moving without making it feel forced.

Should you book City Pub Crawl Almaty?

Book it if you want a structured, social night with several bars, welcome shots, music, dancing, and simple contests. It is especially useful for solo visitors, people new to Almaty, and anyone who wants nightlife plans without spending hours researching venues.

Skip it if you want quiet conversation, a fixed itinerary, or complete control over your drinks and schedule. At $40.72, the value is in the company, the guide, the route, and the organized party format. It is not a bargain if you only want one drink at one bar.

For the right person, this is a smart way to make a first Almaty night easier. Arrive ready to participate, keep an eye on the changing venue order, and plan your trip home from Late Night Show.

FAQ

How long does City Pub Crawl Almaty last?

The experience lasts approximately 3 hours and 20 minutes.

What time and where does the pub crawl start?

It starts at 9:30 pm at Abylai Khan Ave 141, Almaty 050000, Kazakhstan.

Where does the tour finish?

The tour ends at Late Night Show, listed at 7W2X+63Q, Almaty 050000, Kazakhstan.

How many people can join?

The activity allows a maximum of 25 participants.

Are drinks included in the price?

Welcome shots and drinks are part of the experience, but the available information does not confirm that every drink at every bar is included in the $40.72 price.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.