Coffee House El-Merosi

The coffee house occupies the ground floor of the El Merosi Theatre of Historical Costume on Alisher Navoi Street. Founded in April 2006, the theatre stages shows that recreate the costumes of the region's peoples through the ages, beginning with the Bronze Age. According to its website, the company is made up mostly of young Samarkand performers and has toured France, Germany, Italy, Japan and elsewhere, as well as appearing at the Sharq Taronalari festival.

There are several rooms, one of them overlooking the inner courtyard, and you can also sit under the awning out in the courtyard beside a neat green lawn. Breakfast is served from 7:00, with salads, soups, pasta and hot dishes later in the day. The cake counter holds cheesecakes, carrot cake and handmade chocolates, and reviewers regularly praise the coffee.

It is calm enough for working on a laptop or studying, and there is a separate, enclosed co-working room. It also makes a handy place to wait before a performance.