GROCERIES

Astikjan (Tsesna)  Ak Jol (Ugolnaya), 31    293-636

Green Valikhanov, 20 / Turan Ave (Khan Shatyr mall)

• Good selection of food and household items.

Gros (KMG) Kabanbay Batyr, 32a (701)   761-038

• Good selection of wines, beers, and non-alcoholic beverages.  Mostly same finds as elsewhere but one special indulgence is the Movenpick ice cream series available; personally, I recommend the lemon/lime sorbet and the tiramisu flavours but all are delightful on a hot day or in a warm apartment.

Gros (Renco) Kosmonavtov, 1/33 

Gros (Rixos) Tlendiev, 15

Jannur Supermarket  Abai, 48  

• The first floor of the TC has been transformed into a supermarket.  Surprise finds included Shop Rite and Foodtown goods thought only to be available in Ramstore.  Other surprise finds were Kikkoman brand Japanese soy sauce, Guacamole, Saltines, Tonic Water, Taco Shells and foreign pasta sauce.  Foreign items were also surprisingly competitively priced.  The in-house baked bread was delicious and their product selection in most genres was quite plentiful.  It had been some time since my last visit but I was pleasantly surprised to see the growth in selection and quality of goods available.

Ramstore  

Respublika, 1  223-901 / Manas, 34 (Ajar mall) / Kurgaljin shosse, 1 (Mega mall) / Turkestan St. (Astanalyk tower near Baiterek)

• Although the quality of Ramstore's produce and meats has been brought to question by various consumers the occasional surprise find and convenience keeps us coming back.  Some interesting (but inconsistent) finds are guacamole, tahini sauce, chick peas, canned crab or salmon meat, canned bamboo shoots, bacon, graham cracker pie-crusts, and more.

Seafood-A  (Found on the outskirts of the city -- no known address at present)

Hours of Operation: M-F 9:00-15:00  Sat. 9:00-1:00  Sun. Closed

Phone and fax numbers: 356-971, 626-492, 358-579, 301-369

• Frozen food warehouse open to public sales after 14:00pm.  Good selection of frozen seafood, meat, vegetables, fruits, and miscellaneous food items.  Bulk quantities for wholesale prices.  Location is out towards the car bazaars, turn right after the cemetary, and a left further on (no particular sign or landmark available).  It is advisable to go with someone who knows the area if it's your first visit and to make an appointment to confirm accessibility.  English price list and compatible album available from office staff.   

BAZAAR

Alem  Bogenbay      210-884/210-883

• Good source for fresh meat and seasonal vegetables.  Some interesting finds in the prepared food section: smoked ham, smoked salmon, tofu, bean sprouts, and much more.  The second floor offers various household goods and clothing.

Eurasia  Microdistrict 3, 2a    364-273

• Good source for fresh meat and seasonal vegetables.  Second and third floors offer household goods, clothing, and souvenirs; however, all stores are scattered and need finding.

Artyom  Seifullin, 47/ Valikhanov

• A variety of fresh meat and seasonal vegetables, lower prices. Plus three floors of stores to offer household goods, clothing, gold, and souvenirs; however, all stores are scattered and need finding.

TORGOVIY CENTRE (TC) - MALL

City Market  Imanov, 11    216-845

• Nice selection of stores including: interior/gift shop, women's clothing, and children's toys and clothing.

Jannur  Abai, 48

Merei (Intercontinental)  Abai, 45

Sine Tempore (TsUM)  Kenessary/ Beibitshilik, 9

IKEA  Kenesary St,  44, 1st floor (close to Birkoff Restaurant)

• This shop is small but cosy, you can find some home stuff (furniture and decor items). You can call Asema (the seller) –tel. 87019217227, to order something, but she speaks only Russian. Find more from: www.ikea.ru

Mega  Kurgaljin highway, 1

Sary Arka  Turan (Sary Arka), 18

Keruen  (near Baiterek)

Khan Shatyr Turan Ave.

• All four above provide cinemas, cafes, bank departments, clothes, children's stores, groceries and delis. A bit pricey.

Metro – Cash and Carry

This new European supermarket opened in October 2009 and changed the lives of many of us living in Astana. Not only does it have almost everything under one roof, it carries many items that you simply cannot get elsewhere including croissant and shaped bread dough ready to bake, Italian specialities, a wide range of imported fruit, vegetables and herbs, frozen fish and chicken filets without bones. There is also a very good range of non-food items, including some relatively unusual items such a silicone bakeware and camping equipment. They also have a clothes range which now includes children’s clothes and quite a good choice of toys.

The car park is well laid out, there are plenty of tills and the trolleys are large, all very rare luxuries here. It also has long opening hours, 0800 to 2300 which means you can shop almost entirely alone early in the morning.

It is on the main road leading South out of Astana towards Karaganda and the tall sign can be clearly seen from the main road on the right hand side.

Review by one of our members

In terms of size, and the range of goods and produce that you can find and buy in Metro, the term Hypermarket might be more suitable than supermarket.  In Metro you can find all you might need to equip your new apartment in Astana, from sports gear to ironing boards to fridge/freezers and laptops, not to mention food.  

As I write this review I am new to Astana, I've only been here for 10 days, but in that time I've been to Metro twice and I have to say that so far I do think that as somewhere to go food shopping, it's a long trek out of town and what seems at first to be a huge big foodstore turns out to be a golden egg.  On closer inspection they have little more in terms of brands and depth of ranges of food products than other supermarkets, say Ramstore.  This may be a harsh conclusion, formed too early.  But as great as it is, when feeding a family of four boys to be able to buy a bag of pasta the size of a bag of washing powder, I don't want to buy a bag of carrots the same size.  I only want a kilo of carrots, not what appears to be a 5 kilo bag.  But that is what sets Metro apart from the other supermarkets, it sells in bulk. 

As I get myself more organised and settled into life in Astana, I'm sure that I will continue to trek out to Metro once a month to stock up on crates of water, juice, pasta and meat.  But I anticipate that I will continue to do a weekly shop for fresh items in a seemingly smaller supermarket more central to town.  

I was expecting items at Metro to be marked up in price, but I didn't really notice any real sting.  There are some items, obviously imported and more specialised, that are expensive.  For example could I pay £11 for a pot of Phillidelphia Cream Cheese when I know it costs a quarter of that at home in the UK?  Items that can be bought at other supermarkets in Astana seem to be priced comparably well.

Metro can have a good selection of meat, and much appreciated by me, the new kid in town, they have a picture of the animal that the meat is derived from on the front of the packet.  So I don't need to worry that I'm eating a bit of a horse that I rather wouldn't when I'm expecting to be eating a bit of beef!

Metro does have a good selection of wine, that is stored in temperature-controlled warehouses prior to going on to the shelves.  

My top tips that will make your trip to Metro easier:

1.  Take your own reusable shopping bags or carrier bags as often they can run out. Not fun when you live on the 18th floor and have to carry every individual item from the store to your car and from your car to the lift and so on...... If they do have bags, they can be purchased and reused.

2.  If you have an infant, leave your buggy in the car.  They don't let buggies/strollers into the store and the entrance and exit entrances are separate and far apart.  They provide trolleys/carts with one infant seat with no need for a 100 TG coin.  

3.  You will need a 100 TG coin for the lockers should you need to store any bags.

4.  They will allow you to take in empty shopping bags, if they are collapsed flat. 

5.  Before you leave you will need to show security your lengthy receipt and have it stamped.

HOUSEWARE

Master 

• Basically your "do-it-yourself " store for household items including household fixtures, tools, mending supplies, etc.  Good place to go when you are first settling in for rubbish bins, plastic wear, etc. 

Line  (TC Merei)  Abai, 45   32-55-09

• All your lighting needs from desk lamps to chandeliers.  Excellent selection of lightbulbs for reasonable prices as well. 

HOBBIES/GIFTS

Sewing, Fabric, Knitting, Crochet Supplies (store name unavailable) Abai, 51

• The  plain grey cement building has a Russian script sign on it:  Atele Elegant, and the entrance is right below a red sign that also says KNIGI (in Russian) with a picture of a wound up ball of wool with a knitting needle stuck through it.  Customer Reveiw: "If you sew, or need some sewing items, it's worth a trip to this store.  I would advise you to arm yourselves with  some vocab help before you go and know what you want, as the word for safety pin and straight pin, for example,  is the same in Russian!"

RC Hobby  Abai, 90 Melodia Mag  21-21-68, 21-40-13, 21-59-11

• Model and remote control ships, planes, cars, helicopters, trains, kites and more. Clerk speaks some English and is willing to help.  Further information e-mail: rchobby@ok.kz or hobby@mail.kz .

L'Occitane En Provence  Kabanbai Batyr, 49 (near Kazmunai Gas) and Imanov, 18 (near City Market) and Mega shopping mall

• Entire range of L'Occitane products and also seasonal special edition items.  Staff is friendly, helpful, and gift wrap as needed.  Pricey but great as a gift or a personal treat!  Just to walk into the store, the fragrances and atmosphere transport you to France!

Uyutni Dom   Imanov, 11 No. 19 2nd flr (City Market) 21-66-54 and Mega 2nd flr 79-02-70

• Eclectic collection of houseware and gift items.  Worth checking out if looking for a gift.

SOUVENIRS

Talisman  Respublika, 7    21-41-96

• Not known for their friendly staff or quality service, but their selection of Kazakh dolls, slippers, pillow covers, wall hangings keep us coming back. 

SALON SERVICES

Trio Mix  Kabanbai Batyr, 2/1  2nd floor Office 13    24-40-24 or 24-92-24

• Personal hygiene services ranging from salon, manicure, pedicure, waxing, and more.  E-mail inquiries to [trio-mix@mail.ru].

Saule-Beauty Salon  Bukeihana, 22  33-40-90

• Hours of operation from 10:00 to 20:00.  Dameli speaks English and can be contacted directly for an appointment at 8-701-999-9884.  Customer review: "I was there without [Dameli] being there and I still managed to cut my hair in an ok way. They also do manicure and pedicure. I paid KZT 1600 for wash and hair cut. My husband goes there as well, and my son and mother have also gone there and were happy with the result."

 TAXI DRIVER - English speaking.

DRY CLEANING

Lux  Sary Arka, 24a    238-007

• Affordable and quality dry cleaning.

Lux  Punkt Torgoviy Dom "Kare"  Beibitshilik, 30

Tolinini  Astana Tower (Second Floor of Ramstore Bldg)  22-33-48

• Efficient dry cleaning; can ask for "rush" for an extra fee. 

 REPAIR CENTRE

There is a very good “one stop shop” for all sorts of different repairs on Abai Avenue No. 39. It is a large white building with an orange sign above the front door and blue strips on the corner of the building where you can see the number 39.  In it you can find many small businesses for shoe and clothing repair which are very common all over Astana, but there are also places for repairing watches, jewellery, hats and glasses.  It is easy to find if you head west on Abai, passing the Intercontinental (now Ramada Plaza) on your right then the Abai Hotel (with the gold box on top) also on the right, it is the next large building after the Abai Hotel in the first block after you cross Respublica.

VELO BIKE SHOP

Balbyraun, 4

 

Itreco offers a call-out service for computer issues here in Astana, e.g. problems with Windows, the internet, email, viruses, printers, hardware and much more.  Visits can be made to homes, diplomatic offices or private company and representative offices.

•  Technician will be English speaking.
•  All required legal documents provided where necessary (e.g. invoice/tax statements), to meet local legislation.
•  5,000 Tenge for a private or home call-out. Price covers call-out and first hour of work, 5,000 Tenge per hour thereafter.
•  7,500 Tenge for a call-out to diplomatic office or private company. Price covers call-out and first hour of work, 7,500 Tenge per hour thereafter.
•  An ongoing system support arrangement can be offered where required.