Food · Baku · Azerbaijan
What to eat in Baku
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Baku, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Start with Plov, Dolma and Qutab. Order a tea set with jams, pakhlava and nuts in an Old City tea house and settle in for a long, slow afternoon. Some restaurants add a service charge of around 10%; check the bill before tipping.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Plov
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 4
- Tipping
- Some restaurants add a service charge of around 10%; otherwise leaving 5–10% is…
- Food experiences
- 4
10 foods to try
Dish
1.Plov
Azerbaijan's national dish has dozens of varieties: saffron rice is cooked separately and served with lamb, chestnuts, dried fruit or herbs. Shah plov is baked inside a crust of lavash bread and cut open at the table.
Where: Traditional restaurants in the Old City and around Fountain Square; shah plov is often ordered for groups.
Dish
2.Dolma
Vine leaves (yarpaq dolması) or vegetables stuffed with spiced mince and rice, served with garlic yoghurt. 'Three sisters' dolma combines aubergine, pepper and tomato.
Where: Most traditional restaurants; Azerbaijani dolma-making is recognised by UNESCO.
Street food · Vegetarian
3.Qutab
Thin half-moon flatbreads filled with herbs, minced meat or pumpkin, cooked on a griddle and served with sumac and yoghurt. Green herb qutab is a good vegetarian choice.
Where: Bakeries, cafés and restaurants across the city; order several fillings to share.
Dish
4.Dushbara
Tiny lamb dumplings served in clear broth, flavoured with dried mint and garlic vinegar. A spoon can hold several dumplings.
Where: Traditional restaurants; often eaten as a starter.
Dish
5.Lyulya kebab
Spiced minced lamb grilled on wide skewers and served on lavash with onions and sumac.
Where: Grill restaurants and kebab houses across the city.
Dish
6.Piti
A Sheki speciality of lamb, chickpeas and chestnuts cooked in individual clay pots with saffron. Pour the broth over bread first, then eat the rest.
Where: Restaurants serving regional cuisine; ask whether it is available, as it takes hours to cook.
Dish · Vegetarian
7.Dovga
A soup of yoghurt, rice, chickpeas and fresh herbs, served hot in winter or cold in summer.
Where: Traditional restaurants and canteens, especially in summer.
Dish
8.Lavangi
Chicken or fish stuffed with walnuts, onions and sour plum paste, then baked. It comes from the Lankaran region in the south.
Where: Restaurants specialising in regional Azerbaijani cuisine.
Dessert · Vegetarian
9.Pakhlava and shekerbura
Diamond-shaped Baku pakhlava with layers of nuts and saffron syrup, and crescent-shaped shekerbura filled with nuts, decorated with pinched patterns. Both are traditional Novruz sweets.
Where: Pastry shops across the city; boxed versions make good gifts.
Drink · Vegetarian
10.Tea with jam
Black tea served in pear-shaped armudu glasses, accompanied by jams such as quince, cherry, fig or green walnut, eaten by the spoonful. Tea houses serve it in full sets with sweets.
Where: Tea houses in the Old City and on the Boulevard.
Food experiences
Tea house afternoon
Order a tea set with jams, pakhlava and nuts in an Old City tea house and settle in for a long, slow afternoon.
Caravanserai dinner
Restored caravanserais in the Old City serve traditional food in courtyards and arched rooms, sometimes with live mugham music.
Teze Bazaar tasting
Taste dried fruit, pomegranate sauce (narsharab), cheeses and pickles at the main food market.
Qutab and dovga lunch
Try herb qutab and cold dovga at a simple café for an affordable, traditional lunch.
Quick bites and street food
- Qutab — Bakeries, cafés and restaurants across the city; order several fillings to share.
Vegetarian options
Of the 10 foods in this guide, 4 are usually vegetarian: Qutab, Dovga, Pakhlava and shekerbura and Tea with jam. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Some restaurants add a service charge of around 10%; check the bill before tipping.
- Bread is often brought automatically and may be charged.
- Alcohol is widely available in Baku restaurants, although a few traditional places do not serve it.
- Dinner is usually eaten from around 7pm, and portions are generous.
- Ask about the price of fish and caviar before ordering; they are sold by weight and can be expensive.
Tipping
Some restaurants add a service charge of around 10%; otherwise leaving 5–10% is appreciated. Round up taxi fares and tip guides on day trips.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Salam | Hello |
| Sağ olun | Thank you |
| Xahiş edirəm | Please / you're welcome |
| Bəli / Xeyr | Yes / No |
| Neçəyədir? | How much is it? |
| Hesab, zəhmət olmasa | The bill, please |
| Nuş olsun | Enjoy your meal |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Baku famous for?
Plov, Dolma, Qutab and Dushbara. Azerbaijan's national dish has dozens of varieties: saffron rice is cooked separately and served with lamb, chestnuts, dried fruit or herbs.
+Is Baku good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Qutab, Dovga and Pakhlava and shekerbura.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Baku?
Some restaurants add a service charge of around 10%; otherwise leaving 5–10% is appreciated. Round up taxi fares and tip guides on day trips.