Where to Eat in Khiva: 4 Restaurants for Khorezm Food and Views

Khiva is small: almost everything you want to see, and most good places to eat, are inside or just outside the walls of Ichan-Kala. The food is different from the rest of Uzbekistan — Khorezm has its own dishes — and the views from the rooftops at sunset are part of the meal. For the sights, see our Khiva destination page. This guide picks four restaurants that are well known, have recent reviews, and are still open as of October 2026.

Key facts

• Four places: Terrassa Cafe & Restaurant, Arxi Terrasa, Khorezm Art Restaurant and Khiva Moon.
• Location: three are inside Ichan-Kala; Khiva Moon is just outside the West Gate.
• Dishes to try: shivit oshi (green dill noodles), tukhum barak (egg-filled dumplings), gumma (fried pies) and Khorezm-style plov.
• Sunset: the rooftop terraces fill up at sunset; book a table and ask for the top level.
• Bill: some restaurants add a service charge; card payment is not always possible.
• Season: terraces are open-air; in the cold months ask whether the terrace is open before you go.

How we chose these restaurants

We kept only places with recent reviews dated 2025–2026 on at least two independent platforms. Some long-standing names in Khiva were left out because recent reviews were weak or we could not confirm that they are still open. We do not print opening hours or prices. None of these restaurants pays for a mention, and none is a partner of TravelBliss.

Khorezm dishes in brief

Two dishes are worth ordering in Khiva in particular:

• Shivit oshi: fresh noodles coloured bright green with dill, served with a meat and vegetable stew and yogurt.
• Tukhum barak: thin dumplings filled with an egg mixture that sets as they cook, usually served with sour cream or yogurt.

Gumma — fried pies filled with meat — and Khorezm-style plov are also on most old-town menus. Our gastronomic tour guide explains the Khorezm kitchen in more detail.

Terrassa Cafe & Restaurant

Terrassa, inside Ichan-Kala near the West Gate (Ota Darvoza) and opposite the Kunya Ark, has several floors and a rooftop terrace over the old town. It is the classic sunset spot in Khiva, so it is busy and very much a visitors' place.

What to order: shivit oshi and gumma, followed by manti, mastava (rice soup) or shashlik.

Good to know: book a couple of days ahead in season, and confirm the booking on the day. Reviews of the food are mixed; choose the Khorezm dishes rather than the plov.

Arxi Terrasa

Arxi Terrasa is a newer restaurant in the old town with terraces on several levels and sunset views, and live traditional music in the evenings.

What to order: shivit oshi, tukhum barak and pumpkin soup, with manti, lagman or kebabs.

Good to know: book ahead and ask for the top terrace. Some reviews mention a service charge on the bill.

Khorezm Art Restaurant

Khorezm Art Restaurant is at the Allakuli Khan Madrasa inside Ichan-Kala. The dining room is small and low-lit, with stone walls, in a historic madrasa building, and there is also a terrace.

What to order: shivit oshi, plov, manti and pumpkin soup, and one of the desserts.

Good to know: book for dinner. Portions are on the small side, and the setting is the main reason to come: a quiet meal in an old building rather than a view.

Khiva Moon

Khiva Moon is a family-run restaurant on Polvon Kori street, just outside the walls near the West Gate. Its shaded courtyard has tapchan platforms, a fish pond and the family's ducks and chickens; the indoor room is plainer.

What to order: shivit oshi, tukhum barak, Khorezm plov and carp, grilled or baked.

Good to know: expect a service charge and ask about card payment before you order. Book for dinner.

Which one to choose

• Sunset over the old town: Terrassa or Arxi Terrasa.
• A quiet dinner in a historic building: Khorezm Art Restaurant.
• A relaxed courtyard meal with Khorezm dishes: Khiva Moon.

Practical tips

• Book terraces for sunset: a day or two ahead in spring and autumn, and confirm the booking on the day.
• Order the local dishes: shivit oshi and tukhum barak are the dishes Khiva is known for.
• Carry cash in som: card terminals in the old town do not always work, and some places take cash only.
• Check the bill: service charges are common.
• Stay for the evening: after the day visitors leave, Ichan-Kala is calm, and a terrace dinner lets you see it at its quietest.
• Bring a layer: desert evenings in spring and autumn can be cool on an open roof.

Plan it with TravelBliss

Our Khiva walking tour takes you through Ichan-Kala and leaves time for lunch or tea, and a day trip to the ancient fortresses of Khorezm combines well with a Khiva dinner. On the 7-day Gastronomic Tour of Uzbekistan you make tukhum barak with a local family. For other cities, see where to eat in Bukhara and Samarkand. Prices depend on the number of travellers and the season — see the tour page or contact us.