Sumakh

Refined Azerbaijani classics, ten minutes from the Old City walls

Cuisine

Azerbaijani

Price

₼₼ · mid-range

Best for

First-night dinner

Dress

Smart casual

Sumakh is where we send most guests for their first dinner in Baku. It does the Azerbaijani canon properly — plov, dolma, kebabs and saj — in a calm, well-run dining room a short walk from Fountain Square and the Old City, so it works whether you have arrived tired or want to make an evening of it.

Portions are generous and built for sharing, service is used to international guests, and the kitchen is comfortable adapting dishes. It is halal by default, with clear vegetarian options, which makes it an easy table to book for a mixed group on the first night.

What to order

Shah plov

The showpiece — saffron rice baked in a golden crust of lavash, opened at the table.

Dolma

Vine leaves and vegetables stuffed with spiced lamb; the three-dolma plate is the one to get.

Saj

Lamb or chicken seared on a domed iron griddle with peppers and tomato, served sizzling.

Kutabs

Thin griddled flatbreads filled with greens, pumpkin or meat — a good vegetarian start.

Why we send guests here

We know the floor manager, so a table is easy to hold even on short notice, and we can flag dietary needs before you arrive. It is our safe, high-quality default in Baku — not the flashiest room in town, but the one guests thank us for.