Review

I've lived here for a long time, and I adore this apartment for its high ceilings and thick walls. The square footage is excellent, and it's easy to breathe. But the layouts in these early 2000s buildings are a bit awkward in places, with a lot of space wasted on hallways.

There's a strong door, and the concierge downstairs knows everyone. There are only a few apartments on each floor, so strangers don't hang around here; couriers usually call from downstairs.

The old guard, the intelligentsia, and the first wave of businessmen live here. No random people here. Everyone respects each other, there's always pleasant small talk in the elevator, and no one gets into trouble at night.

I don't hear my neighbors at all; they built it conscientiously. But from the street, turn off the lights. If your windows face Arbat or Ablai Khan, sleeping with the window open in the summer is impossible: cars, motorcycles, shouting.

There's fiber optics and it works fine. But because of the thick concrete walls, the Wi-Fi router sometimes doesn't reach the far bedroom, so I had to install signal boosters.

The view of old Almaty is my favorite. Looking at the historic facades, the trees, and the mountains in the distance—that's what makes living here worthwhile.

The building is prestigious, a landmark for the city. It still looks impressive, unlike those modern glass buildings. But the infrastructure is slowly becoming outdated, and it's noticeable.

The entryways are polished to a shine, the marble is always spotless. There are no odors, and trash is collected on time—they're strictly monitored here.

There's security at the entrance, cameras. But the building is constantly surrounded by crowds of people, tourists, and onlookers. There's no absolute privacy here, like in gated communities in the foothills.

The courtyard is a well, paved with asphalt. It's impossible to take a normal stroll or sit in peace there; it's more of a driveway and parking area for "friends."

It's a complete disaster. There's underground parking, but there aren't enough spaces for everyone. Parking on the street is a real challenge; everything is packed from early morning until late at night. Getting out of the courtyard during rush hour is a real pain.

Sometimes there are scheduled maintenance on the heating mains in the city center, and then we're left without water. Otherwise, everything works like clockwork.

This is the very heart of Almaty. I can go a week without driving because everything I need for life, work, and partying is within a 15-minute walk.

The streets are swept constantly, and Panfilova and Arbat Streets are licked clean. But due to the frantic flow of people, the trash cans are overflowing by weekend evenings, that's a fact.

There are cops everywhere, cameras everywhere. Walking along Arbat at night is safe. But pickpockets are still lurking downtown, so I don't recommend staring at your phone while walking.

I adore this architecture. Old Stalin-era buildings, fountains, theaters—aesthetics at their finest. It's the very Alma-Ata of postcards.

The Zhibek Zholy metro station is just a stone's throw away, and buses go everywhere in the city. But I walk or take the Yandex.Business app if I need to go anywhere beyond the center.

Ablai Khan, Gogol, and Tole bi stand motionless. Driving during the day or in the evening is voluntary torture.

There's no peace. In the summer, street musicians on Arbat can play drums or sing Tsoi until midnight. If you're looking for peace, this isn't the area for you.

The 28 Panfilov Men Park is nearby, as is the public garden on Staraya Square. There's no full-grown forest here, but there are plenty of paths for strolling and having a coffee.