Kök Bazaar, Public market in Medeu district, Kazakhstan
Kök Bazaar is a public market in the Medeu district with multiple levels offering sections for fresh produce, spices, textiles, and traditional crafts. The different sales areas are organized to guide shoppers through various product categories.
The site started in 1868 as a guest house for traveling merchants and caravans on trade routes. Following an earthquake in 1887, it was reconstructed in 1927 and took on its current form.
The market serves as a gathering space where vendors sell regional specialties, including fermented dairy drinks like Kymyz from horse milk and Shubat from camel milk. These products reflect the local food traditions tied to pastoral herding.
The market is located at the intersection of Zenkov and Jibek Joly streets and is easy to reach. Visitors will find parking on site and shops offering everyday items at affordable prices.
A renovation in the 1970s transformed wooden stalls into a distinctive brutalist building spread across multiple floors. The architectural design remains a defining feature of the market today.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
