Firuze Restaurant

Firuze Restaurant is a well-known central Baku restaurant at 14 Tarlan Aliyarbeyov Street, near Fountain Square in Azerbaijan. Another listing gives 51 Nizami Street, but the Tarlan Aliyarbeyov address is the one confirmed by two sources. It is open daily from 12PM to 1AM and serves a traditional Azerbaijani menu at fair prices, typically AZN 30-55 (approx $18-32) per person. The cuisine is home-style and unfussy; there is no Michelin or chef-lineage context, and the restaurant's standing comes from steady quality and a central location. The signature dishes are dushbara, a clear soup of small lamb dumplings; piti, a mutton and chickpea stew traditionally cooked and served in an individual clay pot, then eaten in two stages with the broth poured over bread and the meat mashed separately; and plov, the saffron-scented rice dish central to Azerbaijani feasts. Piti is especially emblematic of the Caucasus and is a useful dish for visitors who want something distinctly local. The dining room is lively and central, with long evening hours that attract a mix of local families, office groups and tourists. Noise can be moderate to high when full, dress is casual, and the mood is convivial rather than romantic. Beverages are mainly black tea, juices, soft drinks, beer and a short selection of wine; there is no notable specialist beverage programme. Reservations are not usually difficult, but the phone number +994 12 493 96 34 is listed for groups and weekends, when it is sensible to call a day ahead. Weekday lunch is typically the easiest time to find a table and often the quietest. The restaurant sits within a few minutes' walk of the pedestrian streets around Fountain Square, making it a convenient stop between shopping, sightseeing and the walk down to the Old City.