Nightlife in Yerevan

Yerevan's bar scene has matured considerably and now runs the full spectrum from craft cocktail spots to unpretentious neighborhood places where a bottle of local beer costs next to nothing. The area around Northern Avenue and the streets fanning off Mashtots Avenue is the densest concentration, with terrace seating that fills up by ten on warm nights. Armenian brandy bars deserve special mention. Dedicated spots where the flight menu reads like a geography lesson through the Ararat valley. Wine bars have also proliferated since the Armenian natural wine movement gained momentum, and several venues stock exclusively local producers, which makes for a different drinking experience than you'd find elsewhere in the region.

Yerevan handles late-night eating well, which is partly a function of the fact that dinner itself starts so late. By midnight, you're not hunting for scraps. You're choosing between a proper sit-down meal at a restaurant that's still fully operational or something faster and more street-level. The area around Mashtots Avenue has shawarma counters and lavash wrap stalls that run into the small hours, and the quality is notably better than you'd expect. Several of the larger terrace restaurants around Republic Square keep their kitchens open until two or three, serving the full menu without the compressed late-night version you'd get in most cities. For something more specific to Yerevan, find a spot serving khorovats, Armenian barbecue, late at night when the coals have been going all evening and the meat is at its best.