Hyatt Regency Tashkent

Rooms and decor

Picture a tall, modern glass tower standing in the middle of Yunusobod, the cleanest and most orderly business-and-diplomatic district in Tashkent — that is Hyatt Regency Tashkent, a 5-star hotel that has become a base for business travelers and luxury-minded visitors coming to Central Asia. The architects blended a contemporary high-rise shape with the look of Hyatt Regency hotels worldwide. Step into the lobby and you meet a high, open ceiling, natural light pouring through big glass panes, and tasteful contemporary Uzbek artwork and patterns. The roughly 300 rooms and suites work in soft earth tones, with woven detail and Uzbek geometric motifs worked quietly into the curtains and rugs. Floor-to-ceiling windows open onto city or garden views, the king beds are soft, the linens are good, and the marble bathrooms are roomy with a rain shower and pleasant-smelling toiletries. If you like a modern, understated look that does not shout, this will land well.

Food and amenities

If anything sets Hyatt Regency Tashkent apart from the rest of the city, it is the wellness floor. The heated indoor pool stays open all year — summer or a sub-zero winter, you can still swim in comfort, and plenty of reviews praise the clear water, the right temperature, and the calm. Next to it is a 24-hour gym that is better equipped and more spacious than most hotels in town, then a spa, sauna, and jacuzzi in the same zone for soaking out a long day on your feet. On the food side, the main restaurant serves both international plates and genuine Uzbek dishes, and the breakfast buffet covers Western and Middle Eastern spreads alongside an Uzbek corner with plov, freshly baked samsa, and non bread from a clay oven. Reviewers agree it is varied and high quality. There is a lobby bar for a glass of wine or caravan tea after a day out, and the top-floor Regency Club lounge serves free breakfast, all-day snacks, and evening cocktails for guests booked into that tier.

Location and getting there

Hyatt Regency Tashkent sits on Navoi Avenue in the heart of Yunusobod, surrounded by embassies, big companies, and government buildings, which keeps the area clean, orderly, and safe day and night. About a 10-minute walk from the lobby gets you to the Amir Timur Museum and the Art Gallery of Uzbekistan, two key stops that cover the history and art of Uzbekistan in a single day. Nearby you also have Independence Square, a large public park, and the TV Tower — the city's landmark — all within a 10 to 15-minute walk. Bodomzor station on the blue metro line is only about an 8-minute walk, so you can hop a train to the Old Town, the old Chorsu Bazaar, or the Khast Imam Complex in a few stops for next to nothing (around 1,400 som). From Tashkent Airport (TAS) it is roughly a 25-minute drive. Couples rate the location 9.1 out of 10 on the major booking sites, probably because it strikes a balance — away from the bustle of the commercial center, yet easy to reach every major sight.

Things to know before booking

To help you decide, here is the straight talk. The thing to weigh most is the location, which is a fair way from the old quarter. If the heart of your trip is wandering Chorsu Bazaar, the old mosques, and the lanes of the Old Town every day, the hotel's spot on the business side means several taxi or metro runs in and out — budget the money and the time. Second, food and drink inside the hotel cost noticeably more than restaurants outside; if the breakfast buffet is not bundled into your rate, some reviewers find it too pricey next to the same meal at a tasty, far cheaper local place. Book a rate with breakfast included from the start, or upgrade to a Regency Club room, and you come out ahead. Last, in-room Wi-Fi speed is uneven at times, and lower-floor rooms on the street side catch some noise from Navoi Avenue, where traffic runs into the evening. If you are a light sleeper, request a higher floor facing the garden when you book.

Our take

After reading through the real reviews and stacking it against the other 5-stars in Tashkent, Hyatt Regency Tashkent is the city's most well-rounded pick for anyone who wants international chain standards with a touch of Central Asian warmth. The central Yunusobod location is safe and clean, the key museums are minutes away on foot, the heated indoor pool is open all year, the gym runs 24 hours, and the spa rounds it out. If the trip in your head is waking up for a swim, eating a contemporary Uzbek buffet, walking over to the Amir Timur Museum, and coming back for a sauna in the evening, this place answers almost everything. It suits couples, business travelers, and families who want comfort and steady service more than a spot right next to the old quarter. Overall we give it 9.2/10 — excellent value for a 5-star in Central Asia, and one that belongs on the shortlist for anyone visiting Tashkent for the first time.