Changes to cafe opening hours during Ramadan have created problems for Makhachkala residents and tourists.

With the onset of the month of fasting, many eateries in Makhachkala have changed their hours and are only opening in the evening. Residents and tourists alike have complained that it has become difficult to find a cafe open during the day.

As reported by "Kavkazsky Uzel," the month of Ramadan began in Dagestan on February 19, and in Chechnya, Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, and Karachay-Cherkessia on February 18. Before Ramadan, prices for meat and eggs rose sharply in Makhachkala. Retailers said the price increases were forced.

00:57 24.03.2023

Residents of Dagestan noted a trend of demonstrative fasting during Ramadan

Observing the daytime fast during Ramadan has become a social trend that some people and business representatives try to follow outwardly, but not all of them actually observe it, according to Dagestan residents interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot."

In Makhachkala, during Ramadan, many food service establishments and stores are closed during the day and open only for the fast-breaking period, city residents and tourists complained to a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

For example, Makhachkala resident Murad reported that he does not observe the fast and usually ate breakfast at a cafe. "I don't fast. Every morning I take walks and breathe the air by the sea in the city park. "I usually went to one of the nearby cafes for breakfast afterward. Now they're all closed, with signs saying they open after 4 p.m.," he said.

A resident of the city, Magomedrasul, who is fasting, also expressed dissatisfaction. "I'm fasting, and I start eating, as usual, around 5:30 p.m. But I don't understand why they're closing cafes. This shouldn't bother anyone who observes fasting. But there are also representatives of other faiths, guests of the republic; why should they experience any inconvenience?" said Magomedrasul.

A tourist from Moscow, Natalya, confirmed that she had encountered this inconvenience. "We wanted to go somewhere to eat during the day and try some national dishes. We couldn't find any open eateries; they said they would only open in the evening during the fast. "We barely found an open grocery store where we bought some cold appetizers and brought them back to the hotel. Despite the winter, tourists come to Dagestan; couldn't this issue be resolved somehow?" she lamented.

We barely found one cafe where we could have lunch.

A visitor to the city, Ilya, encountered a similar problem. "My friends and I came from Nizhny Novgorod. We barely found one cafe where we could have lunch. "We wanted to buy Dagestani wines and cognacs as souvenirs to bring home, but it turned out that all alcohol retailers were closed for a month," he said.

City Hall Threatens Retailers with Fines for Selling Alcohol During Ramadan

Businesses facing fines and product confiscation for retail sales of alcohol during Ramadan, the Makhachkala City Hall warned on February 18 in its Telegram channel.

According to the publication, the ban was introduced "in accordance with the Law of the Republic of Dagestan 'On the Regulation of Certain Issues of Retail Sale of Alcoholic Beverages in the Republic of Dagestan,' as well as regulatory legal acts of the Government of the Republic of Dagestan."

"We kindly request all business owners to refrain from selling alcoholic beverages during this period. Otherwise, violators face not only an administrative fine but also possible product confiscation," the publication quotes the chief specialist of the trade department as urging. Abdulzagir Biybolatov, Director of Advertising and Consumer Services, added that department employees would conduct raids "throughout the Holy Month."

As a reminder, in 2025, Makhachkala residents reported that prices for eggs, meat, butter, dates, and other products rose significantly during Ramadan, while authorities failed to take measures to prevent price increases before Eid al-Fitr. In 2024, Makhachkala residents surveyed by the "Caucasian Knot" also reported that food prices rised significantly before Eid al-Fitr.