Fun and entertainment Nepal

A Starbucks-style chain of Nepalese coffee shops where the golden youth love to come and chill out over a cup of coffee and an American-style cheesecake. The chain has now spread to all the towns in the valley (Patan, Bodnath...). The one in Thamel offers a lovely view of Durbar Square. Wide choice of locally roasted organic coffees (latte, mocha, espresso...). We recommend this address for its light breakfasts and lunches, good wifi and sofas for relaxing after a good walk in the city.

This is Pokhara's best club, located in the middle of the Lakeside, so it's a great place to go out late at night. It deserves its reputation for its ultra-festive atmosphere, especially at weekends. Its pretty stage, with a giant screen in front, is ideal for DJ nights, and the dancefloor is alive with hip Nepalese youth. Its futuristic look, excellent sound system and profusion of neon lights attract local and international DJs alike. Live concerts are also scheduled. A great place to go out, with excellent cocktails and draught beers.

This is Kathmandu's new speak easy bar, one of those deceptively clandestine bars that play on the codes of American bars during alcohol prohibition in the 1920s. The entrance is inevitably concealed (here at the top of a random building in the middle of nowhere between Kathmandu and Patan), the banquettes upholstered, the Art Deco style, the electro swing music and the lights dimmed. On the menu, signature cocktails including the excellent Basil Instinct (beware, some are very sweet), and a menu of gourmet fusion tapas to share. Terrace.

An institution in Kathmandu. Open since 1997, Sam's Bar offers an environment where the history of tourism is written - literally, as all the walls are covered with the words of passing visitors. The outdoor terrace upstairs is not a viewpoint (the bamboo judiciously separates the tables from the surrounding street) but a welcome moment of calm. A relaxed atmosphere in small rattan armchairs, with international music playing in the background. A good place to have a drink with friends, with a menu of beers and classic cocktails.

Here's a lounge bar nestled in the heart of Thamel, but in a small alleyway that keeps it far from the hustle and bustle. People come here mainly to chill out after work in the early evening and to drink good craft draught beers. It's an address frequented more by tourists and Kathmandu's wealthy class, as the prices seem a little prohibitive. However, we really appreciate the shady courtyard and rooftop terrace. The atmosphere is definitely relaxed. Regular live concerts, mostly on Thursdays. A good place for a drink.

In the center of Lakeside, the Busy Bee Café is an institution of Pokhara nightlife. Local rock bands perform here, and the youthful crowd is always on hand. A few old English motorcycles set the tone at the entrance, and the wooden décor is superbly cool, especially the terrace overlooking the lake. Low prices during happy hour on cocktails and bottled beers. If you're feeling peckish, try the sandwiches and snacks. Strong spirits are de rigueur later in the evening. A festive address in Pokhara.

In the heart of Lakeside, on a street perpendicular to the one that runs alongside the lake, this pleasant little café boasts a small, leafy terrace and a well-decorated, air-conditioned interior. While waiting for your order, you can take a look at the photos on the walls. You come here for a wonderful breakfast or brunch if you're up late, or for a tea, latte or espresso break accompanied by a sweet treat at snack time, for example (brownie, smoothie), all beautifully presented. But we don't serve lunch or dinner, just a small café.

This rustic lakeside bar consists of a small wooden cabin. You have to leave the center of Lakeside and its main thoroughfare to find this haven of peace. During the day and in the evening, it's great to relax in the garden overlooking the lake, especially in the evening when a campfire creates a rootsy atmosphere. A guitar strummer is never too far away! Especially since concerts are organized here. We enjoy the beers, cocktails, excellent coffee and other drinks; the food, on the other hand, is pretty unremarkable.

If you like rock, pint-sized beers, sticky tables and a very American atmosphere, welcome to Purple Haze, a Kathmandu institution. This large 3-storey complex opens onto a large stage where local bands play rock, pop, folk or noisy, all popular musical styles in Nepal. The décor is elaborate, especially the staircase with its wall of old cassettes, hanging records and other instruments. You can drop in for a drink, provided you like the style of music played here.

If you can't stay at the luxurious Hotel Garuda, you can always enjoy a drink at its rooftop bar. What a marvellous view over the pagoda roofs of the temples of Taumadhi Square. The counter where you sit faces the horizon and is beautifully lit, the place is elegant and the music well chosen. The à la carte menu includes well-balanced, finely-prepared cocktails, excellent beers and a good selection of wines. On the other hand, don't go there to eat, as the dishes are nothing special. Prefer the more refined restaurant in the hotel garden.

The Nepalese flag flutters in the wind, and the view from the hotel's restaurant terrace is absolutely fantastic, embracing the entire Annapurna range. We especially recommend it for breakfast or dinner, as it's the closest hotel to the cable car exit when you start climbing the small road on foot. The ideal spot to sit down to a good breakfast when visibility is at its best (from 5 a.m.).

Bodnath, which has become quite trendy, has a number of nice new addresses. Like Kar.ma Coffee, which also exists in Patan, and roasts its own coffee grown in the highlands of Nepal by around 800 families living on farms. A well-thought-out concept that emphasizes its social and fair-trade commitment, while offering a very pleasant setting. Some 32 artisans are also involved in this concept store: stationery, ceramics, coffee-based beauty products, lamps, mango wood utensils, etc.). Concerts are organized here in the evenings.

This house converted into a small bohemian café-resto in Patan is an excellent address for a cocktail or glass of wine break, with a carefully selected menu. Of course, with a name like this, you'd expect quality background music - often jazz & soul - and small acoustic concerts in the garden, where convivial wooden tables and benches are laid out (lots of reggae). In the house, the decor is reminiscent of the 70s, with a guitar on the wall among other features. On the menu, we loved the trio of small burgers and the creative cocktails.

This chic bakery and café lounge, which exists in several districts of Kathmandu and Patan, displays pretty pastries in its illuminated window and offers a trendy menu of black burgers with activated charcoal bread (gluten-free and easily digestible), thalis and mouth-watering Nepalese revisited dishes served on slates, as well as delicious homemade lemonades and real espresso coffee. The setting is truly designer, with wood and leather elements and superb decor.

It's hard to spot this café tucked away between the narrow streets of old Patan. It's an excellent address for a break with a good espresso, a tasty breakfast, a fresh fruit juice and even very affordable lunch dishes. Grilled fish with lemon, for example, is a real departure from the usual menu, as is a perfectly roasted chicken supreme. It's a really good reason to take a break for lunch or dinner. The interior is rather dark, but well decorated with colorful murals.

This is THE new trendy address in Kathmandu, to be tried out especially on Saturday nights. This new club, which just opened in 2023, is completely crazy, with a colorful checkerboard floor that flashes like Saturday Night Fever, a dozen facet balls of all sizes under a huge ceiling that shimmer as they spin, and waiters in rhinestone shirts. It's enough to make you want to be Travolta on the dance floor! Especially as the sound is disco and 70's at times. Good cocktails and draught beers. Sushi, momos, hotel (!) and live music during the week.

As its name suggests, this charming little bar with a pretty cosy balcony serves 100% organic and Nepalese coffees from coffee trees native to the Himalayas and delivered in healthy working conditions. The coffee menu is really tempting. They also praise the merits and virtues of coffee (detoxifying, fat burner, energizing...). Nice choice of lattes and mochas as well, which are said to be the best of all Thamel!

Despite the subtitle "40,000 1/2 feet bar", it's certainly not the highest bar in Thamel, or even in Kathmandu... but it may be one of the most touristy for passing travellers. The terrace doesn't offer a view of Thamel, but it's pleasant and well planted with trees. In a cosy room with attractive flooring and bay windows, the ceiling is covered with paper prints (of Yeti?) hung and scribbled by travellers on their return from the trek. A nice place to build your trekker's imagination while drinking a good rum.

Despite his rasta look, Chhipup, the owner of the place is a jazz fan. At concert time, the bar is always full and the cushions (which form the main part of the decor) are taken by storm by the regulars, locals and expatriates alike. The place is not big but we quickly forget the size of it so much the atmosphere is nice! And moreover, one serves there a small really tasty menu of Tibetan specialities and typical snacks. To go there rather on Wednesday and Saturday (guaranteed atmosphere) or on Monday for the amateurs of blues.

This café, which has been open for twenty years, attracts Nepalese and tourists alike. The setting is utterly charming: in the small, dimly-lit courtyard or in the lounge dining room, all you have to do is make your choice and take a seat. In addition to the usual beverages (a nice choice of beers, cocktails and hot drinks), Jatra serves good Indian and Nepalese dishes, such as vegetarian momos and sukuti pizza. Live acoustic music every Friday.

A small place on the side of Durbar Square which has the advantage of being open very early, unlike its competitors. A few tables are outside and you can stop here to enjoy a grand cru coffee or eat a little bite with a view of the square. It is always nice in the morning to watch the city awaken from this café. The team is very friendly and enthusiastic so don't hesitate to ask them for lots of information for your city tour. The café is attached to a very respectable hotel.

Patan is home to a number of attractive new addresses. Like Kar.ma Coffee, which also exists in Bodnath, and roasts its own coffee grown in the highlands of Nepal by around 800 families living on farms. It's a well-thought-out concept that emphasizes its social and fair-trade commitment, while offering a very pleasant setting. Nearly 32 artisans are also involved in this concept store: stationery, ceramics, coffee-based beauty products, lamps, mango wood utensils, etc.). Tables are set out in an outdoor passageway.

Want to get up close and personal with Nepal's golden youth? This is the place to be! Housed in a pretty white house, this bar is always busy. Its neat, quirky decor is no coincidence, not to mention the large, charming garden where live bands regularly perform: funk, house, reggae, Latin, jazz, blues, world beat, acoustic folk... The program is eclectic. Good food (including burgers) and cocktails.

A lovely spot on the riverbank at the end of Sauraha. Many visitors come to sit on the deckchairs as the sun reddens on the horizon, to enjoy a drink in front of this pretty sight, in a moment of tranquillity. It's not unusual for animals to come and drink. Bands of musicians sitting around with their families often provide informal entertainment, creating a truly authentic atmosphere. We don't particularly recommend the food, however, which is pretty unremarkable. Don't forget your mosquito repellent!