The best bars and cafés Nepal

This is Thamel's finest cocktail bar, inspired by the sophisticated mixology counters of New York. Only regular Nepalese hipsters pass this discreet entrance, upstairs on a busy street. The counter is all lit up, the glasses beautifully set, the blends subtle and not too sweet, the barmaids tattooed and stylish, the musical backdrop well chosen, the decor enhanced by a cabinet of curiosities with a stuffed fox in the codes of the cocktail bar, the decor dark, chic and intimate. The Blackbird signature cocktail is divine.

Exposed beams, cob walls, imposing wooden tables, rolling pins in the background and a charming little courtyard jealously hidden from view: this restaurant with its quirky yet meticulous decor almost makes you forget you're in the heart of Thamel. The setting is elegant and the menu very Western: pasta, lasagne, sandwiches, all set to jazzy rhythms. Yes, this restaurant is aimed at a more touristy clientele, but it's not all bad! The proof: we advise you to make a reservation, as it's quite crowded.

Another beautiful café in the Jhamsikhel district, where it's great to take a break for breakfast or a snack, as well as for lunch and dinner. Breakfast, sandwiches, burgers, classics. The setting is sophisticated, like all the restaurants in the area, and we particularly like the spacious terrace with its benches surrounded by plants, where you can relax in a small oasis of greenery and calm. The concept store also sells small, high-quality objects. Excellent coffee, reasonable prices, good wifi.

If you're looking for a sophisticated rooftop to sip a subtly composed cocktail, seated in a lounge chair, with easy-listening background music, and above all an infinity pool overlooking the city and mountains, Akari & Koko is for you. Akari is the name of the Japanese-style Asian fusion restaurant on the top floor of the Vivanta luxury hotel, located in the heart of the trendy Jhamsikhel district. Koko is the name of the bar (cocktails and sushi) with its magnificent sky-blue tiled terrace reflecting the sky.

Just a 10-minute walk from the Bodnath stupa, this cool new neighborhood is bursting with good places to eat. The Ramsterdam Café is one of them, particularly good for a lunch break after or before visiting the stupa in the small courtyard, or in the evening, when small groups of local musicians liven up the café's bar-like atmosphere. The atmosphere is always lively. We love the bohemian setting, with a wall of old-fashioned CDs and a mismatched decorative bric-a-brac brightened up with green plants. A roots address for meeting new people.

Three addresses coexist in close proximity to each other: Uptala Café, Kar.ma Coffee and The Hub, three trendy café addresses that are a must-try. Uptala Café has a super-cute space, with a courtyard adorned with greenery, and offers a fairly classic menu that's 100% vegan and well-executed. You can enjoy dishes à la carte (Indian, Nepalese, Italian, burgers, breakfasts, Asian, etc.), or as a buffet. An economical option that allows you to sample several dishes in a very relaxed and calm atmosphere.

Right in the middle of Lakeside, Fat Monkey is a magnificent bar spread over three floors, with a "tropicool Hawaiian" decor featuring plant-covered walls, murals in acid turquoise and yellow, monkey mascots and colorful neon lights brightening up the rough concrete walls. The top floor, with its high-ceilinged counter, pool table and rooftop terrace overlooking the street, is the most pleasant. Come in the evening for a cocktail or a glass of wine, but they also serve wraps, bowls, sandwiches, burgers...

Here's the perfect morning break before climbing the steps of the Swayambhunath temple for a breakfast of healthy bowls, fruit, muesli, yoghurt and energy seeds, washed down with a fresh detox or energizing fruit juice. This little café-restaurant opened in 2021 and has a very pretty, well-kept setting, with an outdoor terrace featuring a few tables and umbrellas. We recommend the boba the, delicious bubble teas, and the homemade lemonades and iced teas, a delight after your visit to the Temple of the Sacred Monkeys.

At the top of Swayambhunath, close to the stupa, this small café serves refined dishes prepared with local ingredients, 100% vegan. In the morning, porridges with fruit and muesli are also available. The coffee is produced in Nepal by Kar.ma Coffee (which has cafés in Bodnath and Patan), while the organic flower and fruit teas by Tea Amo Nepal are subtle and delicate. The fruit juices, various coffees and lemonades are just as delicious as the hot and cold Japanese machas on the menu.

This bar is located in a small pedestrian cul-de-sac in the heart of Thamel, away from the hustle and bustle of the narrow streets. Inside and out, the setting is refined and resembles an Italian brasserie, with its terrace of water-green benches on the cobblestones, very elegant with a beautiful counter and green plants. Vino è Vita lives up to its name: it's the place to go for a glass of imported wine. The cocktail menu is interesting and serves good quality pasta dishes and fusion snacks. Pleasant background music.

Once again, you'll be surprised by the modernity and creativity of Patan's new venues. Don't miss the BAC, Bikalpa Art Cafe & Bar, an arty place, a cultural hub where you can eat really well (curry, masala, Chinese chowmein noodles, BBQ chicken, burgers, pizzas...) and home to contemporary local artists. The shady garden where the tables are located is very pleasant. Café, bar, coworking space, concerts, exhibitions, auteur film screenings: the rich program is well worth a visit.

There are so many good addresses in this trendy district of Jhamshikel, it's hard to choose! If you like gourmet burgers served generously with home fries, Café Soma is definitely one of Lalitpur's best addresses. You can also come here for a continental breakfast with excellent pastries, or at snack time for delicious brownies and homemade cheese cake. Delicious avocado toast and poached egg, goat's cheese salad, coffees, fresh fruit juices, lemonades... Beautiful interior and terrace.

At the far end of Lakeside, but within walking distance of the town center, a house converted into a restaurant, with small wooden terraces, has been set up for those who want to enjoy a drink or barbecued meat, while taking in the view of the lake and the tranquility of the natural surroundings. In the evening, small lights illuminate the musicians (many concerts) and all that's left to do is sip a cocktail and enjoy the moment. A wonderful place to relax during the day or evening.

If you can't wait to get back to Europe for an aperitif of charcuterie and cheese, washed down with good wine, this is the place for you. In this wine bar, where the Nepalese learn a few words of French to make you feel at home, it's also a good place to meet French people living in Nepal and ask them all your questions. On the menu, rillettes and a board of charcuterie or cheese...

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 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.