The best bars and cafés Nepal

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 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.

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.

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.

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!