The best cocktail bars Kathmandu

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.

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.

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.