Things to do in Kathmandu
-
A
Mahaguthi
For general handicrafts such as handmade paper, ceramics and woodwork – much of it made by disadvantaged or minority groups – the best places are the showrooms of the nonprofit development organisations that are based in the Kopundol district of Patan. Mahaguthi, has an outlet in Lazimpat.
reviewed
-
B
Curry Kitchen/Hot Bread
This bakery on the main Thamel junction does a roaring trade in sandwiches, bread rolls, pizza slices and pastries. Add an espresso and head upstairs to the sunny terrace for a leisurely breakfast. The ham-and-cheese rolls (Rs 65) make a great lunch on the run. Bakery items are discounted by 50% after 9.30pm.
reviewed
-
Bakery Cafe
With branches on the eastern edge of Thamel, on Durbar Marg and in Patan, this buzzy chain offers excellent-value coffees and snacks for when you just need to take a break over an Americano and a plate of momos. The management have commendably hired deaf staff, which is perhaps one reason why the music is so bad.
reviewed
-
C
KC’s Restaurant
One of Thamel’s first restaurants, KC’s has been going since 1976 and is still one of the best places in town. The oatmeal pumpkin pie (Rs 190) is sweet but tasty, the salads and pasta are excellent, and there’s a good range of breakfasts, including sausage and beans in a bun. The terrace seating is very pleasant.
reviewed
-
D
Krishnarpan Restaurant
One of the best places for Nepali food is the Krishnarpan Restaurant at Dwarika's Hotel, east of the centre near the Ring Rd. The atmosphere is superb and the food gets consistent praise from diners. Bookings are advisable. If you are coming on Friday, arrive in time for the 18:00 dance show in the hotel courtyard.
reviewed
-
Lohan Chowk
King Prithvi Narayan Shah was involved in the construction of the four red-coloured towers around the Lohan Chowk. The towers represent the four ancient cities of the valley, the towers include the Kathmandu or Basantapur Tower; the Kirtipur Tower; the Bhaktapur Tower or Lakshmi Bilas; and the Patan or Lalitpur Tower.
reviewed
-
E
Thakali Kitchen
If, after having travelled all the way to Nepal, you actually fancy some Nepali food (!), this upstairs restaurant is a modern place popular with local Thamel workers on their lunch break. Most opt for daal bhaat but there’s also a range of Thakali food such as aa lang kho, a dried meat, cheese and radish soup.
reviewed
-
F
Seoul Arirang
This excellent Korean place has a pleasant rooftop area and serves dishes barbecued at your table, as well as Korean classics such as bulgogi (beef and ginger) and bibimbap (rice with beef, vegetables and hot sauce). The owner is Korean but the chefs are Nepali. The picture menu guarantees no nasty surprises.
reviewed
-
G
Mahakala Temple
On the eastern side of Kantipath, just north of New Rd, the Mahakala Temple was very badly damaged in the 1934 earthquake and is now of little architectural merit. If you can see inside the darkened shrine you may be able to make out the 1.5m-high figure of Mahakala, the 'Great Black One', a particularly ferocious form of Shiva.
reviewed
-
H
Snowman Restaurant
A long-running and mellow, if slightly dingy, place, this is one of those rare Kathmandu hang-outs that attracts both locals and backpackers. The chocolate cake has been drawing overland travellers for close to 40 years now. When John Lennon starts singing ‘I am the Walrus’ on the stereo it suddenly feels like 1967 all over again…
reviewed
Advertisement
-
I
Tana Deval Temple
Across from the Taleju Temple, in a walled courtyard, just past the long row of stalls, is the Tana Deval Temple, with three carved doorways and multiple struts, the latter of which show the multi-armed Ashta Matrikas (Mother Goddesses). It's possible to enter the temple. Nearby shops sell brightly-coloured Tibetan thangkas.
reviewed
-
Basantapur Tower
The nine-storey Basantapur Tower, which was extensively restored prior to King Birendra's coronation is inside the Tribhuvan Museum. There are superb views over the palace and the city from the top. The struts along the facade of the Basantapur Tower, particularly those facing out to Basantapur Sq, are decorated with erotic carvings.
reviewed
-
J
Kotilingeshwar Mahadev Temple
This early Malla temple dates from the reign of Mahendra Malla in the 16th century. The three-stage plinth is topped by a temple in the gumbhaj style, which basically means a square structure topped by a bell-shaped dome. The bull facing the temple on the west side indicates that it is a Shiva temple. Next door is the Mahavishnu Temple.
reviewed
-
K
Weizen Bakery
Down from the Yin Yang, this bakery restaurant serves good vegetarian food. It has a pleasant garden and is a nice quiet place for breakfast, with newspapers to read and music playing in the background. The bakery out front has decent cakes, breads (particularly the pretzels) and pastries, with bakery goods (but not cakes) discounted by 50% after 8pm.
reviewed
-
L
Gaddhi Baithak
The eastern side of Durbar Sq is closed off by this white neoclassical building. The Gaddhi Baithak, with its imported European style, was built as part of the palace in 1908 during the Rana period and it makes a strange contrast to the traditional Nepali architecture that dominates the square. It is said to have been modelled on London's National Gallery.
reviewed
-
High Road to Tibet
14 days (Kathmandu to Kathmandu)
by G Adventures
From the sacred peaks of Tibet to lush green Nepalese valleys, explore the best of the Himalaya on this convenient 2-week tour. Discover mighty temples and…Not LP reviewed
from USD$2,499 -
M
Three Goddesses Temples
Next to the modern Sanchaya Kosh Bhawan Shopping Centre in Thamel are the generally ignored Three Goddesses Temples. The street on which the temples are located is named Tridevi Marg - tri means 'three' and devi means 'goddesses'. The goddesses are Dakshinkali, Manakamana and Jawalamai, and the roof struts have some creative erotic carvings.
reviewed
-
N
Nargila Restaurant
Across from the Northfield Cafe, on the 1st floor, this somewhat dour budget favourite is a quiet place to just take a break from the bustle outside. Try a shwarma (grilled meat and salad in a pitta; Rs 185) or hummus served with pitta (Rs 105), washed down by a mint tea. The hot waffle with fruit and yoghurt (Rs 125) is simply the best in Kathmandu.
reviewed
-
O
Mahendreshwar Temple
At the extreme northern end of the square, this temple dates from 1561, during the reign of Mahendra Malla. The temple was restored in 1963 and is dedicated to Shiva. A small image of Shiva's bull Nandi fronts the temple and at the northeastern corner there is an image of Kam Dev. The temple has a wide, two-level plinth and a spire topped by a golden umbrella.
reviewed
-
P
Gandharba Culture and Art Organisation
This is an organisation for the city's musician caste. There are informal music jams between 17:00 and 19:00 at their offices on the 3rd floor above Equator Expeditions (tourists are welcome), but they also play in local restaurants such as the Northfield Cafe. Individual musicians offer music lessons for around Rs 200 per hour and they also sell their own CDs.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
Q
Natural History Museum
Below Swayambhunath, on the road to the tourist bus park, the Natural History Museum offers a faded but quirky collection of exhibits, including varnished crocodiles, model dinosaurs and mounted animal heads that look suspiciously like hunting trophies. The museum provides a valuable service to local school children and it could use more support.
reviewed
-
R
Roadhouse Cafe
The big attraction here is the pizzas from the wood-fired oven. The pizzas are pretty darn good, and the decor, especially the courtyard out back, is warm and intimate. The salads, soups (tomato coconut soup), desserts (sizzling brownie with ice cream) and espresso coffees are all top-notch, though some say the service has slipped recently. Credit cards are accepted.
reviewed
-
S
Four Season Restaurant
A great location and some of the tastiest Thai and Indian food in town make this a good compromise if you fancy a chicken tikka masala but your date wants a green papaya salad. You can sit overlooking the road or on the rooftop under what looks like an aircraft hangar. One of the chefs is Thai, the other worked at the Rum Doodle for 17 years, so they know their stuff.
reviewed
-
T
Ethnographic Museum
If you have some time to kill while waiting for your visa extension, pop into the next-door tourism service centre and its Ethnographic Museum, which has a vaguely interesting collection of puppets, costumes and traditional crafts. There are grand plans (but no money as yet) to build a huge new ethnographic museum complex south of Kirtipur in the southern Kathmandu Valley.
reviewed
-
U
Koto Restaurant Thamel
When you need a break from endless 'same same but different' backpacker food, head for this budget branch of the acclaimed Durbar Marg restaurant. The Japanese flavours are subtle and complex and the bamboo décor is bright, elegant and clean. The sukiyaki 'young person' set meal is a great deal, with all kinds of salad trimmings, miso soup, green tea and unlimited rice.
reviewed