Must-see nightlife in Nepal

Without a doubt the place to be in Narayangarh, this crowded bar and restaurant hums with unleashed activity. Perched on the top floor of a building…

A cosy rooftop bar where you can get a cocktail and order snacks, with stunning views over Taumadhi Tole towards Nyatapola Temple.

Can it be true? In that desert known as Terai nightlife, here's a noteworthy exception...in the middle of the jungle! Offering a different kind of…

A rock bar in the Terai? Yes it's true, thanks to the heroic efforts of its dynamic young owners. There's always live music, no cover and a very young…

The epicenter of Kathmandu’s nascent craft-beer scene, this beer garden at the Thamel Eco Resort offers dozens of brews by the can alongside five taps…

The various branches of this modern and buzzing coffeehouse are the place to lose yourself in a sofa, a laptop and a pulse-reviving Caffè Americano. There…

A quiet, intimate and pretty cool venue for a beer accompanied by Newari snacks or a full dinner (mains Rs 450 to Rs 600), with spacious indoor and…

A long-time favourite with trek leaders, mountain guides and other Kathmandu regulars. There’s reggae every Saturday. It's hidden upstairs just north of…

Popular pedestrian street branch of the excellent coffeehouse chain.

Away from the Lakeside glitz and adjacent to a motorcycle repair workshop, Bullet Basecamp has an unmistakable storyline. Sprockets, driveshafts and Tata…

This sophisticated yet relaxing cafe is brought to you by the folks from Moondance Restaurant. With Italian or local espresso, Baskin Robbins ice cream…

This splash of flavour is just the type of contemporary spin Dharan needs – and after a hard day of travel, you'll appreciate it too. Choose from a wild…

A long-running favourite; the two-for-one cocktails between 4pm and 10pm (some only until 7pm) and salsa music on the stereo are a guaranteed jump-start…

The Busy Bee has live bands rocking every night from 8pm, though Friday and Saturday are usually the best nights when locals and travellers converge en…

The occasionally boisterous Paradiso is a revamp of the venerable Club Amsterdam on the Lakeside strip. With live music (from 7.45pm), pool tables,…

This cosy cafe, up a side street, is run by a Nepali who trained as a barista in London and boasts organic Himalayan coffee from Palpa (Tansen) plus tasty…

A neat little cafe at the east end of Durbar Sq, where you can grab a quick coffee or sit at the knee-bruising tables for a decent pizza. Also good for…

A super-relaxed option, the Blues Bar is popular with stoners, and large banners of Jimi Hendrix and John Lennon add to its appeal. Most nights there's a…

This is a long-running, rowdy upstairs place that has pool tables and a dance floor. There's live music most weekends, frequent parties and Thursday is…

A bright and shiny branch of Nepal's very own coffee chain. Hot and cold coffee and other concoctions are available, as well as a small variety of bakery…