Must-see restaurants in Around the Kathmandu Valley

  • Newari Kitchen

    Patan

    This excellent-value restaurant is a great place to start exploring Newari food. The set meals are a good choice, or combine a wo (lentil) or chatamari …

  • El Mediterraneo

    Patan

    This local tapas bar feels surprisingly authentic thanks to the attentive owner, a Spanish-speaking Nepali who lived in Spain for several years. Dishes…

  • No-Name Restaurant

    Bhaktapur

    This nameless hole-in-the-wall consists of little more than a hot plate and a bucket of pancake mix, but it serves up delicious street food. The main item…

  • Café du Temple

    Patan

    A tour-group favourite at the north end of Durbar Sq. The airy rooftop tables are covered by red-and-white sun umbrellas and the menu runs from Chinese…

  • Patan Museum Café

    Patan

    In the rear courtyard of the Patan Museum, this pleasant open-air place is a good spot to take a break from museum and temple-gazing. The garden setting…

  • View Point Restaurant

    Around the Kathmandu Valley

    Tasty Newari and Tibetan food, cheap beer and fantastic views make this a great stopover. Its rooftop is the prime viewing area, looking out to mountains…

  • Peaceful Restaurant

    Bhaktapur

    This delightful restaurant occupies two courtyards behind the souvenir shops on the south side of Tachupal Tole. Duck your head and wander through to the…

  • Newa Lahani Restaurant

    Around the Kathmandu Valley

    Housed inside the underwhelming Newa Cultural Museum is this authentic Newari cuisine restaurant. Sitting is at ground level on mats, and utensils are…

  • Café du Mont

    Nagarkot

    Open to nonguests, the restaurant at the Peaceful Cottage hotel is housed inside its octagonal tower and has an eclectic menu of local, Chinese, Indian…

  • Bricks Cafe

    Patan

    This converted century-old traditional house is a great place to take a break from shopping at the nearby interior design shops of Kupondol. You can relax…

  • Mayur Restaurant

    Bhaktapur

    Mayur is an atmospheric place to refuel – dine on tables in a sunken courtyard, surrounded by carved windows and, possibly, in the company of woodcarvers…

  • New Café Nyatapola

    Bhaktapur

    Occupying prime real estate in Taumadhi Tole, this landmark cafe is touristy and pricey. But what a setting! Tables are arranged on the balconies of a…

  • Sing Ma Food Court

    Patan

    For the authentic tastes of Malaysia, head to this busy food court south of Pulchowk. The noodle soups, nasi lemak (coconut rice with anchovies) and beef…

  • Si Taleju Restaurant & Bar

    Patan

    A narrow, towering place with four floors, each with a different feel. Best is the top-floor dining room with magical views north across Durbar Sq to the…

  • Dhokaima Café

    Patan

    A sophisticated cafe set inside a Rana-era storehouse by the Patan Dhoka gateway. Shaded by a sprawling walnut tree, the courtyard garden is a peaceful…

  • Café de Patan

    Patan

    Southwest of Durbar Sq behind a small Uma Maheshwar Temple, this quiet place is a long-running travellers’ favourite, with an open-air courtyard and a…

  • New Watshala Garden Restaurant

    Bhaktapur

    Set in a pot-plant-filled courtyard behind the Shiva Guest House, this place offers a genuine retreat from the Durbar Sq crowds, even if the food is tour…

  • New Café dé Peacock

    Bhaktapur

    Tachupal Tole’s answer to New Café Nyatapola in a wood-fronted former priest's house on the north side of the square is certainly atmospheric, with great…

  • Cafe Swotha

    Patan

    Fresh and modern with lots of glass and a tiny garden, Swotha serves light salads, quiches and sandwiches made with seasonal ingredients, plus daily…

  • Namaste Restaurant

    Bhaktapur

    This tiny, low-ceilinged, upstairs cafe is decked out in attractive decor and offers great views of Taumadhi Tole. The Nepali curries with rice are…

  • Café Cheeno

    Patan

    A great place just outside Patan Dhoka with a charming garden (sadly next door to the noisy bus stand), good salads and soups, tasty breakfast crêpes and…

  • Third World Restaurant

    Patan

    Located on the quiet western side of Durbar Sq, with budget prices, Newari set meals and good rooftop views of the Krishna Mandir.

  • Yala

    Patan

    An island of calm in the courtyard of the Unesco-restored Rajbhandari House, this stylish cafe and art gallery has a peaceful back terrace and a fine menu…

  • Bakery Café

    Patan

    All the branches of this excellent chain provide work for deaf Nepalis. This one by the main roundabout at Jawalakhel offers good-value coffee, momos,…

  • Temple View Restaurant

    Bhaktapur

    Opposite the Royal Palace in a long, historic building, this regal place with one long balcony offers the chance to dine with a view that used to be…

  • Newa Chhen Restaurant

    Bhaktapur

    Slightly rundown and dingy, but the food here is cheap and tasty. It gets points for excellent Newari snacks and set meals, and a corner table with views…

  • Hira’s Coffee Shop

    Around the Kathmandu Valley

    On the wide lane south of the Adinath Lokeshwar Temple, this intimate and quaint cafe in a village house serves Nepali snacks.

  • Casa Pagoda

    Patan

    A sister concern of the nearby Café du Temple, with roughly the same menu (daal bhaat, Chinese etc).

  • Roadhouse Cafe

    Patan

    A stylish branch of the ever-popular Thamel pizza parlour, with a relaxed, family vibe. Pasta and other dishes are also available.

  • Yoghurt Shops

    Bhaktapur

    Bhaktapur's famous 'king curd' is curdled in these small shops, which can also be found in other lanes around the city.

  • Yoghurt Shops

    Bhaktapur

    Purchase Bhaktapur's famous 'king curd' in these (and many other) tiny aroma-filled shops.

  • Berg House Café

    Nagarkot

    By the highway's main junction, this colourful and popular local hang-out is packed with fossils, gnarled tree roots and other found bits of bric-a-brac…

  • Foodmandu

    Patan

    For when you can’t face battling Patan traffic, Foodmandu offers delivery to Patan and Kathmandu from over 170 local restaurants. The delivery fee depends…

  • Shiva’s Café Corner

    Bhaktapur

    With an espresso machine and free wi-fi, this inviting cafe with a bistro feel is a good spot for breakfast and a break.