10 Best Restaurants
Kathmandu rewards time on foot. Royal squares open into lanes of carved windows, metal workshops and small shrines, while the great stupas remain part of daily religious life. Cross the valley to explore Patan and Bhaktapur, then make room for a Newar meal or a contemporary Nepali tasting menu. Forest walks and hillside retreats offer a change of pace beyond the city. Plan journeys generously: distances on the map rarely tell the whole story.
Tusa
Nagpokhari, Bhaktapur, Nepal
Tusa brings a contemporary approach to Nepali ingredients in Basuki Ghar, a handsome brick house in Bhaktapur. The tasting menu changes with the seasons and the kitchen’s research, drawing on produce such as wild mushrooms, mountain dairy and rice from Jumla. An open wood-fired grill anchors part of the cooking. Make this the main event of an evening in the old city, leaving ample time to find the entrance through its narrow lanes.
Contemporary Nepali tasting menus
Krishnarpan
Battisputali, Kathmandu, Nepal
Krishnarpan turns dinner into a succession of small Nepali courses at The Dwarika’s. The kitchen draws on the hotel’s farms and regional recipes, with seasonal vegetables, lentils and mountain ingredients appearing across menus of different lengths. The setting suits an unhurried evening, especially after a day spent exploring the valley’s temples and squares. Choose your menu when reserving and explain dietary requirements in advance so the kitchen can plan the meal.
A leisurely Nepali dinner
Kotetsu
Hotel Ambassador, Lazimpat, Nepal
Kotetsu serves Japanese cooking inside Hotel Ambassador on Lazimpat Road. Seafood is a particular strength, with sushi and sashimi making a useful starting point before exploring the cooked dishes. The compact dining room and city-facing glass frontage give it a different feel from Kathmandu’s courtyard restaurants. Come for a focused Japanese meal, whether a change of pace during a longer stay or an evening built around the kitchen’s freshest available fish.
Japanese seafood and sushi
Chez Caroline
Baber Mahal Revisited, Kathmandu, Nepal
Chez Caroline occupies a courtyard at Baber Mahal Revisited, where restored buildings also house small shops and galleries. The restaurant’s French menu combines familiar bistro dishes with seasonal specials under chef Gopal. It is an appealing place to pause over lunch or plan a longer dinner after browsing the complex. Choose a courtyard table when the weather suits, and check the daily dishes rather than arriving with one particular special in mind.
French cooking in a courtyard
The Chimney
Hotel Yak & Yeti, Durbar Marg, Nepal
The Chimney combines an atmospheric dining room at Hotel Yak & Yeti with a more relaxed outdoor terrace. The menu ranges across Asian and European cooking, including mushroom risotto, curries, pasta and dishes from the grill. Its broad choice makes it useful for a group with different tastes, while the room itself gives dinner a sense of occasion. Decide between the indoor setting and terrace when booking, especially during unsettled weather.
Dinner in a historic room
The Old House
Durbar Marg, Kathmandu, Nepal
The Old House pairs a wood-fired kitchen with a cocktail programme by Yangdup Lama and Minakshi Singh. A terrace shaded by a large banyan tree leads into a dining room with carved timber and copper details. Nepali meat dishes are a strong reason to eat here, with vegetarian choices alongside them. Make an evening of dinner and a drink, asking the team what seasonal ingredients are currently finding their way onto the menu.
Nepali plates and cocktails
DanRan Japanese Restaurant
Jhamsikhel, Patan, Nepal
DanRan brings the atmosphere of a small home to Japanese dining in Jhamsikhel. Its appeal lies in familiar dishes handled with care: ramen, gyoza and tofu offer a satisfying meal without the formality of a large hotel restaurant. The house setting suits a quiet lunch while exploring Patan or dinner away from Thamel’s busiest streets. Check the current opening arrangements before setting out, particularly if you are travelling across the valley for a table.
Comforting Japanese cooking
Honacha
Patan Durbar Square, Nepal
Honacha is a longstanding family-run stop beside Patan Durbar Square, best approached with an appetite for Newar cooking. Bara, the lentil pancake, is the natural starting point, with meat dishes and other savoury accompaniments rounding out a meal. The modest surroundings are part of its appeal after walking through the square’s temples and courtyards. Ask what has just been cooked and order a few dishes to share rather than expecting a formal restaurant experience.
Newar snacks near the temples
Newa Lahana
Kirtipur, Nepal
Newa Lahana is a community-run restaurant in Kirtipur with a menu rooted in Newar food traditions. Buffalo and offal dishes are central to its identity, making it an especially interesting stop for adventurous eaters. Lentil pancakes offer another starting point, with small plates well suited to sharing. Combine lunch with time in Kirtipur’s old streets, and ask the staff to explain unfamiliar preparations before ordering so the meal matches your tastes.
Traditional Newar food
Beirut Nepal
Hotel Noya, Gairidhara, Nepal
Beirut Nepal serves Lebanese food in the courtyard setting of Hotel Noya in Gairidhara. Mezze, herbs and vegetables take a prominent place on the table, with falafel and flatbreads offering a good way into the menu. Indoor and outdoor seating suit anything from a leisurely lunch to dinner with friends. Order several dishes together for a varied meal, and ask about the house chilli sauce if you enjoy a little heat.
Lebanese mezze and vegetables