Kathmandu

Freak Street

Historic street where western hippies seeking enlightenment would stay in the 1970s and 80s. Now just a few restaurants and hotels but the iconic Snowman Cafe is tucked away here. Opened in 1965 as a full functioning restaurant, Snowman is now a cafe shop with new Nescafe machine and paper cups, but still run by the same family. Since the family owns the property, this cafe shop survived from the pressure of rent. However, it's mostly a one-man shop, and that man is 50 years old. His father is too old to work and the next generation of the family are studying in Australia and seemingly won't take over. No one knows how long this final bastion of Freak Street will last.

Garden of Dreams

Swapna Bagaicha

Relax in this beautiful and peaceful walled garden close to Thamel and the former Royal Palace. Beautifully renovated in partnership with the Austrian government. It has two pavilions depicting two of the six annual seasons in the Hindu calendar. There is a mini exhibition showing old photos of this garden. There is a restaurant (Kaiser Cafe) in it. You are not allowed to bring own food into the garden and even if you just want to go to Kaiser Cafe you still need to buy the ticket for the garden. Nice toilets.

Daily 09:00-21:00·Rs400 for non-Nepalese, Rs150 for Nepalese

Irish Pub Lazimpat

Irish dishes, a great variety of beer (also Guinness) and whisky (international and local), Irish Coffee (also Creamy Irish Coffee) cocktails, mocktails, energy cocktails, summer cocktails, shooters (try "Irish Flag"). During the cold season, you can also find "hot winter drinks". Friday nights live music, dart. Well trained, friendly staff. Run under German management.

Irish Pub Lazimpat

Irish dishes, a great variety of beer (also Guinness) and whisky (international and local), Irish Coffee (also Creamy Irish Coffee) cocktails, mocktails, energy cocktails, summer cocktails, shooters (try "Irish Flag"). During the cold season, you can also find "hot winter drinks". Friday nights live music, dart. Well trained, friendly staff. Run under German management.

Northfield Cafe

Basic pub grub and Nepali attempt at Mexican, often with live traditional music. Popular with English teachers and expats.

Rs100-300

Roadhouse Cafe

Excellent wood fired pizza. Pleasant decor with good coffee & hot chocolate & more cappuccinos. Draught Everest beer, when available. A relaxing, upscale place for when you need to escape from Kathmandu for an evening. Free Wi-Fi.

Beer: Rs400; Pizza: Rs500-600.

Boudha Stupa Restaurant & Cafe

Specializes in Nepali and Tibetan cuisine. Veg & Non-veg meals. Clay oven pizzas. Views over the stupa.

12·Rs200 for meal

Cafe Caravan

Excellent coffee and desserts. Western favourites, muesli, French toast, pasta, and local food, momos and thukpa. Cosy interior - a cross between Freak Street and Dolpo. Personalized service from owner. A number of stupa-facing window seats. Highly recommended carrot cake.

7AM-7PM·Cappuccino - Nrs220

Chikusa Café

Nepali coffee, milk tea, sandwiches and crêpes. Strawberry lassi is a speciality. Wi-Fi.

Falcha Cafe

Warm, cosy environment. Views over Freak Street. Good coffee. Very reasonable prices.

Closed · opens 11 am

Flavors

Tucked away at the end of alley. Outdoor seating only. Good coffee. Excellent food.

Cappuccino - Nrs290

Gaia Restaurant and Coffee Shop

Good selection of coffees and teas. Pleasant outdoor seating.

Closed · opens 7 am

Himalayan Cafe

Clean cafe offering traditional Tibetan & Western breakfast, lunch & dinner. Cafe is above Buddhist shop & is on 3, 4 & 5th floors overlooking the stupa. Excellent veggie burger with fried for Rs120. Small pot of milk tea Rs75. Wi-Fi.

Himalayan Java Coffee

Boudha branch of the ubiquitous Himalayan Java chain. Spacious and chic. Small number of seats offering views over the stupa. Excellent coffee.

Daily: 7AM-8:15PM·Cappuccino - Nrs275

Kafemandu

Excellent coffee. Good quality international cuisine. Stylish interior. Very friendly and helpful service.

7AM-10PM·Cappuccino - Nrs230

Kar.ma Coffee

Cosy, elegant cafe. Excellent coffee and cakes. Stylish and earthy handmade cups and coffee-making utensils on sale. Indoor and outdoor seating.

Sun,Mon,Wed: 7AM-7PM, Sat,Tue, Thu, Fri: 8AM-7PM·Cappuccino - Nrs250

Mitho

A cosy cafe with a long history in Thamel. Excellent and healthy meals. Good coffee.

Organic Smoothie Bowl and Cafe

Excellent meals prepared with organic ingredients. Sourdough bread. Healthy and tasty smoothies. Polite and quick service. Dull, uninspired interior.

7AM-8PM

Quixote's Cove: the bookshop

Jawalakhel. Located next to New Orleans Cafe in Jawalakhel, this bookshop is housed in an old 1930s building and combines a great collection of fiction with a marvelously cosy environment.

Roadhouse Cafe

Large and spacious with contemporary design. Excellent wood-fired pizza. Rooftop seating. Views over the stupa.

11AM-10PM·Cappuccino - Nrs395

Ugyen Cafe

Elegant cafe inside monastery compound. Large outside seating area, including Zen-style floor space. Excellent coffee and desserts. A number of veggie combo breakfast options. Small selection of Buddhist books and magazines to read on the premise.

Daily: 7AM-8PM·Cappuccino - Nrs160

Utpala Cafe

Pure vegan restaurant with ethics. Good coffee. Wide range of tasty Indian and Italian dishes. Healthy juices. Reasonable prices. Only outdoor seating in a beer garden-like setting. Good place to grab a meal, but not to relax and hang out.

Daily: 7AM-9PM·Cappuccino - Nrs130