We are spoilt for choice where cafés, bars, and restaurants are concerned. But everyone has a favorite place they find themselves heading back to despite the many options available. Here are our favorite places where we like to grab a bite to eat, catch up with friends, get some work done, or just sit back and read.
Bodhi Books and Bakes
While there are many cafes and restaurants in the Maharajgunj area, Bodhi Books and Bakes definitely stands out. Not only do they serve a wide array of cakes and pastries such as red velvet cupcakes (at just Rs 100) and apple pie (for Rs 150), but they also have a large collection of books on the shelves that you can pick from to enjoy along with the delicious food they serve. From Milan Kundera to EL James and books on politics as well, there’s a lot jam packed on the shelves and it’s fun to browse through it all, getting excited as you come across a favorite title. There are also books for sale. Also, the café’s ambience is the kind of environment avid readers look for. It’s a quiet and cozy place that makes you want to sink in the plush cushions and forget everything else. If you are looking for a place to get lost in your thoughts, read a book, or even get some work done while, of course, having good food by your side, you might want to head over to Bodhi Books and Bakes. We definitely do.
Eating junk food is bad for health!
Top of the World
Located at Jhamsikhel in Kathmandu, Top of the World is the perfect blend of calm and chaos. With the widest selection of coffee, bakery items, and food, ranging from their pumpkin spiced latte and warm and toasty cinnamon rolls to pancakes, waffles and pizza, this café has most drinks and food you could ever think of. And they are all reasonably priced as well. Along with the perfect environment to work, or have some heart to heart conversation with your friends, Top of the World is also where you will find writers typing away furiously on their laptops, or a group of people having a serious meeting at one of the tables. With different landscape paintings hung across the little café with dim yellow lights above the counter and at the center of the café, and kind staff always ready to help with a smile on their faces, this café feels like home away from home.
Nirvana Café & Restaurant
A rooftop restaurant near the famous Monkey Temple (approximately a 10-minute walk from the temple), or more commonly known as Swayambhunath, Nirvana Café & Restaurant is a tourist’s haven. Not only does the café and restaurant have good food and drinks at affordable prices, the city view and the sight of the distant mountains are breathtaking. After the hustle and bustle of the famous temple, Nirvana is a great retreat that visitors can’t seem to get over. Another plus point is that they serve vegan food as well and there is a vegan version of the Nepali thali too. Stop for breakfast and dig in to their pancakes with syrup and fresh papaya juice, have hot and tasty momos for lunch, or just nibble on popcorn as you enjoy a glass of chilled beer. No matter what you choose to do, we guarantee you won’t be disappointed.
Phat Kath
As we all know, Thamel is filled with remarkable hangout spots that both Nepalis and tourists love to go to. Phat Kath is among one of the very best. With low tables and very artistic walls filled with rainbow patchwork cloths and abstract paintings to please those for whom the ambience of a place is above all else, Phat Kath is a gem and hideaway with a great atmosphere from the busy and noisy streets of Thamel. However Phat Kath isn’t only pleasing to the eye, their delicious food and exotic (and really strong) cocktails are steal deals. With tasty food in both non-vegetarian and vegetarian options such as burgers, crepes, and other snacks, Phat Kath has food that caters to just about everyone.
Bricks Café
Ever dreamed of feasting like a king? Well, you can most definitely do that at Bricks Café. With its building being one that was previously owned by the Rana royals, and thus dating back to 1903, the dining experience at Bricks Café is truly one of a kind. Not only is it cozy and warm with beautiful Newari carvings in full view with the help of subtle yellow lighting, but the food on their multi cuisine menu is fantastic as well. From their famous pizza and oyster mushroom choyela to chicken lasagna, all the types of cuisines were well prepared. It’s not like one outshines the other as in most restaurants that serve multi cuisine dishes. Then there’s the traditional dance show that takes place here from time to time which are really visually appealing. Though it’s located on the roadside in Kupondole, opposite Hotel Himalaya, once you enter it’s a different world altogether, completely cut off from all the noise outside.
