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The Best Boutique Hotels to Book in Kathmandu, Nepal

Marvel at ancient palaces, temples and shrines in Patan Durbar Square, Kathmandu, Nepal
Marvel at ancient palaces, temples and shrines in Patan Durbar Square, Kathmandu, Nepal | © John Dambik / Alamy Stock Photo

Kathmandu is popular with backpackers en route to treks in the Himalayas, but the accommodation here isn’t all hostels and dorm rooms. The capital of Nepal is also home to nip-and-tuck hotels featuring courtyards, traditional Narali interior design, libraries, and temple-like respite after a day of exploring. Whilst many choose a simple guesthouse in Kathmandu, you can escape the bustle at these boutique hotels, which are some of the best places to stay in Kathmandu.

Kathmandu Guest House by KGH Group

Hotel, Guesthouse

Kathmandu Guest House exterior with gardens, orange and green paintwork and trees
Photo courtesy of Kathmandu Guest House

At the centre of this hotel, in the busy Thamel area, there’s a pocket of mellow green space. It’s filled with mango trees, firework-bright potted flowers, a seven-foot brass Vajra sculpture and a Walk of Fame that lists famous people like the Beatles and Jimmy Carter who have stayed at the hotel over the years. Choose a garden room and you get access to a shared balcony that overlooks the greenery.

Traditional Comfort

Hotel

Traditional Comfort Boutique Hotel, Hattisar ambient room showing exposed beams, rugs and tile floor
Courtesy of Traditional Comfort Boutique Hotel, Hattisar / Expedia

The interiors of the 36-room Traditional Comfort boutique hotel are Newari – a style of design originating from the Newar people of the Kathmandu Valley. There are plenty of wooden beams throughout the hotel, sculpted bronze, decorative tile work, and the intricately carved wooden windows known as ankhi-jhyal. In the guest rooms, the bed linen has been hand-printed using traditional block painting techniques. Visitors are welcomed with a watermelon juice and given a traditional welcome scarf.

Tajaa Pha The Heritage Home, Patan

Hotel

Tajaa Pha The Heritage Home, Patan with wood panelling, wicker chair and cushy mattress
Courtesy of Tajaa Pha The Heritage Home, Patan / booking.com

The Tajaa Pha looks out over the herb-green waters of Kamal Pokhari pond in the old town area of Patan. You can spy the pond from some of the rooms, but the best place to take in the view is from the rooftop terrace. A traditional home-cooked breakfast is served here – don’t miss the bara (lentil paste pancakes) – and on clear days, you can see all the way to the Himalayan mountains.

Shivapuri Heights Cottage, Budhanilkantha

Hotel

Shivapuri Heights Cottages, Budhanilkantha terrace with table and chairs offering views of the city
Courtesy of Shivapuri Heights Cottages, Budhanilkantha / Expedia

In the foothills of the Himalayas, on the edge of the Shivapuri Heights National Park, these red-brick and dark-wood cottages serve up IMAX-worthy views of the Kathmandu Valley. Watch sunrise and sunset and catch rainbows arching across the valley when it rains. Book the hot tub and you can lap up the views as you bathe in the water. Alternatively, take it all in from the main veranda, where guests can enjoy a communal dinner at night.

Traditional Homes – Swotha, Patan

Hotel

Traditional Homes – Swotha, Patan with chic industrial style and exposed beams
Courtesy of Traditional Homes – Swotha, Patan / Expedia

This boutique hotel is just around the corner from the Unesco World Heritage Durbar Square, with all its temples and sculptures. After a busy day’s sightseeing, visitors can relax on the roof terrace and look out over the red pagoda rooftops of Patan to the Himalayas in the distance. Enjoy meals from the ground-floor Café Swotha up here – try the thali, an assortment of Nepalese dishes topped off with a custard-like Bhaktapur yoghurt for dessert.

Kantipur Temple House, Thamel

Hotel

Kantipur Temple House, Thamel with industrial style, terrace and exposed brickwork
Courtesy of Kantipur Temple House, Thamel / Expedia

With red bricks, wooden beams and carved wooden windows and balconies, the design of Kantipur Temple House is textbook for the Kathmandu Valley. The whole place wraps around a courtyard filled with a stone water feature, brass bells, sculptures and the scent of marigolds. Make sure you make time for a meal here. Dishes are made using ingredients from the hotel’s organic farm and you can choose to sit on floor cushions at low tables to dine.

Hotel Vajra, Swayambhu

Boutique Hotel, Hotel

Hotel Vajra, Swayambhu room with rug, two beds, parquet floors, desk and a chair
Courtesy of Hotel Vajra, Swayambhu / Expedia

This pagoda-style hotel is located near the old pilgrim trail up to the Swayambhunath stupa (Monkey Temple) complex. It’s home to a library, where you can see Sanskrit and Tibetan texts alongside Western books. There’s a meditation and yoga area known as the Great Pagoda Hall, which has an ornate frescoed ceiling. For warmer evenings, there’s a garden filled with flowers, Buddha statues and a trickling water feature.

Hotel Friend’s Home, Thamel

Boutique Hotel

Hotel Friends Home, Thamel room with wood floors, large bed, desk and large window
Courtesy of Hotel Friend's Home / Expedia

A five-minute walk from the centre of Thamel, this boutique hotel makes a great base camp for sightseeing in Kathmandu. Gear up for a day of exploring with a piled-high plate of breakfast – the staff are known for remembering how every visitor likes their eggs – washed down with a masala tea. Unwind at the end of it all with an hour or two in the rooftop bar with its lantern lighting and flower-filled terracotta pots.

Kathmandu Boutique Hotel, Thamel

Boutique Hotel

Kathmandu Boutique Hotel, Thamel room with three single beds, wood floors and desk with tv
Courtesy of Kathmandu Boutique Hotel / Expedia

The Kathmandu Boutique Hotel is set inside the former 19th-century home of a Rana dynasty courtier, with delicately-carved balconies and a columned entrance. At the heart of the hotel, there’s a meditative garden where colourful Tibetan prayer flags twitch in the breeze. You can enjoy breakfast here in the mornings and there’s an evening menu, too. The dal bhat – traditional lentil curry – is highly recommended.

Nomad Hotel, Lazimpat

Boutique Hotel

Nomad Hotel, Lazimpat modern room with minimal design, rug, wood floors and large windows
Courtesy of Nomad Hotel, Lazimpat / Expedia

The Nomad hotel in the residential Lazimpat area teleports visitors back to the West. Rooms and apartment suites are filled with Danish-style furniture and thoughtful touches like Marshall amp speakers. The breakfast and brunch menu features dishes such as organic acai bowls and American pancakes with salted caramel. The restaurant, meanwhile, serves modern Italian. However, if you need a reminder that you’re in Kathmandu, you can walk to Durbar Square in 30 minutes.

For more options, discover our guide to the best hotels in Kathmandu and book now on Culture Trip. Unwind during your stay by checking out the best spas in Kathmandu. Fancy a weekend getaway? Check out our guide to the best weekend getaways from Kathmandu.

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