The best restaurants Nepal

Timetable

In Nepal. Restaurants are generally open from 8am to 10pm, or even 9pm, especially in small towns. Beyond that, dinner is out!

In Bhutan. The packages offered by Bhutanese agencies include room and board, so you'll eat most of your meals in the restaurants of the hotels where you'll be staying. These are generally buffets of continental, Indian, Chinese and Bhutanese dishes. Lunch is often taken in roadside restaurants with well-organized buffets. You can also choose your own restaurant during your trip by taking out an e-visa directly online.

Budget & Tips

In Nepal. In Kathmandu and Pokhara, you'll be spoilt for choice by the wide range of world cuisine on offer: Nepalese, Tibetan, Indian, Chinese, Mexican, Italian... Make the most of it, as variety is far from the order of the day in the provinces and on the treks, where dhal bat reigns supreme!

Bhutan. If you've had enough of hotel buffets (which can get a bit monotonous after a few days, it's true!), you can try a local establishment. Bhutanese restaurants are generally very affordable. However, you should be aware that the wait can be long, and beware of spicy food, because while the Bhutanese are used to it, our Western palates are more fragile!

What costs extra

In Nepal, tipping is not compulsory, but it is welcome. It is customary to leave 5-10% of the bill.

The local way

In Nepal. You don't eat from your neighbor's plate, and you don't share cutlery, otherwise the food is considered impure! While the majority of Hindu Nepalese are vegetarians, the Newars of the Kathmandu valley are big meat eaters.

Bhutan. The Bhutanese love ema datsi, peppers in a cheese sauce. Don't hesitate to ask to taste what your guides are eating to find out what Bhutanese chillies really taste like!

To be avoided

Nepal. If there's no cutlery, eat with your right hand, the left being reserved for less noble tasks. For carnivores, meat is scarce outside the big cities, and we strongly advise against the often tainted sukuti (dried meat) you'll find in the mountains.

In Bhutan. Meals are a time of sharing for the Bhutanese. So don't be offended if your guide "abandons" you to eat with his colleagues. Not least because he'd rather eat ema datsi than try the dishes reserved for you, which are too poorly seasoned for his taste.

Smokers

In Bhutan, as in all public places, smoking is prohibited in restaurants.