Nightlife · Kathmandu · Nepal
Kathmandu nightlife
Where the evenings happen in Kathmandu, from early drinks to late nights.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Saddam Hussain Ansari, CC BY 4.0
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Quick answer
Kathmandu's nightlife centres on Thamel, where bars host live rock and cover bands and rooftop terraces serve cocktails and local beer. Elsewhere evenings are quiet, and most venues wind down by around midnight. The main areas are Thamel, Jhamsikhel and Durbar Marg and Lazimpat hotels.
Key facts
- Nightlife areas
- 3
- Stay near the action
- Thamel
- Local drink
- Chiya
Where to go out
Thamel
Live-music bars, pubs and rooftop terraces packed with trekkers and young Nepalis, especially on Friday and Saturday.
Jhamsikhel
Wine bars and relaxed restaurant bars favoured by Kathmandu's expat and professional crowd.
Durbar Marg and Lazimpat hotels
Quieter hotel bars and lounges for a cocktail in a calmer setting.
Nightlife tips
- Bars close relatively early, so start the evening by 8pm or 9pm.
- Try local beers and raksi, a distilled spirit, but buy bottled drinks from reputable venues.
- Take a taxi or app ride home late at night rather than walking through dark lanes.
Evening sights
Religious site · Boudha
Boudhanath
Come in the late afternoon, walk the kora clockwise with the pilgrims, then watch the stupa from a rooftop café as butter lamps are lit.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Photo spot
- Couples
- After dark
Religious site · Gaushala
Pashupatinath Temple
Watch cremations quietly from the east bank and never photograph mourners up close; a licensed guide helps explain the rituals.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- After dark
Neighbourhood · Thamel
Thamel
Compare prices across several shops before buying trekking gear, and check stitching and zips carefully.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- After dark
- Food
What to drink
- Chiya — Sweet, milky tea boiled with spices, drunk throughout the day from small glasses at street-side tea shops.
Evenings through the year
Sunset and the overnight low decide how long the outdoor part of a night lasts. June has the warmest evenings, with lows around 19°C (66°F).
| Month | Sunset (15th) | Overnight low | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | About 17:30 | 2°C (36°F) | 1 |
| April | About 18:28 | 11°C (52°F) | 6 |
| July | About 19:02 | 20°C (68°F) | 24 |
| October | About 17:35 | 13°C (55°F) | 4 |
Getting home late
- Walking — Thamel, Asan, Indra Chowk and Kathmandu Durbar Square are linked by a 15–20 minute walk through the old city; Swayambhunath is about 30 minutes on foot from Thamel.
- Taxi — Ask your hotel what a fair fare is for common routes before setting off.
- Ride-hailing — Ride-hailing apps such as Pathao and inDrive offer cars and motorbike taxis at prices set in the app, which avoids bargaining.
- Bus — Crowded microbuses and public buses link the valley's towns cheaply but are hard to navigate without local help; the Sajha Yatayat buses are the most comfortable.
Late-night bites
- Momo — Everywhere, from street stalls in Asan to Tibetan kitchens in Boudha and restaurants in Thamel.
- Bara — Newari snack shops in Patan and Bhaktapur and khaja houses in the old city.
- Laphing — Small stalls and shops in the lanes around Boudhanath.
Staying safe at night
Traffic, broken pavements and air pollution are the main everyday hazards, and dust and smog can be heavy in winter and spring. Petty theft and touting occur in Thamel. Earthquakes are a known risk in the region, so note your hotel's exit routes.
- Emergency number
- Police 100, Tourist Police 1144, ambulance 102
Where to stay for nightlife
$$ · Best for first-timers, budget, solo travellers and nightlife
Thamel
A grid of narrow lanes about 15 minutes' walk north of Kathmandu Durbar Square, Thamel has the city's densest choice of hotels, from hostels to boutique courtyards, plus trekking-gear shops, travel agents, live-music bars and restaurants serving everything from dal bhat to wood-fired pizza. It is convenient and sociable but noisy and very commercial.
- Good
- Every traveller service in one area; Huge range of places to stay and eat; Walk to the old city
- Watch out
- Noisy and crowded; Touts and souvenir sellers; Feels removed from local life
- Nearby
- Garden of Dreams, Asan Tole, Kathmandu Durbar Square, Narayanhiti Palace Museum
Questions travellers ask
+Where is the best nightlife in Kathmandu?
Thamel, Jhamsikhel and Durbar Marg and Lazimpat hotels. Live-music bars, pubs and rooftop terraces packed with trekkers and young Nepalis, especially on Friday and Saturday.
+Which area of Kathmandu is best for nightlife?
Thamel: The traveller quarter of guesthouses, trekking shops, bars and rooftop cafés.