What’s the best thing about long weekends? You can plan great short trips!
Early this month I randomly planned a short trip to Nepal with a friend, which turned out to be one of the best trips ever. Just like during Durga Puja, the atmosphere was festive and we absolutely enjoyed all the festivities.
Besides temple visits, beautiful sunrises and sunsets over the Himalayas, the mountains and the greenery, we indulged in an unreasonable amount of delicious masala tea, momo, kathakali thali, etc. But the last evening in Kathmandu turned out to be one of the best . gastronomic experiences of my life.
It started with the famous ‘Roadhouse Café’ and we chose the one in Boudha. Twenty minutes away from Thamel, this particular branch overlooks the Boudha Stupa. As a friend suggested, we arrived just before sunset, got a cozy corner on the terrace and had a spectacular view. We ordered some nachos, pizza and apple pie. I was shocked to see how good the food was. It was fresh, flavorful and perfectly portioned.
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But my favorite item from the lot would have to be the pizza. They have an excellent crust and great toppings and are baked perfectly in a brick oven. The four-cheese pizza is highly recommended by everyone. The music was excellent, and even though it was busy on a holiday, the service was fast. As we watched the sun set behind the stupa while enjoying our food and drinks, we wished the evening would never end.
From there we headed back to Thamel and stopped at ‘Himalayan Java’ for coffee. Himalayan Java has been a very popular Nepalese coffee chain since 1999 and serves the tastiest coffee that can undoubtedly be called world-class. Besides coffee, this place offers great food, desserts and atmosphere. Be sure to visit Himalayan Java. If you are in Nepal this is a must visit for the best coffee.
After strolling through Thamel, souvenir shopping and working up an appetite, the next stop was ‘Mazaaj’: a beautiful Mediterranean food and sheesha lounge. It was one of the most beautiful restaurants I had ever been to. The hospitality and service were first class, with the staff helping us choose the best dishes and drinks and being very patient with our questions.
The live music was great and the view from the 5th floor was a bonus. We had hummus, salad, grilled chicken and kosher, and all dishes were immediately 10/10. In fact, everything served looked great.
The sheesha was tasty and had a variety of options. The servers went out of their way to make us feel comfortable and special. This restaurant has to be one of the best in Kathmandu.
Make sure you visit these places next time you are in Kathmandu, and I promise you won’t regret it.