Kathmandu Nightlife: Best Bars and Nightclubs (2019)

I was surprised to discover that Kathmandu has one of the best nightlife in South Asia.

The capital of Nepal, with a population of over 2,5M inhabitants, has a rather high number of nightclubs and bars, and a party culture which is much more liberal than in neighboring India.

The below review is a summary of everything I learned from my stay in Kathmandu. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to leave a comment below.

If you are interested in Kathmandu nightlife, you should choose a hotel in the Thamel district.

Thamel is the most popular tourist area in Kathmandu. It used to be the go-to spot for hippies and drug users back in the 70s. Nowadays, it is much more mainstream, attracting backpackers and travelers from all over the world. Most of them stay in cheap guesthouses and mid-range hotels. It is a colorful and exciting area, but it can be quite noisy and busy.

Within Thamel, the intersection between Chaksibari Marg street and Paryatan Marg street is the best location for partying. From there, on foot, you can easily reach dozens of cafés, restaurants, bars, and clubs. If you don't know where to start your night out in Kathmandu, just go there first.

The hotels I recommend near that spot are:

There is also some nightlife in Durbarmarg, a large avenue leading to the Royal Palace with luxury hotels, shops, and restaurants. It is more residential and less touristy. You may be able to find some upscale apartments there on Airbnb (up to US$45 off your first booking using my link).

For long term residents
If you are staying in Kathmandu for a longer period of time, I'd recommend upmarket neighborhoods like Lazimpat or Lalitpur. They are more laid-back yet they still have a bit of nightlife. Again, I recommend Airbnb instead of a hotel in those areas.

Kathmandu Nightlife Tips

The local currency is the Nepalese Rupee (Ns.) with 1$ ≈ Ns. 115.

The average cost of a night out in Kathmandu is around Ns. 5,000 (USD 45). For an entrance fee in a club, you can expect to pay between Ns. 500 and Ns. 2,000. For drinks, Ns. 3,000 should be enough to get you tipsy (around Ns. 300-600 per drink).

Typically, a foreign beer like Carlsberg or Tuborg costs around Ns. 400-500 whereas local beers like Gorkha, Nepal Ice, Everest, and Arna Beer are available for around Ns. 350-450.

Khukuri Rum, an authentic Nepali rum, is quite popular and cheap. A 750 ML bottle costs Ns. 2,000 in pubs.

Transport is inexpensive as you can go to most bars and clubs on foot (if you stay in Thamel).

It is generally relaxed, but all the higher-end clubs will require you to wear closed shoes and pants. Clubs and bars are rarely well-heated so you will probably need to wear a jacket during winter, even when inside.

May to September is the busiest season for partying as this is when the weather is the warmest. The nightlife is also interesting just after Divali, usually in late October or early November.

Clubs are officially required to close at 12 PM, but the rule is not really enforced and you can actually party until morning in many venues. Friday and Saturday are the best busiest nights.

Kathmandu used to be considered as a heaven for marijuana lovers up until 1973. Before this date, it was legal to smoke weed or hashish, and hippies would flock from all over the world to enjoy this freedom. World-class marijuana was cultivated in Nepal, especially near the town of Pokhara.

Nowadays, the laws have become much more strict and prohibitive, yet you can still obtain marijuana easily. Street dealers sell it quite aggressively to tourists in Thamel but, unfortunately, it might not be the best stuff. As elsewhere, your best bet is to find it through a local friend.

Prostitution:
Prostitution, in spite of being illegal, is widely practiced in the Thamel area. If you just walk around, you will see some guys distributing massage parlors flyers or offering to hook you up with girls. There is also some online prostitution, especially on apps like Tinder, Badoo, or on the sugar baby website SeekingArrangement (high-class companions).

Meeting other travelers and expats:
I recommend checking the Facebook group Kathmandu Hang Out. You will find information about the latest parties and meetups with foreigners living in the city.

This is currently the poshest nightclub in Kathmandu, attracting mostly rich locals and a few foreigners. Great lighting (hydraulic chandelier going up and down, lasers, LCD panels) and a sound system of international standards. The venue is quite large (1,000 pax capacity), with a square bar in the center surrounded by elevated VIP areas. A rock band plays until 23.30, followed by a DJ (mostly EDM). A few famous international artists have played there (Asap Tyy, Quintino, etc). The entrance fee is high at Ns. 2,500 (USD 20) and a beer will cost a whopping Ns. 800-1,000 (USD 7-9).

The same group also owns and operates Karma and Reload. Both attract a hip crowd of locals and foreigners.

Reload

A similar club is Deja Vu but it is currently closed for renovation.

Senate Club
An eclectic venue with various events each day of the week, from techno nights to live Nepali rock. Cheaper than Lord of the Drinks (and also less pretentious), it is a good place to party with locals or travelers without breaking the bank. Central location on Thamel.

There are several clubs that are quite similar to Senate in terms of crowd, price, and music: Turtle Club, Playboy, Fire Club, or Fahrenheit.

Playboy Club

Probably the best rock bar in Kathmandu. They have local (or international/Indian) bands daily until 12 PM. Music can be soft rock, pop, metal, etc depending on who's playing. They play mostly covers of famous songs. Popular with tourists and older locals. The entrance fee is Ns. 500 during weekends with one free drink.

Other good live music bars (with different music): Reggae Bar and Jazz Upstairs.