Eating Out in Nepal

In tourist hot spots like Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan you’ll be taken aback at the range of cuisine that’s on offer. Nutty buns, creamy pastries, gooey chocolate cake, cheesy pizzas; Chinese, Italian, Tibetan, Indian, and ‘Continental’, all find their way on to restaurant menus. With a curiously Nepalese twist of course!

Chalked up on dilapidated blackboards across the length and breadth of the country, "dal-bhat-tarkari" will greet you all across Nepal. You could be forgiven for thinking that the watery lentil soup sloshed on to grains of coarse rice, with vegetables on the side is as imaginative as local cuisine got. Think again! Nepal’s food is getting better and better. Old recipes that use delicate herbs have been dusted out and are now showing up as delicious dishes across tables. Mushrooms, chicken, mutton (goat) and fresh water fish are relished and often cooked well in private kitchens. (Do not expect the same at the makeshift stall that passes for a small restaurant.)

There’s plenty of fun to be had in Kathmandu and Pokhara. The nightlife is not hopping though discos, pubs and jazz at cafes in Thamel liven up the scene somewhat. In Kathmandu, casinos are open through 24 hours. Cinemas at the Kathmandu complex screen movies in English. Restaurants show surprisingly current videos of Hollywood fare. Some hotels and the sports complex let you pay-and-play. Catch a game of tennis, put in some laps at the pool, and there are many snooker parlours where you may pot a shot.

Cultural shows are held at several venues every night during the high season. These include folk performances of dance and music and could be a rewarding experience. In Chitwan, the Tharu show in Sauraha is a nightly attraction. They perform a series of high-energy dances with bamboo staffs and a particularly interesting peacock number.

The Nepalese gather nightly for community singing sessions, raksi (the local brew) in hand, song on lips and music in the heart. Strains of folk song spill out on the street and you’ll hear them when you’re walking around late evenings.