Review: The Dwarika’s Hotel Kathmandu

The Dwarika’s Hotel, a five-star property, is widely regarded as the best hotel in Kathmandu and one of the first tourist hotels in Nepal. I was happy to review it and enjoyed a pleasant stay, though I question whether it was worth the splurge.

The Dwarika’s Hotel Kathmandu Review

Nightly rates can run from $300-500/night for a base room…I paid $383 for one night, which makes it one of the priciest hotels in the city. Rates fluctuate depending on the season. You can save money by booking via a Virtuoso agent, which will include daily breakfast, late checkout, and a room upgrade, subject to availability.

Location

Kathmandu is a bustling, dusty, dirty city…charming in its own way, but not for the faint-hearted. However, The Dwarika’s is like a mirage in the desert, a tranquil refuge amongst the chaos outside.

The hotel was the brainchild of a man named Dwarika Das Shrestha who saw–very early on–the influx of tourism encapsulated in the famous Bob Seger song:

As he saw Kathmandu rapidly changing and the destruction of old buildings, Dwarika set out not just to create a tourist hotel, but preserve the Kathmandu Valley’s heritage and showcase the architecture of the Newari civilization.

Having only opened in 1977, it is not a classic hotel per se, but it is the grande dame of the city and offers a look at the prototypical architecture of Kathmandu prior to the modern age.

King Charles even paid this hotel a visit in 1998, inaugurating water spouts (as one does, as Prince or King…):

The lobby area was spacious and comfortable. With indoor and outdoor seating.

Guest Room

Each floor had wide hallways and lage common areas:

My guest room was quaint and very spacious, with natural light from a terrace overlooking the courtyard. It included a desk, table with chairs, spacious bench under the window, and queen-size bed.

Well-stocked minibar and water kettle with tea and instant coffee:

The batroom had two sinks, a shower, toilet, and a sunken bathtub.

Again, I liked how spacious the room was and it was a unique room too with nice stonework and woodwork that was something different than even the other luxury hotels in Kathmandu.

I appreciated also that this hotel not only did a turndown service in the evening, but left a nice tray of chocolate truffles on my desk.

Food + Drink

The hotel offered several restaurants, including one open 24/7, plus around-the-clock room service.

Krishnarpan Restaraunt

The hotel’s signature restaurant with Nepalese cuisine sourced from the Dwarika’s own organic farms. Open 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm. My friend was not in the mood to try Nepalese food, so we did not try this place.

Toran

The hotel’s international restaurant with flavors from around the world, including afternoon high tea. You can sit on the terrace or eat indoors. It is open 24/7 for hotel guests.

Breakfast is also served here. The buffet-style breakfast included omelets cooked to order and barista-made coffee.

Mako’s Japanese Restaruant

Open from, 11:30 am to 10:00 pm, Mako’s offers authentic Japanese food prepared by Mako San.

Fusion Bar

In the former home of the hotel founder, a bar includes a wide selection of adult beverages.

I enjoyed a gin basil smash on the terrace, a refreshing drink on a warm afternoon.

Room Service

24/7 room service is available. After a long day, my friend and I elected to eat in the room instead of going downstairs and sitting in a restaurant. I ordered mushroom soup and lamb shank, both excellent, while my friend had a caprese sandwich.

Pool

An outdoor pool is located in the hotel courtyard.

talk about a daybed…

semi-outdoor lounge overlooking the pool

Locker rooms:

Fitness Center

I was disappointed by the fitness center, which featured older equipment and a limited selection of strength training machines.

There was also a yoga pavilion (essentially just a studio with plenty of space to stretch…).

Spa

A spa offers a full-range of massage and beauty treaments, but I was dissapointed there was no sauna or steam room, which are an important part of my daily routine at home and not something I care to sacrafice when I travel.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, The Dwarika’s is a superb hotel in Kathmandu and offers a taste of the past with most amenities you would expect in a five-star property. Staff were wonderful, the room was clean, and the food was excellent. But even though you don’t come to Kathmandu, necessarily, to exercise in a gym or sit in a suana, I thought the Hyatt Regency across town offered a better experience in that regard and for that reason alone (but price too), certainly unique to my own tastes, I would return there before returning here.