Kathmandu — Where We Ate & Drank

Kathmandu was our staging ground before Everest Base Camp in April, and it deserved more days than we gave it. Pashupatinath and Boudha stupa are overwhelming in the best way; the Thamel bar scene—BlackBird, Bitters & Co.—is scrappier and better than it needs to be; and Local Thakali fed us the dal bhat that powered the trek.

We ate at 8 restaurants, had drinks at 6 bars, and stayed at 6 different hotels across several trips. Always Happy Food Veg-Vegan Restaurant and Sicily By Ts surprised us most; Kathmandu Grill and Lavie Garden became repeat stops.