Top 5 places to stay in Kathmandu, ranked by guest scores

Kathmandu has thousands of places to stay, and most “best hotel” lists are a matter of opinion. This one isn’t. We ranked hotels on one number you can check yourself, the verified guest review score, so the list shows what guests who actually stayed think.

How we ranked them

• Metric: the overall guest score on KAYAK, out of 10. KAYAK only counts reviews from guests with a verified booking.
• Minimum sample: 300 or more reviews, so a handful of glowing reviews can’t lift a hotel up the list.
• Tie-break: when two hotels have the same score, the one with more reviews ranks higher.
• Field: 16 well-known hotels in Kathmandu, from luxury to budget. Resorts outside the city, such as Dhulikhel, were left out.

Scores change as new reviews come in. These figures were checked in October 2026.

1. The Dwarika’s Hotel, Battisputali

Score: 9.6 / 10 from about 430 reviews · Luxury · One MICHELIN Key

Dwarika’s is the clear winner, and the only hotel on the list that experts and guests rate this highly. It grew out of founder Dwarika Das Shrestha’s campaign to save carved Newari windows, doors and pillars from demolished Kathmandu buildings. Those pieces now frame the hotel’s brick courtyards, and its own workshop still restores old woodwork using traditional methods. In 1980 it won the Pacific Asia Travel Association’s Heritage Award, and today it holds One MICHELIN Key.

Best for: a special-occasion stay and Newari heritage. Keep in mind: it is the most expensive hotel on this list. Pashupatinath and Boudha are both a short drive away.

2. Oasis Kathmandu Hotel, Thamel

Score: 9.3 / 10 from about 2,200 reviews · Budget to mid-range

Oasis has the biggest review count of any hotel on the list, which makes its 9.3 the most reliable score here. It is a simple, three-star hotel on Tridevi Sadak, at the quieter edge of Thamel. Guests praise the staff above everything else, along with the location, the cleanliness and the free breakfast.

Best for: value and a central base before or after a trek. Keep in mind: there is no lift, and the breakfast choice is limited.

3. Aryatara Kathmandu Hotel, Thamel

Score: 9.2 / 10 from about 1,200 reviews · Mid-range

Aryatara is a 42-room hotel in central Thamel, with soundproofed rooms, a garden terrace and breakfast included. Guests highlight the friendly staff, the convenient location and the value for money. It edges out Mulberry for third place on review volume.

Best for: first-time visitors who want to be in the middle of Thamel without the noise. Keep in mind: a few reviews mention bathrooms that could be cleaner.

4. Hotel Mulberry, Jyatha, Thamel

Score: 9.2 / 10 from about 550 reviews · Upper mid-range

Mulberry is the most resort-like stay in Thamel. It has a rooftop infinity pool with a bar, the Cocoon Spa with a steam room and sauna, and 67 rooms and suites. Guests rate the pool views and spa treatments highly.

Best for: recovering from a trek with a swim and a massage. Keep in mind: it ties with Aryatara on score but has about half as many reviews, so it ranks fourth.

5. Shambaling Boutique Hotel, Boudha

Score: 9.0 / 10 from about 360 reviews · Boutique

Shambaling is a small, Tibetan-style hotel with about 30 rooms, around ten minutes on foot from Boudhanath Stupa. Guests praise its calm, the staff and its cleanliness, and it suits anyone who wants to walk the kora around the stupa at dawn or dusk.

Best for: a quiet, spiritual base. Keep in mind: it is a taxi ride from Thamel and the old city, and location gets its lowest scores.

The full scoreboard

Rank	Hotel	Area	Score	Reviews
1	The Dwarika’s Hotel	Battisputali	9.6	~430
2	Oasis Kathmandu Hotel	Thamel	9.3	~2,200
3	Aryatara Kathmandu Hotel	Thamel	9.2	~1,200
4	Hotel Mulberry	Thamel	9.2	~550
5	Shambaling Boutique Hotel	Boudha	9.0	~360
6	Kathmandu Marriott Hotel	Naxal	9.0	~340
7	Baber Mahal Vilas	Baber Mahal	8.9	~590
8	Kantipur Temple House	Thamel	8.8	~1,200
9	Hotel Ambassador by ACE	Lazimpat	8.7	~350
10	Hotel Yak & Yeti	Durbar Marg	8.6	~550
11	Fairfield by Marriott	Thamel	8.6	~460
12	Kathmandu Guest House	Thamel	8.2	~1,400
13	Hyatt Regency	Boudha	7.8	~680

Three more hotels didn’t qualify. Gokarna Forest Resort scores 8.2 to 8.5 but has fewer than 300 reviews. We found no KAYAK score for Aloft Kathmandu Thamel or The Soaltee, Autograph Collection.

The Kathmandu Marriott only just misses out. It ties Shambaling at 9.0 with slightly fewer reviews, and other booking sites rate it even higher.

Which one should you book?

• For a once-in-a-trip splurge: The Dwarika’s Hotel.
• For the best value: Oasis Kathmandu Hotel.
• For a pool and spa after a trek: Hotel Mulberry.
• For peace and quiet: Shambaling Boutique Hotel.

Wherever you stay, our guide to the best things to do in Kathmandu will help you plan your days, and the best time to visit Nepal explains when prices and crowds peak. Rates and scores change, so check the latest reviews before you book.