Going out · Thamel, Durbarmarg, Jhamsikhel

Go out after dark

Club nights and DJ sets in Thamel and Durbarmarg, and cocktail bars and rooftops in Jhamsikhel. Friday is the big night out.

Best time

Friday and Saturday nights, getting going after 10.

How long

An evening, from dinner to the last song.

Getting there

Thamel and Durbarmarg are next to each other; Jhamsikhel is a short taxi south.

Three areas, three moods

Thamel is the loudest: rooftop bars, live bands, clubs and late-night food stalls, with travellers and locals mixed together. Durbarmarg, a few minutes away, has the smarter lounges and clubs where Kathmandu dresses up on a Friday.

Jhamsikhel, in Lalitpur, is calmer: wine bars, cocktail places and restaurants with gardens, where people go for a long dinner that turns into a late drink.

DJ nights and club events

The club scene runs on events: guest DJs, themed nights, techno parties and the occasional big weekend with a name from abroad. They are announced on social media during the week, and the listings below show what is on this weekend.

How a night out usually runs

Most nights start with dinner around 8, then drinks on a rooftop or in a bar with a band, then a club if the night calls for it. Kathmandu winds down earlier than most capitals, so the busiest hours are earlier than you might expect.

On big nights, such as a guest DJ or a festival weekend, clubs sell tickets in advance, and the listings below show those with their ticket links.

Tips

Carry ID; some clubs check it at the door.
Ask about entry before you go in, as some nights charge at the door and others do not.
Kathmandu winds down earlier than most capitals. Start earlier than you would at home.
Agree on the taxi fare before you get in late at night.
Eat before you go out; late-night food is easiest to find in Thamel.