Three cafés we recommend for hot and cold sips in the Himalayas
Legend says that Nepal’s coffee history is tied to a hermit in the mid-20th century, who first planted seeds brought from Myanmar. Although commercial plantations only began in the 1980s, third-wave roasters and barista schools are now cropping up in the Himalayan country’s vibrant capital Kathmandu.
Here, three shops in the city are proudly embracing locally produced coffee from Arabica plants grown across Nepal’s high-altitude regions and lush valleys, pairing them with soul food and Kathmandu’s timeless, laidback vibe.
kar.ma Coffee
What began as a pour-over stand on a staircase by Austrian Birgit Lienhart-Gyawali has now grown into one of Kathmandu’s planet-forward coffee franchises with two outlets across the city. Their venue in Lalitpur – a historic neighbourhood lined with UNESCO-listed medieval, red-brick palaces and temples – is particularly charming with bright, earthy interiors blanketed in greenery. But what makes kar.ma stand out is, of course, their coffee; the café serves single origin Arabica produced by independent farmer families from several villages, like the small hamlet Kalika near Nepal’s second largest city Pokhara.
Recently, kar.ma has grown in popularity for their moka pot double espressos with a drizzle of homemade spices, speciality coffee-tasting sessions and artisanal products like coffee-infused wild honey, handcrafted chocolates and herbal tea blends. They are always looking at ways to minimise coffee waste too, with methods like turning pulp into eco napkins or notebooks. Gyanmandala, Lalitpur; karmacoffee.com.np
Mira’s Coffee
Tucked away in a small alley just a few steps away from the city’s main tourist hub Thamel, this unassuming coffee shop offers some of Kathmandu’s best coffee. It’s homely, and barista-owner Raju Shrestha serves a range of cold brews, V60 and fuller-bodied French press brews, and has managed to capture the attention of both tourists and locals with his perfected latte art.
“I was always very interested in coffee, so when I started the café, all I wanted to do was to serve the best coffee I could. It makes me really happy when my coffee makes people happy,” says Shrestha as he pours frothed milk to foam an Easter bunny latte art.
With a cosy book corner, home-baked cinnamon rolls, cookie jars and a small but impressive list of non-coffee drinks – like the café’s masala tea and mint lemonades – Mira’s is just a really good spot to enjoy a slice of Kathmandu’s everyday life. Kaldhara-16; instagram.com/mirascoffeenp
Ananda Tree House
Everything at Ananda – meaning “bliss” in Sanskrit – holds true to its name. Located near the iconic Boudhanath Stupa with terracotta-tiled floors and sun-dappled houseplants that merge seamlessly with fluttering Tibetan Buddhist prayer flags, this organic café is a nod to Kathmandu’s spiritual heart.
Artist Pasang Dhondup and his staff from Dolpo, a remote, high-altitude Himalayan region of northwestern Nepal, serve gluten-free buckwheat pancakes, Tibetan-style handmade thenthuk noodles and matcha cakes to pair with excellent organic hand-drip coffee.
Guests can also choose from a list of herbal teas picked from the high mountain regions, such as their hand-picked wildflower tea from Dolpo and organic blends from across the world. It’s the perfect retreat for everyone; there are reading nooks, food cooked with love and a small corner boutique stocked with handmade soaps, notebooks and ceramics. Opposite Mangaldvip Boarding School, Phulbari-Ramhiti, Boudha Road 6; instagram.com/anandatreehouse
