Hotel Yak & Yeti

The Yak & Yeti is one of Kathmandu's most recognisable hotels, built around the Lal Durbar — a 19th-century Rana palace wing whose ornate hall is still used for events. It's the kind of address that comes up whenever travellers ask where the city's diplomats and visiting delegations stay.

Who it suits

Choose the Yak & Yeti if you want full five-star service in a central location and don't mind paying for it. It suits business travellers, families who want a pool and a garden to decompress in, and anyone who likes a little history with their comfort. The property pairs a heated outdoor pool, a fitness centre, several restaurants and one of the city's best-known hotel gardens with a casino, so it works as well for a day spent not leaving the grounds as it does for sightseeing. If you're weighing it against other options, our roundup of the best hotels in Kathmandu puts it in context, and the heritage-focused Hotel Shanker makes an obvious comparison.

Where it sits

The hotel is on Durbar Marg, the wide, tree-lined avenue that runs south from the old royal palace and is generally regarded as central Kathmandu's smartest address. The street itself is lined with airline offices, showrooms, jewellers and some of the city's better-known restaurants and cafes, so you can eat and shop without getting in a taxi. It's a calmer, more orderly stretch than the tangle of Thamel a few minutes' walk to the west — handy if you want Thamel's energy on tap but somewhere quieter to sleep.

What's nearby

Because Durbar Marg is so central, a lot sits within reach on foot. The Garden of Dreams, a restored neoclassical garden, is a short stroll toward the Thamel end, and the Narayanhiti Palace Museum — the former royal residence — anchors the top of the avenue. Kathmandu Durbar Square and the shops, trekking outfitters and cafes of Thamel are all an easy walk or a very short ride away, which makes the hotel a practical base for a first-timer trying to cover the old city in a day or two. Most visitors arrive from the international airport a short drive east, and the hotel is well used to arranging transfers if you'd rather not sort a taxi yourself.

Good to know

• The rooms split broadly between the contemporary Newa Wing and the heritage-styled rooms nearer the Durbar, so it's worth deciding which mood you're after before you book.
• If you're working remotely during your stay, several coworking spaces in Kathmandu are within a short taxi ride.
• Sort out connectivity on arrival — see our guide to getting a SIM card in Kathmandu.