Born out of both the mountainous terrain of the Himalayas and the country’s diverse religious makeup, Nepal’s drinking culture has evolved into a world-class cocktail scene inspired by the flavors of its bustling street carts and spice markets. 

And world class is now objectively what this budding bar scene is, as this year Nepal joins the ranks of cities like New York, Hong Kong, and London, participating in the World Class Competition – the Olympics of the bartending world – the most prestigious and respected mixology contest across all seven continents. 

It all began with legacy spirits – like tongba, a fermented low-ABV millet tea of sorts; cloudy rice “beer” dubbed chaang; raksi, a culturally significant liquor purified in rustic Himalayan Mountain distilleries; and āyla, a single-distilled Newar beverage indigenous to the Kathmandu Valley – accepted for centuries as an integral part of religious ceremonies and milestone celebrations rather than a taboo pastime.

These traditionally spirit-focused customs have paved the way for Nepal’s recognition as a sophisticated cocktail destination, one that sits at the cross-section of modern mixology methods and locally-sourced Nepalese ingredients. 

Here are six bars shaping Nepal’s nascent cocktail scene:

READ MORE: The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Kathmandu in 2026

Barc 

With a menu full of nods to nostalgic tastes of Nepalese childhood and other local ingredients – like lip-puckering hog plum (lapsi), tangy preserved sour fruits (khattu), and citrusy timur spice – the top-ranked bar in Nepal, Barc, is where first class is second nature. 

Barc also boasts a standout food menu of modern Nepali and pan-Asian bites, collaborations with local artisan brands, plus the newly launched Barc+, the first ever modern Nepalese experiential dining destination. 

This speakeasy is celebrated for its elevated hospitality and elegant setting. Think forest greens, warm lighting, lo-fi beats, and an arched façade, tucked away on the seventh floor of an unassuming office building. 
Bluestar Complex, Kathmandu

Khukri Rum Experience

The iconic Khukri Rum brand, established in 1959 and named after the ancient weapon of Nepalese warriors, is the flagship product of Nepal Distilleries Ltd., the country's first distiller. Revered as Nepal’s national spirit brand, it holds a significant, even cult, status in the market and is a source of national pride. 

The brand continues to mature beyond neat pours of its five rum SKUs with the recently opened Khukri Rum Experience, an immersive tasting room with over 24 rum-based drams. The bar’s design reflects every step of the rum-making process (like an aged barrel lamp and tasting glass-shaped bar seating), ingredients (cardamom, cinnamon sticks, and anise patterned floors) and craftsmanship. 
Milap Road, Lalitpur

The Old House

The Old House, by seasoned bar veterans Minakshi Singh and Yangdup Lama, is an homage to the old-world charm of Newari culture. Through architectural style and a heritage storytelling menu that weaves together the tales of Nepali history and geography, here, sacred meets social. Cocktails are crafted like stories that spotlight regional flavors and contemporary riffs on Nepalese plates like sekuwa (barbecue) and momo (dumplings).

The menu incorporates favorites from the co-founders’ globally-acclaimed bars, like Sidecar (the first Indian bar to ever be recognized on the World’s 50 Best Bars list), Cocktails and Dreams, and The Brook, all to the backdrop of dark wood, handwoven tapestries, and Newari masks. 
Durbar Marg, Kathmandu

Swotha 

The newest bar to open, Swotha – backed by the same founders as Barc – shines light on the long-overlooked āyla, a Newari spirit that plays a significant role in Nepalese rituals and celebrations. With oral recipes passed down for generations, sharing āyla is a gesture of hospitality, served during feasts and religious gatherings. 

Not unlike sake in Japan or mezcal in Mexico, this 40-55% ABV liquor is finding its footing in Nepal’s current cocktail movement, through libations like the Bloody Āyla, a drink mirroring a beloved childhood snack made with fruit leather laced with a zippy, sour-sweet titaura spice. 
Swotha Square, House No. 748, Lalitpur

Bitters & Co

Pouring one out for the cocktail purists, Bitters & Co. sees an extensive roster of meticulously crafted classic cocktails and straightforward signatures. As Kathmandu's pioneering bar, Bitters & Co. brought international attention to the country in 2021, making complex tipples accessible to the Nepalese drinking masses. 

The legendary Old Fashioned arrives tableside in an ornately-decorated box, tendrils of smoke escaping to reveal the booze-forward bevvie below, while an everyday Amaretto Sour is elevated with lemon grown in nearby mountain villages.
Marked by its high ceilings, the focal point is a live tree growing out of the center of the bar, a natural aesthetic that creates a throughline with exposed brickwork and earth tone hues. 
Lazimpat Road, Kathmandu

Blackbird 

Surrounded by kitschy souvenir stalls and dingy dram dens, Blackbird opened in 2021 in Thamel, Kathmandu’s backpacker district that inspired Bangkok’s Khao San Road. At first glance, this dimly lit watering hole seems like another dive bar, but by the first sip, it’s clearly an exception to the neighborhood. 

The menu is peppered with homemade syrups, made from local rhododendron – Nepal’s national flower – or Nepalese chai spice, and other in-house made bitters and tinctures. Each drink is named after the bird it best represents in color, look, or tune. 
Kathmandu 44600 

*An adapted version of this article was originally published here on Travel + Leisure.

READ MORE: The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Kathmandu in 2026