The Inn at Patan

The Inn at Patan is one of a new wave of luxury boutique Nepali hotels who have restored old traditional Newari mansions and offer a welcome change from the soulless international chains. It is over a hundred years old, and is located in Patan in the south of Kathmandu and one of its most interesting corners. The owner, Rohit Ranjikar, is luckily also an architect and set about restoring the building keeping all of the charm and character yet installing modern bathrooms and bedrooms that are expected by international travellers. It is set around a central courtyard, and the traditional brick and timber building features many of the traditional wooden carvings and window frames that Kathmandu is known for. On your doorstep is Kathmandu’s less visited side, the local markets and alleyways that are just waiting to be explored on foot.

There are 10 rooms in total all wonderfully designed blending local design with modern touches. It is an old building, so some of the ceilings and especially the doorways are a little low. The restaurant is located down in the courtyard, but the hotel does not have any other facilities other than this. There are just six Deluxe Rooms and four Suites (which we suggest opting for). Some have balconies overlooking the inner courtyard. Expect to find exposed wooden beams and either wooden or tiled flooring. Snug little seating areas are woven into the design, and the fixtures and fittings all reflect local traditions. Don’t expect many of the amenities you find in standard hotels such as minibars, TVs or her dyers! The bathrooms feature black-slate flooring and brass-beaten wash basins which have been produced from nearby artisans. The rooms aren’t air-conditioned (but have fans) or have heating (they provide individual heaters and hot water bottles in the winter). For those who are tall, we suggest Room 10 which is at the top of the hotel and has a nice private terrace. We also love Rooms 1 and 7, both of which with balconies or outdoor space.

The Inn at Patan works because of its simplicity, and there is just one restaurant surrounding the inner courtyard. The food though is absolutely yummy, and do try the chicken thali in the evening or the Masala omelette in the morning.