For stylish design and sheer romance, this outstanding hotel is unbeatable; if you’re on your honeymoon, look no further. Over 40 years the owners have rescued thousands of woodcarvings from around the valley and incorporated them into the hotel design. The end result is a beautiful hybrid – a cross between a museum and a boutique hotel, with a lush, pampering ambience.
The hotel consists of clusters of traditional Newari buildings separated by brick-paved courtyards. All rooms are unique and some have sensuous open-plan black-slate bathrooms. Highlights include a lovely library lounge, back pool, a spa where they make their own inhouse soaps, a good Japanese restaurant and a bar in the hotel's original building. The location on a busy street east of town, a short walk southwest of Pashupatinath, is a horror, but finding a taxi is never a problem. Book well in advance.