No expense has been spared on this superb palace-style building, from the dramatic entrance of Newari water pools to the modern Malla-style architecture. It’s worth popping in just to admire the gorgeous Patan-style chaitya in the foyer. As you’d expect, the spacious rooms are furnished tastefully, with huge bathrooms, and you can pay an extra US$20 for views over nearby Bodhnath stupa.
The large swimming pool, good restaurants and Sunday brunch make this the perfect spot for a splurge: after a tough day’s sightseeing unwind with a shirodhara ayurvedic treatment at the spa. Extra touches like a 24-hour gym and good room security make this the best hotel in Kathmandu. The Hyatt is a couple of kilometres outside Kathmandu, on the road to Bodhnath. The club rooms can be great value for couples; for US$55 extra you can often get breakfast for two, airport transfers, cocktails and wi-fi.