Vegan friendly hotels in Nepal /

Home to eight of the highest mountains in the world, with a rich and ancient culture, the landlocked nation of Nepal is a country that is easy to fall in love with. The people, the delicious vegan cuisine, the beautiful backdrop of the Himalayas; Nepal is a destination like no other.

Kathmandu, Nepal’s vibrant capital, and Pokhara, the country’s most popular tourist destination and base for those heading to the iconic Annapurna Circuit, have some solid luxury hotel choices for visitors. Our three favorite luxury hotels for these locations all served creative, exciting, and nutritionally balanced plant-based foods. Dining in Nepal is not just about dal bhat (a delicious regional dish consisting of rice, lentils and vegetarian curries) or momos (the ubiquitous dumplings that are widely available). There is an abundance of other excellent vegan and plant-based foods to be found, although it’s only fair to say that we also ate dal bhat and momos almost every day of our trip. Why shouldn’t we when they are so tasty?

Hyatt Regency Kathmandu

The Hyatt Regency Kathmandu is a convenient choice due to its proximity to the airport, an important consideration in a city with so much traffic, but it’s also perfect for exploring the surrounding district with the impressive Boudhanath Stupa. It boasts an impressive amount of outdoor green space, which we loved, with manicured gardens, mature trees, a huge swimming pool and even a jogging track, all within the extensive hotel grounds. In such a densely populated capital, this sense of space and nature was very welcome and made Hyatt Regency Kathmandu the perfect base for our time in Kathmandu.

The vegan food at Hyatt Regency Kathmandu was delicious and varied. Not all of the F&B stores were open, but we were lucky enough to enjoy some ‘off menu’ items during our stay that will hopefully be on the menu in the future. The breakfast buffet was extensive as you would expect from a five star hotel and with not much effort we were able to find plenty of vegan options. Freshly prepared dosas, steamed idli and some curries were vegan, while there was plenty of tropical fruit, salad, bread and homemade jams. Upon request, they arranged soya milk for us and also kindly prepared tofu scramble on toast, with smashed avocado and roasted carrots. We also enjoyed the Hyatt Regency Kathmandu’s take on pani puri; a true regional street food classic but elevated to five-star status. Other highlights included a mezze platter that took us on a culinary journey straight to the Middle East. Both dishes were wonderfully presented and packed with flavour.

The Soaltee Kathmandu

The impressive driveway at The Soaltee Kathmandu is overshadowed by the even more impressive entrance. The grand foyer leads to a spacious lobby where white marble and floral arrangements create a sense of calm and welcome. Friendly and professional staff enhanced that welcome for us and before we knew it we were in our well appointed ‘Classic Heritage Room’. When we found time between exploring Kathmandu, sleeping in our divinely comfortable bed and eating all the tasty plant-based food, we made use of the outdoor pool and ‘Tranquility Spa’ which offered a range of excellent facilities.

We could happily eat idli for breakfast every day, especially as the idli at The Soaltee were perfectly steamed and served with a tasty sambar and 3 delicious chutneys. The trio of chutneys we got with our pea and potato cakes as part of a specially made vegan lunch was excellent, as was everything Chef Vinay Singh prepared for us that day. The vegan momos at The Soaltee were particularly good and definitely deserve a special mention.

Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge

Spending time at Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge is a perfect way to end a Nepali adventure. The charming and luxurious lodges combined with a warm welcome and generous hospitality from the staff make this an unforgettable choice when visiting Nepal. The unique lodges, mesmerizing views and delicious vegan food made our stay truly remarkable. The view over the verdant valley below was captivating, as was that of the majestic mountains in the distance, which often seemed as if we could touch them. It was simply breathtaking. At any time of the day, from any vantage point, those views were constantly changing, providing endless entertainment and opportunities for daydreaming. This real feeling of being one with our natural environment is something we will never forget.

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Guests are invited to enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner during their stay at Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge, but there is no menu. Instead, talented chef Lalu and his team use their skills, imagination and local ingredients to create delicious plant-based Nepalese dishes. A quick chat at check-in to discuss any dietary requirements or requests, and you can relax in the safe knowledge that every time you sit in the dining room, the food will be of the highest quality. Whether it was a breakfast of grilled tomatoes and pan-fried mushrooms on toast, a pickled curry served with puris, or a light and nourishing lunch of a trio of salads; we were extremely satisfied with everything we tried during our stay at Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge.

Nepal is a country that you want to return to as soon as possible once you leave. We were truly blown away by the hospitality and warm welcome we received from the people we met. In addition, not only was the vegan food at this trio of vegan luxury hotels in Nepal excellent, but we found many more vegan friendly cafes, eateries and restaurants throughout our trip. Thank you Nepal, we hope to see you again soon!

Paul Eyers is founder of Vegan Food Quest. Vegan Food Quest have become luxury vegan travel specialists as they continue to find, eat and write about the best vegan food in the world.

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