💙A Mediterranean Hidden Gem in Kathmandu

Wealthy Nepalis’ Go-To Upscale Spot—It’d Hold Its Own in Shanghai! After wandering through Kathmandu’s momo stalls and curry joints, I’d grown used to the city’s rough-edged, warm charm—until I stepped into that small mall near the national football stadium. Take the elevator to the top floor, climb a carpeted staircase, and push open the door… suddenly, I wondered if I’d stumbled into the Mediterranean: blue-and-white arched windows, rattan chandeliers casting warm light, terrace railings draped in fake olive branches, even a faint whiff of rosemary in the air. This level of elegance? It’d have lines out the door on Shanghai’s Wukang Road. 🌿 Ambience: Double the Romance with Outdoor & Loft Spaces—Day vs. Night Are Two Worlds Tucked on the mall’s top floor, the restaurant splits into three areas: an outdoor terrace with blue-and-white striped cushions (they roll them up when it rains—like our visit, where we watched damp greenery through glass, a “rainy day exclusive” kind of coziness); indoor space with cream walls, wooden tables, and Mediterranean landscape paintings, sunlight slanting through shutters in streaks; best of all, tiny loft booths—reachable via a spiral wooden staircase, with intimate two-person tables, perfect for quiet chats. A local friend noted, “This is where Nepali elites come for dates”—and sure enough, the next table had a suited man and silk-scarved woman, murmuring in Nepali, even their cutlery clinks soft. But the biggest surprise? The light: daytime brightness makes the blue-and-white palette feel like a Santorini snapshot; by night, terrace string lights glow, warm yellow reflecting off glass, shifting into a lazy bistro vibe. No wonder they say “day and night feel like different places”—phone snaps look straight out of a magazine. 🍝 Food: Seafood Pasta Steals the Show—Garlicky Goodness with Fresh Seafood I didn’t expect much from “Mediterranean food in Kathmandu”—but the seafood pasta proved me wrong. Served on a white plate, golden noodles glistened, garlicky aroma mixed with a hint of chili hitting my nose. Two plump shrimp and octopus rings sat on top, their shells dusted with minced garlic. Twirling the pasta with a fork, it clung to the rich sauce—al dente, each strand coated in garlic and a subtle kick. Peeled shrimp had firm, sweet flesh, tasting of the sea; octopus was tender (not rubbery), soaking up the garlic, mingling with pasta for a burst of freshness. Only downside? It took forever—we asked twice before the waiter brought it, smiling and bowing: “Freshly made, seafood needs prep. Sorry!” Other dishes held their own: roasted chicken had crispy skin, juices pooling on the plate, paired with charred veggies (bell peppers, zucchini) with a smoky kick; tiramisu in a glass bowl, evenly dusted with cocoa, layered perfectly, sweet but not cloying. Portions were generous—two people, two mains + one dessert, and we left stuffed. 💰 Price & Service: Mid-Range by Chinese Standards—Polished with a Few Quirks Pricier than Kathmandu’s local spots, but on par with mid-tier Chinese restaurants: ~100 RMB for seafood pasta, ~200 for roasted chicken, ~400 total for two—“a splurge” in Nepal, but worth it for the ambience and flavor. Waiters were ，swapping plates halfway through, asking “Lemon in your water?” before pouring. Near the end, they handed over a survey—“Food taste?” “Service speed?” I waited for free snacks (like in China), but the waiter just smiled and said “Thanks for feedback.” My friend joked: “Nepal hasn’t quite caught up to the ‘free snacks for surveys’ trend yet 😂.” We left as the rain stopped, terrace cushions re-laid, blue-and-white stripes glowing under streetlights. Suddenly, Kathmandu’s charm lies in this contrast: 5-RMB masala chai on the street, and rooftop Mediterranean dinners with city views. Either way, it’s a side of the city you didn’t know existed. If you want a break from local fare in Kathmandu, this is it—any spot that keeps wealthy locals coming back? It’s doing something right. 📍 Location: Top floor of the small mall near the national football stadium (take the elevator to the top, then climb a short staircase) RestaurantRecommendations #StunningViewRestaurants #HiddenGemRestaurants #RomanticRestaurants #MediterraneanRestaurants #KathmanduEats #KathmanduRestaurants #Nepal