Let’s Talk About Nepal’s Prices 🥹

Wandering Thamel till my feet ached, I was drawn to a glass door draped with greenery—pushing it open, jazz music mingled with coffee aroma, ivy crawled up white walls, clay vases sat on wooden tables, and sunlight through blinds cast striped spots on the floor. This café, which looks like it belongs in Seoul’s Hongdae, is tucked in Kathmandu’s busiest alley. But what really shocked me? The menu prices: a cappuccino for just ¥9, cheaper than a convenience store Americano back home. ☕️ From decor to service, every detail screams “comfort” The interior is “Instagram-ready” at first glance: soft gray sofas that swallow you just right, hand-drawn Nepali art on walls (depicting Pokhara’s snow-capped mountains), light jazz playing at a volume that muffles keyboard clatter without drowning out chat. The waiter, a Nepali guy with a small braid, bends slightly to say “take your time” when handing over menus, and even brings a free (plate) of local honey cookies after ordering. I sat with my laptop all afternoon; when he refilled my water and saw me drafting, he whispered, “There are outlets under the table if you need to charge”—this unobtrusive thoughtfulness is way nicer than the “overly attentive” service at many Chinese cafés. 🥑 ¥20 brunch that fills you up—affordability that puts China to shame Used to “a coffee + a sandwich = ¥50+” back home, this menu feels like a “charity operation”: Mushroom shakshuka toast (p1) is my go-to! Crispy whole-grain toast piled high with shakshuka—runny egg yolks coating tender stewed mushrooms, sprinkled with parsley and black pepper. Scoop a bite, spread it on toast, and the egg’s richness mixes with mushroom umami. At ¥20, it’s enough to fill one person to the brim. Avocado smoothie bowl (p2) nails both looks and taste: pale green avocado smoothie stacked like a small mountain, topped with blueberries, banana slices, pumpkin seeds, and a drizzle of local honey. The smoothie is silky with no chunks, avocado’s freshness blending with fruit sweetness—¥26, which would get you half a bowl back home. Even the coffee is “generous”: cappuccinos have thick foam that can hold a spoon, with freshly ground cinnamon sprinkled on top. The last sip still carries coffee bean’s lingering sweetness. ¥9 of joy made me order two. 🌍 A “secret base” for digital nomads—working here feels like “vacation” By 3 PM, the café fills up: two foreign girls with laptops by the window (chatting about remote design work), a couple sharing a smoothie bowl on the sofa, a guy at the bar writing travel notes—turns out this is a hub for Kathmandu’s digital nomads. Typing away, sunlight leaked through blinds, casting wiggly spots on my keyboard. Jazz played softly, coffee and toast aromas hung in the air. Suddenly, I got why people say “stay in Nepal long enough, and you won’t want to leave”—this “affordable relaxation” is way too addictive. 🍜 ¥35 Korean food counts as “expensive”? It’s so popular you might wait in line Later, I tried a Korean restaurant in the next alley: army stew + stone pot bibimbap for ¥35. My friend said, “That’s pricey for Kathmandu.” It turns out prices here are “layered”: local momo joints sell ¥5 meals, but “Instagram-worthy” Korean spots, with downtown locations and imported ingredients (like cheese), hit ¥35—a “luxury” here, but still half the price of similar spots in China. Sitting in the café watching sunset through the window, I suddenly felt reluctant to return home. After all, back in China, finding a café that’s “cute, has good coffee, is cheap, and great for working” is like “unboxing a mystery”—here, that joy is right at your fingertips. Leaving, the braided waiter smiled, “Come back soon.” Patting my full stomach, I thought: Next time I’m in Kathmandu, first stop—this café, shakshuka in hand, sitting for hours. #MyCoffeeDiary #NepalTravel #NepalPrices #NepalCaféHop #KathmanduFood #KathmanduLife #NepalLife #DigitalNomad #CoffeeRecommendations