Darn Good Digs Review - Editors' Choice

Ambassador Garden Home, Kathmandu, Nepal
Nominated By: Sherry Ott, New York City, January '10

check availability, get rates, and reserve online at Agoda

Price Range: 33-65 Euros # of Rooms: 18 Kid-Friendly: yes

What makes the Ambassador Garden Home so Darn Good? In the middle of the craziness of Thamel, Kathmandu’s bustling tourist district, sits this gem boutique hotel. What made staying here so unforgettable was the staff who made me feel as if I were a member of the family. The owners called me by my first name and frequently joined me in the garden, assisting with any travel needs I had and introducing me to other guests at the hotel.

Location: Thamel is one of the busiest, noisiest, and most crowded neighborhoods in Kathmandu and the Ambassador Garden Home is located at one of its main intersections. However, the hotel is set back from the road, and once you step onto its grounds, you are amazingly transported to a peaceful oasis. The hotel provides transportation from the airport for ten Euros, as well as complimentary rickshaw rides to nearby tourist sites and old Kathmandu.

Rooms: The entire hotel has been recently renovated, and its eighteen modern rooms are decorated with class. Cultural and family relics can be found throughout the hotel, including the wooden garden doors and an old wooden staircase in the lobby. Surrounded by a classic brick fence, the Nepali garden is one of the hotel’s highlights. Here guests can eat meals or simply relax reading a book with the fountain dribbling in the background.

Food: The Ambassador Garden Home has an on-site restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The dhal bhat plate, Nepal’s most popular dish, was fabulous. Breakfasts were also great, and I personally loved the French press coffee brought to the table!

Vibe: The Ambassador Garden Home feels like a boutique hotel melded with a family hostel. The owner and manager came out at night and ate dinner with guests in the garden; they introduced travelers to each other, creating a wonderful open communal feel.

Keep in Mind: While peaceful, the hotel is still in the heart of Thamel, and the live bands playing next door and throughout the neighborhood can be heard in the evening. Also, the hotel does not have an elevator.

Make an Inquiry/Book a Room at: