Boutique hotels seem to be all the rage in Kathmandu, with many of them sprouting up in the capital city within a relatively short time. The tourist hotspot of Thamel has been shunned by most new entrants who have opened new outlets in more residential areas to provide a “boutique” experience to their clients. So what exactly makes a hotel ‘boutique’? The term is believed to have been coined by American hotelier Steve Rubell in 1984 as he was comparing the Morgans Hotel, the first hotel he co-owned, to a boutique. Since then boutique hotels have sprung up around the world, each advertising their unique features. Petite, classy, personalized and expen­sive (mostly) are some adjectives that define a boutique hotel, even though there are no hard and fast definitions.

 

We feature a few hotels being marketed as boutique and let our readers decide if they want to try the ‘boutique’ experience.

 

 

Royal Empire Boutique Hotel

 

 

The Royal Empire Bou­tique Hotel in Baluwatar is getting much attention these days, largely for its hospital­ity and top-notch service. A historic building that has been restored, Royal Empire advertises itself on its Face­book page as “a luxury hotel that blends royal her­itage and modern comfort”. Reading customer reviews, this certainly seems true.

 

“Our hotel is a renovated Juddha Sumsher palace dat­ing back 200 years,” says Rohit Shrestha, the General Manager. “And we’ve intro­duced some of the most lux­urious modern amenities to this vintage building.” The Royal Empire has tru­ly humongous rooms, each between 400 and 1500 sq. ft, which is almost the size of most apartments. Along with emperor-sized rooms and royal décor, the hotel also has spa facilities, a multi-cuisine restaurant, an event hall and other modern amenities.

 

Rates: $100-$350 per night

 

(There’s a promotional offer with around 30 percent dis­count for limited time)

 

 

Hotel Heranya

 

 

Located at Tej Bhawan, Uttar Dhoka, Hotel Heran­ya is a two-storey palatial building that has been taste­fully redone for the com­fort of well-heeled travelers. Its 17 rooms are beautiful­ly designed, reflecting the Newar Vajrayan, or Bud­dhist architecture of the Valley. The premises have a long history of attracting international agencies like the WHO and UNICEF in the 1980s and WECS and the Peace Corps in the 1990s.

 

Heranya is a family-run hotel, which defines itself as an ecological enterprise. Solar-powered water heat­ers, rain-water harvesting, organic vegetables and fruits, exotic garden, all add­ed with a touch of unique and personalized service, is what Heranya is all about.

 

The hotel has deluxe rooms as well as studios apartments for long-term guests with a Kitchenette and added living space.

 

“We have tried our best to preserve the historic build­ing and added a modern touch to it in terms of facili­ties and services,” says Ravi Manandhar, the manager.

 

Rates: $45-65 per night

 

 

Royal Penguin Boutique Hotel

 

 

 

The Royal Penguin Bou­tique Hotel & Spa, situat­ed on the quieter side of Thamel, is one of the first boutique hotels in Nepal, and is completely based on modern themes. The contemporarily designed building has 20 cozy rooms, an exquisitely designed restaurant and bar, and a full-fledged spa. The hotel is unique in terms of its design as well as its services—pro­viding customized services to its clients who can choose from its “Crazy menu”. They can even order dumbbells and soft toys into their room and book business trips to Hong Kong or South Korea.

 

Décor at the Royal Pen­guin is an exotic fusion of art and architecture. Outlandish teak root fur­niture is complemented by multi-genre paintings and installation arts in the rooms, lobby and restau­rant. The center of attrac­tion in the décor is a stump of a petrified wood import­ed from Madagascar dating back to the pre-historic time, all of 230 million years ago.

 

Rates: $50-$90 per night

 

 

Maya Manor Boutique Hotel

 

 

The Maya Manor Boutique Hotel is owned and operated by the KGH Hotels group, which is one of the most reputed enterprises in the Nepali hospitality industry for over 50 years. A histor­ic mansion turned into a hotel, the quaint building that hosts Maya Manor in Durbarmarg was built in 1935, in what was the hey­day of Rana aristocracy. The building was resurrected after the 2015 earthquake and now is home to the Maya Manor Boutique Hotel.

 

“We have turned a heri­tage site into a hotel to give a boutique experience to our guests,” says Niraj Bajra­charya, manager at Maya Manor. “This hotel in under the KGH brand so there is no compromising on quality.” Maya Manor overlooks the Narayanhiti Museum and most parts of Durbarmarg and Naxal. The characteris­tic building stands out amid concrete structures in the area and provides a refuge in antiquity to its select cli­ents. Historic artifacts and architecture adorn the hotel premises that also has a lush garden for its guests to spend some quiet time.

 

Rates: $100-$120 per night