I travel over 100,000 international miles a year, and I stay at the best hotels I can whenever I can, usually Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons and Relais & Chateaux. Having said that, in my opinion, when you add up all the components that make a great hotel, Dwarika's is one of the finest hotels in the world.
Rooms:
Stunning, huge rooms, incredible design and comfort, everything just where you want it. Big comfy beds, beautiful lighting, steaming full force showers, fluffy towels exactly where they need to be.. couches, day beds, desks.. a true home away from home, where you can spend time working in your room and simply enjoy the warm luxury.
Design:
The design in absolutely every corner of this entire property is nothing short of extraordinary with an incredible eye for the tiniest detail (whomever designed this hotel, both architecturally and interiors, is a true gifted person/s). Restaurant design is right on point, creating different experiences at each restaurant, without becoming over thematic or kitsch - the colors, objet d'art placed just so, the lighting, tabletop including plateware is just jaw dropping at times. (p.s. I'm a restaurant designer and I'm in awe of the public areas). Eye candy at every turn as you walk from your suite to the elevator, or simply wake up in the morning and brew a cup of loose leaf tea from the selection of five teas in your room.
Food
I...I travel over 100,000 international miles a year, and I stay at the best hotels I can whenever I can, usually Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons and Relais & Chateaux. Having said that, in my opinion, when you add up all the components that make a great hotel, Dwarika's is one of the finest hotels in the world.
Rooms:
Stunning, huge rooms, incredible design and comfort, everything just where you want it. Big comfy beds, beautiful lighting, steaming full force showers, fluffy towels exactly where they need to be.. couches, day beds, desks.. a true home away from home, where you can spend time working in your room and simply enjoy the warm luxury.
Design:
The design in absolutely every corner of this entire property is nothing short of extraordinary with an incredible eye for the tiniest detail (whomever designed this hotel, both architecturally and interiors, is a true gifted person/s). Restaurant design is right on point, creating different experiences at each restaurant, without becoming over thematic or kitsch - the colors, objet d'art placed just so, the lighting, tabletop including plateware is just jaw dropping at times. (p.s. I'm a restaurant designer and I'm in awe of the public areas). Eye candy at every turn as you walk from your suite to the elevator, or simply wake up in the morning and brew a cup of loose leaf tea from the selection of five teas in your room.
Food
I normally skip hotel restaurants, but when I do get lured in sometimes its always an incredible disappointment - but not a Dwariki's, food is excellent in every restaurant, true to concept and not a lazy step in cuisine anywhere - not an easy task. Congrats! The Krishnarpan restaurant is a true gem worthy of 4-5 stars anywhere in the world.
Wine and Liquor
Tight wine list to please all palates without overblowing the lists, ample liquor cabinets. nothing like a brandy around the fire in the cozy bar after dinner when its 5C outside.
Facilties:
After three days in the jungle working and staying with local farmers, I arrived at Dwariki's as a staging point to perhaps catch up on some sights I'd missed previously, and take as tries of meetings - but, for the three days I was there, I did not leave the property. I moved my meetings from local offices to the Library at Dwariki's, I wrote documents in the courtyard, lunching in different spots, service at my fingertips, even when I didn't know I needed it. I walked the property several times to just clear my head and there were surprises in every corner. I don't know if there was a fitness center as I did not seek it out after three days of heavy exercise in the jungle, but if there was, it would have been first class. Tables and couches are spread all around the property - find your favorite spot and zone out.
Staff:
I don't know.. the greatest staff of any hotel I've stayed at? Maybe. Definitely the best, most respectful and warm service all around the property. A quick example, after a particularly rough long 4WD drive back into town I had a back muscle spasm the day after arriving at Dwariki's . I called the front desk to get access to a doctor for some heavy duty muscle relaxants, which ended up being only a 45min wait at 5:30pm on a Thursday in Kathmandu! Within 10mins of my call though, two hot water bottles arrived at my room, the girl who brought them commented she'd heard my back was sore and she took in our her own initiative to do what she could to help before the doc arrived. Then, for the rest of my stay, the staff were so incredibly helpful and thoughtful ensuring that I was improving and offering their aid whenever they could - way more than a person could ever expect.
I could go on and on about the service and gracefulness of the staff, as there were so many instances during my stay that added up to make me feel so incredibly welcome and relaxed while on property.
Location:
Only drawback - 15min-20mins to Thamel in a taxi ($5-$6) depending on traffic, but super close to the airport. Getting to and from Thamel is easy - however here you just can't walk out the hotel door and experience an 'old town' experience like Thamel.
Make your own mind up - I've stayed at the other great hotel here and it is but a shadow on Dwariki's - I'll never stay elsewhere again in Kathmandu -no point in taking second best.More
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