Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan is the largest and encompasses most of the top restaurants, cafes, and pubs in the country.
You can easily find top restaurants in Thimphu that serves food that makes your day or you can also try some spicy dishes as Bhutan is well-known for eating a lot of chilies!
Various restaurants have their own set of menus and specialties to serve the customers. You can get a diverse range of dishes – from continental to local.
Many restaurants in Thimphu offer authentic Bhutanese cuisine, yet there are many who serve Indian, Chinese, Korean and Nepalese!
Whether you are a tourist or a Bhutanese from other places, you should probably try these 15 restaurants when you come here.
Here are the top restaurants in Thimphu that are very popular in terms of taste, customer services and satisfaction.
1 Babesa Village Restaurant
Babesa Village Restaurant in Thimphu
Babesa Village Restaurant is a unique classy place for tourists to get a picture of Bhutanese culture through traditional cuisine and utensils.
The building is a 200-year-old mud-rammed structure that is now converted into a restaurant. It’s located adjacent to the freeway leading into town from Paro (the nearest district with an airport from Thimphu).
The restaurant is well-known among locals and visitors for its traditional and real home-cooked meals.
2 Bhutan Kitchen
Bhutan Kitchen Restaurant in Thimphu
The Bhutan Orchid Restaurant in Thimphu is housed in a historic building with traditional settings and meals.
The restaurant serves local dishes tailored to suit visitors’ taste buds. It won’t be too spicy if you are worried about “too much chili” cliché of Bhutan.
However, you can try some a little Ema Datshi (chili and local cheese) with a shot of Arra (local wine). It’s a classic Bhutanese tradition!
For dinner, they will offer you hot butter tea, rice, dry beef curry, and various fresh veggies cooked with local cheese.
3 Bhutan Orchid
The Bhutan Orchid restaurant in Thimphu
Bhutan Orchid Restaurant is located in the heart of the capital and ideal for you to drop in and try some dishes while you are strolling through the streets.
The Orchid Restaurant in Thimphu focuses on an organic and simple fine dining experience, serving multi-cuisine meals made with fresh organic vegetables and fruits.
The place is also popular for the special dish of the Haa valley called Hoentey (buckwheat flour dumplings) and Bumthang valley’s puta (buckwheat noodles).
They also serve seasonal mushrooms and ferns with cheese. This is one of the favorites of locals and visitors in Thimphu.
4 Cloud 9 Gourmet Burger & Milk Bar
Cloud 9 Gourmet Burger & Milk Bar in Thimphu
This luxury restaurant in Thimphu is well furnished with modern and beautiful décor.
Cloud 9 Café & Bar, located in the center of the capital city’s Clock Tower Square, delivers the most delectable international foods in town.
If you are into western foods, then you should probably check out this place when visit Thimphu.
You can get handcrafted gourmet burgers, wood-fired pizzas, salads, creative espresso, cold-pressed fresh juice, milkshakes, and homemade ice cream and gelatos.
It is also a perfect eatery to hangout and chill with your friends and dates.
5 Cousins Restaurant & Bar
Cousins Restaurant & Bar in Thimphu
Cousins Restaurant in Thimphu is the perfect spot to try various dishes!
It’s very popular with visitors and locals because they serve Bhutanese traditional meals, Indian, Chinese and continental food.
You can try them all just to see how good they are or just pick one of your favorites. They will serve you fresh and organic veggies and meat items bought straight from the farmer’s market in Thimphu.
6 Folk Heritage Museum Restaurant
Folk Heritage Museum Restaurant in Thimphu
If you’re visiting the Folk Heritage Museum to learn more about traditional Bhutanese living, stop by the Folk Heritage Museum restaurant for a delectable Bhutanese dinner.
We are positive that Folk Heritage Museum might probably be on your itinerary when you visit Thimphu.
Well, it’s a perfect opportunity to try what the chefs are cooking in Folk Heritage Museum Restaurant!
We bet you would love to at least have a taste of fresh farm produce (veggies) steaming with cheese over a traditional hearth. They will serve you meat items too!
7 Fu Lu Shou
Fu Lu Shou Restaurant in Thimphu
Hot pot restaurants are very popular in Thimphu these days. Fu Lu Shou Restaurant in Thimphu is much loved by locals.
I once went there with my family for a hot pot and TBH, it was really good! I ain’t even lying. It was something special, but a little pricy though!
A Bhutanese man and his Chinese wife run the place very well – incorporating Chinese food techniques into local ingredients from Bhutan.
8 Hayate Ramen
Hayate Ramen Restaurant in Thimphu
It’s a Japanese restaurant in Thimphu quite popular among local noodle freaks. The restaurant is also famous for diet conscious locals.
This restaurant brings Japanese delicacies and dishes to the Bhutanese plate-with fresh vegetables, herbs, and fruits from Bhutanese farmers.
Their menu features Hayate Ramen, Chashu Don, Pork Gyoza, Chicken Miso Ramen, Sushi, and many more.
9 Kalden Restaurant
Kalden Restaurant in Thimphu
Kalden Restaurant in Thimphu is by far the best to get the taste of traditional and classic home-cooked meals.
The dishes there make up for the cramped space and little rustic environment. It’s very popular with locals of various backgrounds.
The restaurant is also famous for visitors who love to blend in with locals and taste that special food!
10 Sinchula Indian Cuisine
Sinchula Indian Cuisine in Thimphu
Sinchula Restaurant also known as the masala junction is popular for delicious Indian dishes. They are well known for tikka masala, paneer tikka, and karhai chicken. Besides, they also serve all kinds of veggies.
If you want to try Indian dishes, this is the right place for you. You can get loads of veggies and meat items there.
The plus point is the restaurant is quite budget-friendly, but totally without compromising the taste! Locals and travelers love this restaurant in Thimphu.
Final Thoughts
If you are planning to visit Bhutan or if you are already in Bhutan, first brighten up your days with tasty food in your mouth.
We are not bragging, but honestly, these are some of the top restaurants in Thimphu.
Even the locals (family, friends, and couples) spend their weekend getaway in these restaurants. They love it, and we are sure you will too!Make sure you try some of these restaurants to get the best delicious food in town ever.
