Reggae Bar

Reggae Bar is one of the oldest live music bars in Thamel and has had live performances every night since it opened in the 2000s; the Kathmandu Post dates the opening to 2005, while a 2013 Nepali Times review gave 2008. It was founded by Jimmy Gurung, a former DJ, and it has built a loyal following among both tourists and Kathmandu residents.

The bar is up on a third floor in the middle of Thamel. Nepali Times gave directions in 2013: from Hot Breads at Thamel Chowk, turn left and look for it opposite Aqua Java Zing, next to a bookshop. The space is relaxed and informal, and the paper described the crowd as a melting pot of locals, travellers, embassy staff, bankers and NGO workers.

Music is the core of the experience. When Nepali Times visited, the house band, Plan B, played on Thursdays, and the bar was unusually lively that night as well as on Fridays, its busiest evening. Nepal Traveller's 2024 round-up of the city's nightlife described it as hosting live events with local and international bands.

Thamel is the centre of Kathmandu's nightlife, and Reggae Bar is one of its longest-running live venues. The drinks menu changes with the seasons, with separate winter and summer lists. The Kathmandu Post recommended the Mount Everest Long Island iced tea as the drink to try, and the bar also serves special cocktails, mocktails, local spirits and food. When the Post reported on it in 2023, the bar opened in the late afternoon and stayed open into the early hours.

Reggae Bar suits groups of friends, solo travellers and anyone who wants live music with a relaxed, chilled atmosphere, which is how Nepali Times described it. The Kathmandu Post noted that it is popular with locals as well as tourists, and it is also known for its food and local spirits, so it can fill a whole evening. Because it is in the centre of Thamel, it is easy to combine with dinner nearby and a visit to Purple Haze Rock Bar, also in Thamel, for a night of live music.