The Best Restaurants in Chitwan (Sauraha)
The main tourist town in Chitwan is Sauraha, and when I finally got to visit it for the first time, I was surprised by how chill the place is. The town is somewhat quiet, but there are so many nice restaurants in Sauraha.
There are lots of restaurants on the main road in Sauraha, and also by the riverside. It’s the perfect place to relax before or after going on a jungle safari. If you don’t go on a safari and you just need a few days to relax, I recommend chilling by one of the restaurants by the river.
The restaurants in Chitwan serve all types of dishes, including local Tharu dishes (local specialties with seafood), traditional Nepali dishes, as well as international dishes.
Best Restaurants in Chitwan (Sauraha)
Shantiko Kitchen
- Best for: great food and ambience (+ supporting the welfare of elephant)
Shantiko Kitchen is simply the best restaurant in Sauraha (or at least my favourite!). The staff is friendly, the food is so good, and they play such good music.
The ambience of the restaurant is really just one of a kind. While your food is being prepared, everyone is served with a small bowl of popcorn too.
What I love the most about the restaurant is that the founders of the restaurant also run an NGO, Stand Up 4 Elephants, that supports the welfare of elephants. They organise daily information sessions about the treatment of elephants and if you are interested you can sign up for a session at the restaurant or through their facebook.
KC’s Restaurant
- Best for: great food while chilling in an outdoor garden restaurant
KC’s Restaurant is like an oasis off the main road in Sauraha. It has a big outdoor garden and I found it so peaceful. I came here for a quick breakfast, but it felt like I could easy to spend hours here eating and drinking while soaking in the sun.
The prices are on the higher end, but the quality of the food is great and you also get to chill in a relaxing atmosphere.
They have extended the restaurant with a hotel and swimming pool, so now you can also book a stay here. Even if you don’t stay at the hotel, you can come to the restaurant for meals. The staff usually also allows people to use the swimming pool (even if you don’t stay there), but you have to ask once you are there.
Art Cafe
- Best for: coffee, great food
Art Cafe is a small cafe with indoor and outdoor seating. Inside the cafe it’s more busy, and outside, you are right by the street side (if you love people watching).
At the cafe, they also have some artwork on the wall which gives the place a nice ambience.
The outdoor area of the cafe is decorated with fairy lights and from here you can also just watch life in Sauraha. The staff is super nice here, they are really hospitable. The coffee here is also really good.
Friends Cafe
- Best for: coffee, breakfast and rooftop ambience
Friends Cafe is a rooftop restaurant off the main road in Sauraha. They serve delicious coffee, breakfast and continental food options.
The rooftop is set up really nicely and has a good atmosphere. The staff are super friendly and the place has a good ambience overall.
Sunset View Restaurant
- Best for: watching the sunset over the Rapti River
There are many restaurants at the Sunset Point in Sauraha, and it’s the best place to chill and watch the sunset.
I had some food and drinks at the Sunset View Restaurant and found it was alright. The other restaurants looked similar, so the experience could be pretty much the same at any of the restaurants by the river.
I loved the sunset views, and it is the perfect place to relax after a day of safari or jungle walk.
Jalapeno Restaurant
Cuisine: Nepali, Mexican, Italian
The Jalapeno Restaurant is by the main road in Sauraha. It has rooftop views over the main stree and from here you can just watch life go by in the city.
They have really tasty dishes including Nepali, Mexican and Italian dishes. They also serve great carbonara, lasagne and enchiladas.
I had Nepali food here, Dal Bhat, which is the most popular Nepali food. It comes with rice, lentil soup, and vegetable curry and side dishes. The dish is very heavy, and it comes with free refills in restaurants.
Best Things to Do in Chitwan
Chitwan is mostly famous for its jungle safari, but there are other things you can do as well.
I went on a half-day jeep safari, and it didn’t go far enough into the jungle to spot animals, like tigers, rhinos or elephants, so it was a let down for me. The guides then told me that you should go on a jungle safari for at least 3 days, deep into the jungle, to actually be able to spot more animals.
Nevertheless, I still enjoyed my time in Chitwan because you can do other activities as well. Canoeing on the river was adventurous, and there are also bars by the river where you can chill.
My Favourite Things to Do in Chitwan:
- Go on a jungle safari: best to go for at least a 3-day safari that takes you further into the jungle.
- Canoe on the Rapti River
- Cycle to Bis Hazaari Lake (20,000 Lake)
- Chill by the Riverside Sunset View Point
🦏 Check out my Travel Guide to Chitwan here!
How to Get to Chitwan National Park
Visiting the Chitwan National Park is very popular in Nepal, and you can get to Chitwan by bus, plane or private jeep.
Sauraha is the tourist hub of Chitwan and this is where most tourists stay. There are many buses that operate between Kathmandu-Sauraha and Pokhara-Sauraha daily, so you can easily book a bus.
The buses and jeeps can take the whole day, so if you want to save time, then the flights are the best option.
Best Places to See Wildlife in Nepal
Apart from Chitwan, you can also spot wildlife in two other national parks in Nepal: in Bardia and in Koshi Tappu.
- Bardia National Park: best for spotting tigers, wild elephants and rhinos
- Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve: best place for spotting winter migratory birds, arna (wild water buffalo) and Gangetic dolphins
🐅 Not sure if Chitwan or Bardia is right for you? Check out my post and see if Chitwan vs Bardia National Park is better for you!
FAQs: Restaurants in Chitwan
What food is Chitwan famous for?
Chitwan is famous for the Tharu food. Chitwan is located in the Terai region of Nepal, which is mainly inhabited by the Tharu ethnic community in Nepal. The Tharu community has their own traditions and food.
Tharu food is famous for dishes made out of sticky rice, fish, snails and duck. If you are vegetarian, there are also options for vegetarian meals.
What is the best food to eat in Chitwan?
There are many different types of restaurants and food you can have in Chitwan. As Chitwan is famous for the Tharu community and food, it is a great place to try Tharu food.
Which is the best season to visit Chitwan National Park?
Chitwan can be visited anytime between October to May, but the best time to visit it is in the spring, between February-March. In the spring, the grass is at its lowest level and you have the best chance of spotting wildlife.
During the monsoon season (June-August), it rains a lot and the the Chitwan National Park can get flooded. If it gets flooded, they stop the jungle safaris for some time, so even if you are in Sauraha, you won’t be able to go on a safari.
During the monsoon season, the grass grows very tall, so during the monsoon and the months following that, it is more difficult to spot wildlife.
How many days do you need in Chitwan National Park?
To be honest, it depends. If you are happy to just go on a half-day or full-day jungle safari (jeep or walking) with the chance that you may not get to see wildlife in a short amount of time, then 3 nights are enough in Chitwan.
If you want to spot wildlife, it is best to go on at least 2-3 full days of jungle safari. That gives you the opportunity to go deeper into the jungle and have the highest chance of spotting wildlife.
So, you can spend anywhere between 3-7 days in Chitwan, depending on how many days you wish to spend on a jungle safari.
I only spent 3 days in Chitwan, and with that I only had time for a half-day safari. I wanted to check out other activities in Chitwan as well, so it felt a bit rushed. With only a half-day safari, I didn’t get to see elephants and tigers in Chitwan, only monkeys, crocodiles and deer.
How much is a jeep safari in Chitwan National Park?
The price of the jeep safari depends on whether you go on a half or full day jeep safari. Currently, the safari prices in Chitwan National Park are as follow:
- Half-Day Jeep Safari: Rs. 2,500 (USD 17) per person (safaris at 7-11 am or 1-5 pm)
- Full-Day Jeep Safari: around USD 120 per day (Rs. 16,000). This cost is shared between everyone in the jeep, so if you join other people you can split the cost.
Plus, you will also have to pay for the park entry fee, which is Rs. 2,000 (USD 15) for foreigners, SAARC Rs. 1,000 (USD 7) for SAARC, and Rs. 150 for Nepali.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are so many nice restaurants in Sauraha, Chitwan and the whole town of Sauraha is a great tourist town that caters to many different types of restaurants and dishes.
The restaurants in Sauraha are a great place to chill before or after going on a safari. There are rooftop restaurants, outdoor garden restaurants or restaurants by the riverside where you get the the best sunset views.
Chitwan is also famous for Tharu food as Chitwan is mostly populated by people belonging to the Tharu ethnic group. Tharu food is famous for sticky rice, snails, duck and fish and Chitwan is a great place to give it a try.
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