The Best Restaurants in Chitwan (Sauraha)

LOOKING FOR THE BEST RESTAURANTS IN CHITWAN?

I live in Nepal and after many years when I finally managed to visit Chitwan, I was happy to find that there are so many nice restaurants in Sauraha, Chitwan!

The whole town of Sauraha is full of restaurants where you can 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.

So, if you are travelling to Chitwan and not sure where to eat, find here all the best restaurants in Sauraha, Chitwan.

Looking for activities in Chitwan? Check out the best things to do in Chitwan here!

Best Restaurants in Chitwan (Sauraha)

Shantiko Kitchen

Shantiko Kitchen is simply the best restaurant in Sauraha. The staff is friendly, the food is so tasty and the music playlist is great.

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. 

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.

Greasy Spoon Restaurant

Best for: woodfire pizza, burger

The Greasy Spoon Restaurant is one of the best restaurants in Sauraha. The ambiance is cool and sometimes they also have live music on. The food is delicious and they serve both Nepali and Western food.

It is a little bit more pricey but it is definitely worth it. It also has a small balcony with seats overlooking the street.

The indoor area has AC so if you are visiting when the weather is hot, the AC will keep you cool.

KC’s Restaurant and Bar

Best for: great food while chilling in an outdoor garden restaurant

KC’s Restaurant and Bar is a little oasis off the main road in Sauraha. It has a big outdoor garden area which is so peaceful. It is easy to spend hours here eating and drinking while soaking in the sun, quiet and nature.

The prices are a bit on the higher end but the quality of food is great and you also get to chill in a relaxing atmosphere.

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.

Art Cafe

Best for: coffee, great food

Art Cafe is a small cafe with indoor and outdoor seating. Inside the cafe, you will find some artwork on the wall which is quiet special.

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.

Sunset View Restaurant

Best for: watching the sunset over the Rapti River

The Sunset View Restaurant is one of the restaurants along the Rapti River which is a well-known spot for watching the sunset.

It is such a chill place with beautiful views, 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.

How to Travel to Chitwan National Park

Visiting the Chitwan National Park is very popular in Nepal. Thus, there are many buses going to Chitwan on a daily basis.

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.

For more information, check out my guides on how to travel to Chitwan:

• How to travel from Kathmandu to Chitwan
• How to travel from Pokhara to Chitwan

Things to Do in Chitwan

If you are looking for things to do in Chitwan, here is a quick summary of the best things to do in Chitwan:

1. Jungle safari (walking or jeep)
2. Canoe on the Rapti River
3. Cycle to Bis Hazaari Lake (20,000 Lake)
4. Chill by the Riverside Sunset View Point

🦏 Check out my Travel Guide to Chitwan here!

Best Places to See Wildlife in Nepal

Not sure about Chitwan? Check out my travel guides to help you decide which place is best for your jungle safari in Nepal:

• 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?

The best time to visit Chitwan National Park is between February-March. During this time, the grass has the lowest level and it provides the best chance of spotting wildlife in Chitwan.

Generally, Chitwan can be visited between September to May but still February-March is the best time.

During the monsoon season (June-August), the Chitwan National Park can get flooded and they stop the jungle safaris for some time. The grass also grows very tall during monsoon, thus during monsoon and the months after the monsoon season, it is 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 really 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.

Thus, you can spend anywhere between 3-7 days in Chitwan, depending on how many days you wish to spend on a jungle safari.

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. As of 2024, the safari prices in Chitwan National Park are as follow:

• Half Day Jeep Safari: Rs. 2,500/person (Between 7-11 am or 1-5 pm)
• Full Day Jeep Safari: around USD 120/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 for foreigners, Rs. 1,000 for SAARC, and Rs. 150 for Nepalese

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.