Barc, Kathmandu
Inside the Experience
You don’t find Barc so much as you unlock it.
Tucked inside the unassuming Bluestar Complex in central Kathmandu, it begins with a small puzzle: a discreet entrance, a door that doesn’t quite announce itself, a moment of “Is this really it?” before the room finally reveals itself. By the time you step through the correct doorway — past office corridors and the sign for Barc+ — the city has already fallen away behind you.
Inside, the space is surprisingly calm and cinematic. Forest green walls, minimalist lines and low, flattering lighting set the tone. Jazz hums softly through the room, giving everything a slow, unhurried rhythm. Tables are close enough for atmosphere, but not so close that you feel overheard. It feels like a true speakeasy: tucked away, intimate, and just a bit secret.
Founder Abhishek Tuladhar built Barc on stories as much as spirits. After discovering cocktails in Singapore and training as a mixologist in London, he returned home with a plan: to build a bar that could stand alongside the region’s best while speaking Nepali in flavour and attitude. In 2021, he and co-founder Adarsha Tamrakar opened Barc after a series of well-loved pop-ups — and the room still carries that pop-up energy: experimental, personal, quietly confident.
The menu reads like a curated introduction to Nepal’s palate. Each page is anchored either by a local ingredient — titaura (hog plum), khattu (liquorice), aila (a Newari spirit made from fermented rice, grains and millet) — or by a style: spirit-forward, highball, margarita. It’s a structure that invites both curiosity and comfort. You can order by mood, by ingredient, or by how adventurous you’re feeling that night.
The Bloody Nepali is the house legend: a martini-glass cocktail built with vodka, Barc’s titaura mix and sugar. It lands bold and tangy, with spice and fruit that feel distinctly Nepali, rather than just another Bloody Mary variation. Peat Repeat, a smoky blend of whisky, cherry liqueur, dry vermouth and apple juice, offers a darker, moodier rhythm — a slow-sipping nightcap with a whisper of campfire.
Guests often talk about tasting flights and “tasters with a Nepali twist,” where the bar team walks you through small, inventive pours that showcase local ingredients in different forms. One evening might lean toward whisky and paan, another toward tart hog plum, another toward modern classics reimagined with Himalayan accents. Even mocktails are treated seriously here, with teetotal guests receiving thoughtful, layered taster sets of their own.
Food is far from an afterthought. The bar menu roams across Asia, picking up textures and cravings from Japan, Korea, Thailand, China and beyond:
Hot honey chicken, perfectly crisp.
Teriyaki tofu.
Basil chicken nachos.
Steamed momos with chilli oil.
Buff chilli, miso butter garlic prawns, pork belly sliders, Korean fried chicken wings.
Portions might look modest at first glance, but diners consistently note how satisfying they are — more “elevated bar dining” than simple drinking snacks.
Where Barc truly distinguishes itself, though, is in hospitality. The bar has been recognised with the Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award 2025, and it shows. Staff notice things: the sweatshirt-wearing guest arriving late after work, the couple quietly toasting an anniversary, the first-timer struggling to find the door downstairs. Service is warm, unpretentious and generous — mocktail tasters for non-drinkers, gentle guidance through the menu, thoughtful follow-ups without hovering.
It’s not a big space, and there’s no sweeping skyline view — something even fans occasionally lament — but that almost works in its favour. Barc feels self-contained, like a small, carefully crafted world where the focus is firmly on flavour, detail and how you’re made to feel while you’re there.
With recent accolades including The Best Bar in Nepal 2025 and a place on Asia’s 50 Best Bars, Barc has firmly stepped onto the regional stage. But inside, it still feels like a local secret — one that Kathmandu is very happy to share, if you manage to find the right door.
What People Say Most Often
Hidden, speakeasy-style entrance that feels like solving a puzzle
Chic, intimate interior with forest green walls, low lighting and a cozy jazz soundtrack
Cocktails with a Nepali twist, built around ingredients like titaura, aila and local spices
Standout signatures such as the Bloody Nepali and other locally inspired creations
Impeccable hospitality, recognised with the Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award 2025
Excellent bar food with pan-Asian influences: momos, sliders, hot honey chicken, Korean wings
Ideal for dates and small groups, with both indoor seating and an outdoor terrace
Prices are on the higher side for Kathmandu, but many guests feel the quality and experience justify it
Entrance can be tricky to find, adding to the speakeasy charm
Editorial Snapshot
Overview
Hidden inside the Bluestar Complex in central Kathmandu, Barc is a modern speakeasy that pairs Nepali ingredients with global cocktail technique. Opened in 2021 and now decorated with multiple Asia’s 50 Best Bars accolades — plus the Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award 2025 — it stands as Nepal’s leading cocktail destination.
The Experience
Expect a softly lit, forest-green room with minimalist furniture, jazz on the speakers and a quietly confident team moving between tables. The space is intimate and deliberately tucked away, creating the feeling of having discovered a private bar inside the city’s office blocks.
Signature Drinks to Try
Bloody Nepali
A bold house signature: vodka, Barc’s titaura (hog plum) mix and sugar, served in a martini glass. Tangy, spicy and unmistakably local.
Peat Repeat
Smoky whisky with cherry liqueur, dry vermouth and apple juice — a rich, layered slow-sipper.
Aila-Driven Creations
Cocktails featuring aila, Newari rice-and-grain spirit, showcasing the depth of Nepali distilling (ask the team for their current favourites).
Nepali Tasting Flights
Curated tasters that introduce you to multiple house serves, each with its own Nepali twist, including non-alcoholic versions for teetotal guests.
Why People Love It
Guests return for the hospitality first, cocktails second — and the drinks are already exceptional. From helping lost visitors find the entrance, to surprising guests with tailored mocktails, to remembering preferences across visits, Barc’s team delivers an experience that feels deeply personal. The bar’s use of local ingredients and its pan-Asian food menu add to the sense of place.
Good to Know
Reservations recommended, especially for preferred sections (indoor vs outdoor)
Entrance can be hard to spot; the “secret” feel is part of the concept
Noise ranges from quiet to lively but remains conversation-friendly
Not very wheelchair accessible due to stairs
Prices are premium by Kathmandu standards but in line with leading cocktail bars
Where to Find It
Bluestar Complex
Barc, Ground Floor
Kathmandu, Nepal
(Exact address as commonly listed: Bluestar Complex, central Kathmandu. Check current map listings or Barc’s social pages for the latest details and directions, as the entrance can be easy to miss.)
