Food Festivals in Kathmandu — What to Expect & When to Go

Food festivals have become one of the best things about the Kathmandu social calendar. A few years ago there were maybe two or three a year. Now there are several every month — pop-ups, themed markets, multi-day festivals, rooftop dining events, and neighbourhood food walks.

Here's everything you need to know.

What Kathmandu food festivals are actually like

Most food festivals in Kathmandu follow a similar format: 20–40 vendors, outdoor seating, live music or a DJ, runs Friday evening through Sunday. Entry is usually free; you pay per dish. Prices are generally cheaper than restaurants.

The best ones have a theme — a specific cuisine, a neighbourhood, or a cultural occasion like Dashain or Tihar.

When food festivals happen

The heaviest season is October through March, when the weather is cool and dry. The Dashain and Tihar period (October–November) brings the highest concentration of food events in the year.

Monsoon (June–September) sees fewer outdoor events, but indoor food markets and pop-ups continue year-round.

Neighbourhoods to watch

Jhamsikhel and Sanepa — the highest density of food events per square kilometre in the city. Independent restaurants here are the most likely to run pop-ups and tasting nights.

Patan Durbar Square — traditional Newari food festivals and cultural markets happen here throughout the year.

Baneshwor and New Baneshwor — emerging food scene, particularly for South Indian, Chinese-Nepali fusion, and momo variations.

Thamel — tourist-facing but has increasingly interesting food events aimed at the local market.

How to find food festivals in Kathmandu

The quickest way is the food events page on Kata Jaam? — we track every festival, pop-up, and tasting event across the valley.

Download the app to get push notifications so you don't find out about the good ones after they've ended.

Types of events worth knowing

• Momo festivals — intensely competitive. Dozens of vendors, all doing their signature variation. Usually free entry, 50–150 NPR per plate.
• International food markets — Thai, Japanese, Korean, Indian, and Middle Eastern vendors alongside Nepali options. Growing in frequency.
• Farm-to-table dinners — smaller, ticketed events run by restaurants partnering with organic farms. Usually 2,000–4,000 NPR per person.
• Newari food walks — guided evening walks through old Kathmandu neighbourhoods with food stops at traditional eateries.

Browse upcoming food events to see what's running now.