Eat · Kathmandu Durbar Square

Chiya, sel roti and sweets, Basantapur

Milky spiced tea, fried rice bread and sweets from tea stalls and sweet shops around Durbar Square: a cheap break in the old core, best mid-morning.

last order: unknownmixedNepali tea and sweetsNot field-verified

Key facts

Per person: NPR 30–80; Nepali tea and sweets
Hours: unknown; see note below
Walk in: 07:00–11:00; easiest window
Seating: mixed
28″ bags: No; Kathmandu Durbar Square
Getting there: Tea stalls and sweet shops around Basantapur and Durbar Square; 3 min walk

Go now?

Open?

Desk estimate: morning to early evening; confirm

Easiest walk-in

07:00–11:00

Reservations

Walk-in, no reservation

Paying

Bring cash

Per person

NPR 30–802026 estimate · check

DirectionsWhat to order ↓

Chiya
Sel roti
Old-core tea break
Order: Chiya, sel roti and sweets
Tables and stools
Walk-in window: 07:00–11:00
Bring cash
Vegetarian options

Highlights come from Voykit's own data and desk notes, not from reviews. Hover a tag to see its source.

Rules in force · 9Thamel's inner lanes are crowded, uneven and shared with …

South Asia ↗Trekking regions, border districts and several Indian states need separate permits on top of the visa; check the permit before you book transport into them.
South Asia ↗Remove shoes (and in many Jain and Hindu temples, leather) before entering; cover shoulders and legs; ask before photographing people or rituals.
Nepal ↗Get visa information only from the Department of Immigration; visa-service lookalike sites charge extra, and the rules differ by nationality.
Nepal ↗At stupas walk clockwise; at temples and homes remove shoes where there is a rack or a raised floor; cover shoulders and knees.
Nepal ↗Carry Nepalese rupees in small notes: many stalls, taxis and tea shops are cash-only, and shops rarely take foreign notes.
Nepal ↗Strikes (bandh) and protests can close roads without notice: check the news and your hotel the night before any airport or highway day.
Kathmandu Valley ↗In the dry season (Nov–Apr) the valley fills with haze and dust: viewpoints often show nothing after 09:00, so go at dawn or skip.
Kathmandu ↗Thamel's inner lanes are crowded, uneven and shared with motorbikes: taxis stop at the edge, so large suitcases go from the car to the door, never on a walk.
Kathmandu ↗Dust and smoke haze is worst around Feb–Apr and can linger in winter: carry a mask rated for fine particles on walking days and move long walks to the clearest morning.

Actions

Map & directions

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Directions

From where I am

Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.

Plan

When you can walk in, what to order, how to pay

Walk-in windows

07:00–11:00: high14:00–18:00: high

A walk-in lunch is only planned as primary when your arrival lands outside the “impossible” window.

Tea stalls and sweet shops with a counter and stools.

How to order here

The order of play at the counter or table, what to say, how much to order and how to pay.

1Ask the price of tea and snacks.
2Take a stool or stand.

No shared language? Tap dishes in the order builder below and show the waiter the full-screen list in the local script. For a printed menu, translate a photo of it.

What to say

In English	Say or show	Sounds like
How much is this?	Yo kati ho?	yo ka-ti ho
Too expensive	Dherai mahango	dhe-rai ma-han-go
Not spicy, please	Piro nahalnus	pee-ro na-hal-nus
Water, please	Paani dinus	pa-ni dee-nus
I need help	Malai sahayog chahincha	ma-lai sa-ha-yog cha-hin-cha
Hello, greetings	Namaste	na-mas-tay
Thank you	Dhanyabad	dhan-ya-bad

Paying and tipping

Sit-down restaurants: about 10%, less than the 15–20% US norm.

Pay when you finish.
Prices near tourist squares can be a little higher.
Cash (NPR); small notes.
Tipping: 10% in restaurants if service is not added; small tips for guides and porters.

At the table

Choose stalls with a queue of locals.
Eat where the turnover is fast and the food is hot; choose busy stalls.
Drink bottled or filtered water and avoid ice in cheap places.
Use your right hand or a spoon when sharing; do not touch shared food with a plate you have eaten from.

Menu and prices

2026 estimate

Chiya (milk tea)चियाA sweet, spiced milk tea.NPR 30–80order
Sel rotiसेल रोटीA ring-shaped fried rice bread.NPR 30–100if hungry
Jalebi or sweetsSyrupy sweets.NPR 50–150
SamosaA fried potato pastry.NPR 30–80if hungry

2026 estimate, per portion; ask the price before you order.

Build your order

Tap + on what you want, or let Voykit suggest a starting order.

2 people

Chiya (milk tea)order
चिया
NPR 30–80
Contains (from menu notes, check): dairy
0
Sel roti
सेल रोटी
NPR 30–100
Contains (from menu notes, check): wheat
0
Jalebi or sweets
NPR 50–150
0
Samosa
NPR 30–80
Contains (from menu notes, check): wheat
0

Food and drink

Nothing picked yet.

Menu prices are 2026 estimates (check the board or menu on the day).

Split the bill 2 ways

Pick dishes to see each person's share.

Sit-down restaurants: about 10%, less than the 15–20% US norm. Local custom: Round up if 10% service is added; 5–10% if not. Tipping calculator

Pick at least one dish to make the full-screen list.

Paying

othercheck

Cash (NPR); small notes.

Diet and allergies

Yes means there is something for you; ask means possible with care; no means go elsewhere.

Vegetarianyes
Tea and fried breads are vegetarian.
Veganno
Milk in the tea.
Halalask
Vegetarian items.
Gluten-freeask
Sel roti is rice-based; check the other snacks.
Nut allergyask
Ask about sweets.
Dietary needsask
Vegetarian; sugar and dairy heavy; ask about allergens.
Show: Ask before you order

What is in the dishes

Chiya (milk tea)चियाdairy
Sel rotiसेल रोटीwheat
Samosawheat

Read from the menu names and notes; recipes vary and cross-contact is not tested. Check with the kitchen.

Make an allergy and diet card for Kathmandu →

Who it suits, booking, closures

goodSolo — A quick stool.

goodKids — Sweet snacks.

goodStroller — Street level.

cautionGroups of 5+ — Small stalls.

cautionWheelchair — Uneven street.

How to book: No booking; buy at the stall.
How far ahead: Not needed
No-show / cancel fee: Not applicable
Dress code: Casual.

When	Status	Note
Late evening	check before you go	Stalls close by 20:00.Stalls close by 8:00 PM.

On the ground

Hygiene and comfort

Seating: Tables and stools
Kids: A simple snack stop for children
Access: step-free: yes · Street level with uneven ground

Hygiene

Choose stalls with fresh frying and hot tea.

Facts

Reservations: Not taken — Walk-in; no reservations.
Capabilities: food · seated_rest
Getting there: Tea stalls and sweet shops around Basantapur and Durbar Square · ~3 min walk

Cons

Small stalls; seating is limited.
Sugar-heavy.

Ordering helpDish glossary · Price check2 parts

Dish glossary

On the menu	What it is	Order it how
Chiya	Milk tea.	—
Sel roti	Rice bread ring.	—
Jalebi	A syrupy fried sweet.	—

Price check

2026 estimate

locals pay: A tea is about NPR 30–80.
tourist price: Prices are the same for everyone.
rule: Prices near tourist squares can be a little higher.

Deep dive

Questions, nearby food and sources

Questions and answers

answered by Voykit editors · dated

What is sel roti?

A ring-shaped fried rice bread.

Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk

Is street tea safe?

Choose hot, busy stalls.

Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk

How much is tea?

About NPR 30–80.

Answers come from Voykit editors, not from other travellers.

Nearby alternatives

walk minutes · estimate

If it is closed or the line is too long

Go to Dal bhat set lunch, Thamel, about 23 min on foot (straight line × 1.3); no reservation needed.

Places without an authored walk are ranked by straight-line distance × 1.3 at 5 km/h3 mph.

All places to eat in Kathmandu, with filters →

Nearby

Straight-line distance; walk time adds 30% for streets.

Used as a seated rest node in Kathmandu in 4 days.

Sources

secondaryWikivoyage (eat)