KATHMANDU, JANUARY 25: It was way back in 2000 that Buddha Bar was commenced. “That time, I along with my brother was pretty eager and enthusiastic to do something in the tourism field. As a result, the bar was born in the tourist city of Thamel,” says Dem Pun, Managing Director of Buudha Bar. It was established by recruiting 10 staff members and investing Rs 700 thousand.
Over more than two decades, Buddha Bar has, indeed, become a name to be reckoned with. Pun attributes this to three factors: cuisine, ambience and service.
Cuisine
Buddha offers a diverse menu that seamlessly blends flavours from various culinary traditions like Mexican and Continental. “When it comes to the Mexican dishes in particular, they are for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians. Some of such dishes are balls, marinated chicken kebabs, chilli chips, and chilli beans and rice,” informs Pun.
Broadly speaking, the bar serves eating items related to breakfast, lunch and dinner. There are Nepali, American, British, Turkish and French breakfast sets in addition to tea, coffee, etc. Similarly, one can enjoy pasta, burgers, sandwiches and pizzas for launch and the platters of French cheese and mixed meat/veg for dinner. The guests are also treated with appetizers such as cheese balls, Mustang potato, fish and french fries, among others. According to Pun, the curry of Mustang potato is the most preferred dish of the bar.
For those looking to revel in alcoholic beverages, the bar offers beers (Carlsberg, Tuborg Heinkein etc), whiskies ( Johnie Walker, VAT 69, Chivas, etc) and cocktails (Kathmandu Heritage, Buddha Bar Special, Everest Ice Fall, etc).
“Our menu celebrates the delicate balance of taste and presentation, inviting guests to embark on a journey of gastronomic delight,” claims Pun.
Ambience
Buddha Bar features two different floors as well as a garden for the seating purpose of its guests. The second floor exudes a dark theme characterised by candlelight. It is tastefully decorated with things like Buddha statues and big ropes on the wall.
Similarly, the atmosphere of the first floor is amazingly unique. Here one can take visual delight through the sculptures of some famous people of Nepal like Satya Mohan Joshi and Chandra Shumsher. ” Apart from giving a distinct feeling to the guests, the floor is designed to help promote the sculpture art of the country,” Pun says.
Just ahead of this floor lies a garden for those seeking a naturally peaceful place to relish food and beverages.
Service
Buddha Bar is equipped with an army of 32 staff members for carrying out service. “They embody the art of hospitality, ensuring every guest is not just attended to but embraced with warmth and grace. From knowledgeable servers to passionate mixologists, our staff is committed to curating an exceptional experience for each visitor,” Pun claims.
Every Wednesday and Friday, the bar hosts a vibrant live music program for entertainment “On these days, our guests can electrify their senses in a true sense,” Pun says.
Spread over a total area of 25 square feet, the eatery can accommodate up to 150 people. Of the total number of guests visiting there daily, 60 per cent are domestic ones and the rest 40 per cent are foreign ones.
State of Business
When talking about the state of business, Pun says, “The sales have now been slowly going up after hitting rock bottom in the previous years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
According to Pun, the daily sales figure of the bar stands at Rs 200 thousand on average.
Future Plan
Buddha Bar is looking to expand to Pokhara this year. “The bar has been able to establish itself as an acknowledgeable eatery brand in Kathmandu. And, it plans to be the same in the tourist city of Pokhara, too,” he divulges.
