Photo: Wikimedia CommonsOne of Kathmandus grande dames, the Yak and Yeti pairs a wing built inside a century-old Rana palace with a modern tower, so you can choose ornate heritage or contemporary comfort. It sits on Durbar Marg, the citys smartest shopping street, walkable to Thamel and the old town. The palace-era Chimney Restaurant is a local institution for its borscht, a quirky legacy of the hotels Russian founder. Ask for a garden-facing room to escape the traffic noise.