Thanks to its elevated location atop a shopping complex and its distinctly modern appearance with rhythmic shifts in material and colour, Aloft Kathmandu carves an undeniable identify amidst the dense, chaotic fabric of Thamel in the centre of Nepal’s capital city. The main lobby is located on the fifth level and is accessed via a ‘transitory’ lobby on the ground floor. Inside, the modern-contemporary narrative continues, albeit infused with a local flavour. This attempt at contextualisation is particularly evident in the ballroom, whose ceiling design recalls the vernacular built tradition.

Part of the Marriott Group and one of Kathmandu’s most successful hotels, Aloft Kathmandu leverages its design to create an appeal that extends to international tourists (mostly trekking enthusiasts) and local audiences alike. Featuring a vibrant flooring and several interactive kitchens, the all-day-dining toes the overall modern and contemporary aesthetic. The sprawling footprint of the main lobby is orchestrated into a bar, a recreation facility with pool tables and a food pick-up counter, ticking all the boxes for a young demographic. The bar is of particular interest: it functions as a coffee bar in the morning, and transforms into a watering hole dispensing spirits in the evening.

The crowning glory, however, is the roof-top with its heated pool, a pool bar, a lounge bar, and a striking 360-degree view of the city, and, on clear days, the distant Himalayas. This floor is often the scene of vibrant, pulsating events and parties that combine the pool bar and the lounge bar into a larger canvas for entertainment. The guest rooms, though compact, are modern and well-appointed. The brand-prescribed features are woven with Nepalese-inspired art to create environments that combine the strengths of contemporary design with the unique charm of vernacular elements.