Champaca Cafe

A favorite with expatriate and local coffee aficionados, Champaca Café in the heart of main street is the place to get caffeinated in Paro. They serve over 15 varieties of coffees — all freshly brewed, with especially good lattes and americanos — along with cakes and pastries baked fresh in limited quantities daily. It's definitely the best coffee in town and a welcome reprieve from Nescafe instant (though they offer that too, for those who prefer their java without a punch). On big blackboards near the entrance, Champaca displays a menu chock full of other beverages and light foods as well: teas (try the ginger or saffron), milkshakes (banana, mango, watermelon), and fresh juices, french fries, grilled vegetable sandwiches, omelettes, their homemade veggie burger, a kidney bean dal combo dish with rice, and more. Prices lean slightly higher than other local eateries, but dishes are still under Nu 200 and good value for the money. The owners remodeled a traditional Bhutanese house to create the café and maintained many elements from the original design. Its ambiance is relaxing, the space clean and cozy with free wifi and plenty of seating upstairs on comfortable cushioned wicker chairs, and the service quick and courteous. Overall, a good place to rest, chat, and meet up: al...