Lonely Planet Review

From senators to Everest sumiteers, this hotel tops the list for many repeat travellers to Lhasa. The crackerjack staff keep things running smoothly, the rooms are spotless, and the garden restaurant is a real refuge. This is definitely one for those in the know.

Named after the river that runs through Lhasa, the two-star Kyichu is a friendly and very-well-run choice on the edge of the old town, west of Tashi I restaurant. The 52 rooms are simple but pleasantly decorated, with wooden floors and Tibetan rugs but the real selling points are the central location and wonderfully helpful Tibetan staff. The Norling Restaurant bordering the back garden is one of Lhasa's hidden gems. It's the small touches that really make the difference here: the traditional Tibetan furniture in the lobby, the library of books in the restaurant, the double-glazed windows in the rooms facing the main street and the wi-fi in the garden. Here's a tip - request a garden view room at the back as these are the quietest.