The best and brightest of the budget guesthouses, Banana Garden benefits from genial owners and a lovingly maintained garden. There are two shared solar-heated showers and the owners provide home-style Nepali meals. Full Lonely Planet Review ›

A huge building reached through a private courtyard, Dragon Hotel is a Pokhara survivor. A timely renovation has raised standards to their old levels and the lobby is full of Tibetan knick-knacks. Rooms are spacious and atmospheric, with dark wood panels and mountain views. Full Lonely Planet Review ›

Run by Mike Frame of Mike's Breakfast fame, this appealing mid-range place has a fine location on the lakeshore in central Lakeside. There's a lovely terrace restaurant and the best rooms are in stone cottages in the garden, styled after Nepali village houses. Full Lonely Planet Review ›

Right on the lakeshore on the south side of Phewa Tal, this is the place to come for blissful peace and quiet. Rooms are simple but inviting and each has a massive sun-deck facing the lake and mountains. There are more views from the lakeside restaurant. Boat transfers from Lakes… Full Lonely Planet Review ›

Reached by a rope-drawn pontoon across Phewa Tal, Fish Tail Lodge is probably the most sensitively-designed building in Pokhara. The lodge is understated but luxurious and facilities include an outdoor pool, an excellent restaurant and bar, and rooms in slate-roofed bungalows in … Full Lonely Planet Review ›

A surprisingly refined option in this part of Lakeside, Hotel Barahi has a large, lovely pool and smart air-con rooms with small balconies. The stone-clad buildings make it look a bit like a Swiss ski chalet and the restaurant has a touristy but popular evening show of Nepali so… Full Lonely Planet Review ›

Just north of Camping Chowk, Blue Heaven is a monumental blue building that gets the best of the views by being taller than all its neighbours. It's not the most sensitive development, but it's a favourite with Indian travellers and rooms are very snug. Full Lonely Planet Review ›

This hotel was one of the first hotels at Lakeside and it's maturing nicely rather than growing old. Rooms are above the Hungry Eye Restaurant and have all the expected midrange mod cons, including spotless tiled bathrooms. Full Lonely Planet Review ›

Down the alley near the 7-Eleven pub, this smart-looking place attracts lots of Indian families on package tours. The building is smart and new, rooms are bright and spacious and there's the inevitable rooftop terrace with mountain views. Full Lonely Planet Review ›

The best and brightest of several similar places in this area, Mona Lisa tempts Japanese visitors with brightly coloured rooms and lounges with low kokatsu tables and cushions. Rooms are chintzy but snug and the whole place is clean as a whistle. Full Lonely Planet Review ›

This big stone-clad place on the alley beside Hotel Mountain Top has a pleasing air of grandeur. It's a cut above the surrounding hotels and there are balconies on every level. The decor is a bit flowery but rooms are very comfortable. Full Lonely Planet Review ›

A short walk from the lake, down the alley beside the 7-Eleven pub, Temple Villa feels a bit like a posh family home. The garden is full of exotic butterflies and the bedrooms are spacious and nicely furnished, with large marble bathrooms. Full Lonely Planet Review ›

A mini-skyscraper of a place in the southern part of Lakeside, Hotel View Point has excellent mountain views, particularly from the 5th-floor terrace. The building is modern, facilities are good, rooms are spacious and the more expensive ones have air-con. Full Lonely Planet Review ›

Almost opposite the airport, this sprawling place was once the poshest hotel in town, but it's showing its age these days. Nevertheless, rooms are bright and well-appointed and there's a gloriously chintzy bar, backed by a mural of Bhairab's teeth. Full Lonely Planet Review ›

This charming banana-yellow hotel is popular with Korean and Japanese travellers and is excellent value. Each level has a terrace with table and chairs, and some rooms have cracking Annapurna views. Full Lonely Planet Review ›

This small place offers neat, clean rooms with carpets and colourful bed linen. It's more of a hotel than a hostel, but the rates are a bargain. These are some of the best rooms you'll find for this price in Pokhara. Full Lonely Planet Review ›

Along the ridge from the World Peace Pagoda, this secluded hilltop guesthouse is set in a stone-fronted slate-roofed cottage with inspiring views over the lake and mountains. Rooms are very inviting and all sorts of outdoorsy activities can be arranged by the friendly staff. Full Lonely Planet Review ›

Perched above the lakeshore on a small bluff about 2km west of the main development, this charming guesthouse is one of the last old-fashioned traveller hang-outs. Rooms are basic but clean and some have gorgeous lake views. The restaurant here is excellent. Full Lonely Planet Review ›

Some places have a good feel about them from the moment you walk in the door. Yeti is set back from the strip in a large patio garden. Rooms are neat and the bathrooms are massive. The garden has several shady gazebos where you can sit and read or swap stories with other travelle… Full Lonely Planet Review ›

Good service raises this midrange hotel above the crowd. Rooms are contained in tasteful two-storey villas in a garden of palms and bougainvilleas. In-room facilities include cable TV and minibars. Full Lonely Planet Review ›

No relation to Lonely Planet, this cosy lodge is run by a friendly Belgian-Nepali couple. Rooms are tidy, comfortable and colourful and a portion of the room rent goes to help disadvantaged children. Full Lonely Planet Review ›

Spread over several Newari-style buildings down the alley beside 7-Eleven, Butterfly Lodge feels a bit like a miniature mountain village. Some of the money goes to supporting local children. Full Lonely Planet Review ›

Much smarter than the surrounding hotels, this tidy brick guesthouse is owned the same people as Chhetri Sisters Trekking. Rooms are tasteful, the location is peaceful and there's a small atrium garden. Full Lonely Planet Review ›

Calm, quiet and reasonably priced, Gauri Shankar has small rooms set in a secluded garden of pebbles and bushes. It's simple but friendly and there's a dorm. Full Lonely Planet Review ›

Green Peace has two buildings, a rustic lodge overlooking the lake and a larger guesthouse set amongst the padi fields 100m west on the road to Pame Bazar. Full Lonely Planet Review ›

Run by Mike Frame of Mike's Breakfast fame, this appealing midrange place has a fine location on the lakeshore in central Lakeside. The best rooms are in stone cottages in the garden, styled after Nepali village houses. Full Lonely Planet Review ›

A huge place covered in New England-style shingles, Hotel Meera attracts an older crowd looking for peace and quiet. There's a good restaurant in a secluded courtyard and rooms have decent midrange facilities. Full Lonely Planet Review ›

Tibetan-owned and decked out with Tibetan knick-knacks, this '60s-style place is faded but friendly and it's very convenient for the airport. Rooms are plain but well-appointed and there's a large walled garden. Full Lonely Planet Review ›