Lhasa - Tibet - page 141

Drinking
There's not a great deal when it comes to entertainment options in Lhasa. In the evening
most travellers head to one of the restaurants in the Tibetan quarter. Rooftop restaurants
like the Shambhala Palace and Lingtsang Boutique Hotel offer the best rooftop views with
your beer.
There are several Tibetan teahouses around town where you can grab a cheap thermos
of reviving cha ngamo (sweet tea). Most of them are grungy Tibetan-only places, blasted
by high-decibel kung fu videos, but there are a few standout exceptions.
Other fixes for real ground coffee include the courtyards of Yabshi Phunkhang (Illy cof-
fee) or the Kyichu Hotel.
Ani Sangkhung Nunnery Teahouse TEAHOUSE
( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; 29 Linkuo Nanlu; tea ¥3-8; 8am-5pm)
If you're exploring the old town and need a break, make a beeline for this bustling tea-
house in the courtyard of Lhasa's most important (and most politically active) nunnery.
The nuns do a great job and the location is superb. Most of the customers these days are
Chinese backpackers.
Summit Café CAFE
(, Dǐngfēng Kāfēidiàn MAP GOOGLE MAP ; www.thetibetsummitcafe.com ; 1 Danjielin Lu; coffee
¥20-30, snacks ¥15-50; 8am-9.30pm; )
With authentic espresso coffee and smoothies, free wi-fi and melt-in-your-mouth cheese-
cakes, this coffeehouse is mocha-flavoured nirvana (even if they threw us out for asking
too many questions!). It's in the courtyard of the Shangbala Hotel , a stone's throw from
the Jokhang, with less-useful branches around town.
Dunya BAR
( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; 632 7279; 100 Beijing Donglu; beer ¥15; 3-11pm)
The breezy upstairs bar at this popular restaurant is a firm favourite of both expats and tour
groups. There's a nice terrace and a big-screen TV for major sports events.