Gangtey Palace

The hotel sits above Paro, with the whole city in view. The grounds are spacious and full of greenery and flowers, and the benches along the path to the restaurant offer lovely glimpses of the city. There’s also a good garden view from the sitting area outside reception. The hotel feels luxurious and is popular with foreign visitors for its authentic stay and broad international menu, with the spice level taken into account. Staff are extremely courteous. It’s a peaceful spot away from the city bustle, though getting up from the city roads involves quite a climb, and most taxis overcharge for the ride.

This is a lovely, homely heritage hotel with a well-kept restaurant complex a little way from the main building. The food and service were very good. The hotel could be much better with some refurbishment, though. The large rooms are dim and can feel depressing; lighter walls or ceilings and brighter lights would help, and the bathroom plumbing could be improved. The steep staircase and lack of ground-floor rooms also make it unsuitable for elderly guests or people with mobility challenges.

The staff made our stay delightful and memorable, from the general manager and receptionist to the restaurant team and housekeeping. Everyone was helpful, cooperative, and well mannered. The wooden hotel has a distinctive feel and sits among well-kept greenery, with mountains visible in the distance. We could enjoy the view from the veranda, or have tea, coffee, drinks, and snacks in the al fresco area. My ground-floor room opened onto the courtyard, and its window looked out on flowers and plants. The rooms are a bit dark, especially downstairs, but we didn’t spend much time inside. It was fairly hot during the two days we were there in mid-August, so a pedestal or ceiling fan would have been good.

It has a rustic feel and a lot of local Bhutanese character. There are no TVs or phones, which I thought was great, and the restaurant is good. Staff were incredibly helpful and friendly, often taking care of things without being asked. The steep, typical Bhutanese stairs add to the local feel, but make this a poor choice for someone with a disability or mobility problems.