Yarkay Thimphu – IHCL SeleQtions

My in-laws recently stayed here and came away very pleased. Their room was comfortable, clean and well kept, and the staff were polite, welcoming and ready to help. The warm hospitality and smooth, well-organized service made the visit relaxed and enjoyable. Definitely recommended for a comfortable, hassle-free stay.

We especially liked how easy it was to get around from Yarkay Thimphu. Everything was close by for a couple exploring the city, and after sightseeing it felt good to come back and unwind. Breakfast had a nice range of tasty options, and the staff made sure we had what we needed. We were upgraded to a spotless, cozy room that was beautifully kept, with thoughtful touches like quick room service, attentive housekeeping and useful tips for nearby places to eat and visit. From check-in on, the team were genuinely kind and looked after us well. The hotel has a comfortable, warm feel with modern amenities, right in the city. It made our trip memorable, and we’d recommend it to couples visiting the capital. Thanks to the Yarkay team: Vikram Patil (GM), Sourabh Bhadauria (Director of sales and marketing), Manikant and Buddha (Front office), Krishna (chauffer and guide), and Kezang (Zakhangg restaurant).

The food was so good, and the staff were beautiful, handsome, clean, and above all, incredibly kind. I’m still in awe of them. One of the most standard hotels I’ve seen in Bhutan.

The main course brought another problem. We got noodles and chicken satay, and when I noticed the chicken was pink inside, I was horrified. I’d only just recovered from a serious illness, so undercooked chicken was the last thing I wanted. When we raised it, the server returned with paper and asked us to write our comments because she couldn’t understand us. We usually avoid making a scene and pay first, then give feedback, so it wouldn’t look like we wanted a free meal. This came after a frightening start to lunch at Yarkay. My husband and I arrived for the Thai food festival as the first guests, and were told preparations hadn’t started. We said that was fine. The raw papaya salad came in a fancy martini glass, but a whole Thai green chili had been chopped and disguised as a French bean. My husband handles spice well, so he bit into it thinking it was a bean. He was in intense pain, writhing, with swollen lips. I was watching for signs of anaphylactic shock, and we were both very distressed. No one came to help. The server asked how he was, and when I said he wasn’t doing well, she just smiled. We had to ask desperately for water. Then I remembered dairy might help, so we asked for lassi. It was a tiny, overpriced serving, but it finally helped him start to feel better. I thought hospitality staff would know how to respond to an emergency, and I’ve taught hotel management students about this, but there was no basic empathy. I couldn’t stop wondering whether our skin tone had something to do with it. The lack of care all through lunch and the way our concerns were dismissed felt like there was a racist undertone. It wasn’t just a poor restaurant visit, it was a string of shocking, unacceptable events that left us feeling unsafe and completely disrespected.