The Garden of Dreams is a six-garden neoclassical complex next to the Kaiser Mahal, just east of Thamel, built by Field Marshal Kaiser Shamsher in the 1920s and beautifully restored in the 2000s. It is one of the quietest and most pleasant places in Kathmandu — a real oasis within walking distance of all the main Thamel hotels. The wrought-iron gates, the pergolas, the lily ponds, and the curved colonnades all feel slightly surreal given the noise and traffic just outside the walls.
There is a cafe inside the garden that serves good coffee and light food — the terrace is a genuinely agreeable place to spend an afternoon. Entry costs a small fee; it is worth it for the contrast with the city outside. The Kaiser Library, housing a notable collection including art and rare manuscripts, is adjacent.