THE STORY /
BORN IN THE COLD,
FUELLED BY MUSIC & MALT
How a modest corner on Hogdzin Lam became Thimphu’s legendary late-night sanctuary for musicians, wandering souls, and lovers of artisanal Himalayan spirits.
Where stories outlast the midnight chimes.
High-altitude botanicals meet aged oak casks.
"A meeting ground where Bhutanese indie artists, foreign wanderers, and locals convene over sizzling skillets and craft drams."
FROM AN ACCIDENTAL JAM SESSION TO A THIMPHU INSTITUTION
In the high altitudes of Thimphu where mountain nights turn razor-sharp, Smilers was born out of a simple rebellion: the refusal to let the night end early.
“We simply wanted a warm cellar where the sound was authentic, the glasses were filled with genuine craft, and nobody rushed you out into the chill.”
Founded at 10 Hogdzin Lam, it started with an acoustic amplifier, a woodfired oven, and a passion for pairing authentic Bhutanese heat—fiery Chicken Totshey and steaming, fragrant Chicken Maru—with craft cocktails and blistering live indie rock.
Over the years, Smilers evolved into an electric sanctuary where everyone is treated like a backstage regular. The staff remember your preferred pour, the musicians stay until the last chord reverberates across the valley, and the kitchen runs unabashedly until 01:30 AM.
TASHI & THE SMILERS COLLECTIVE
Curators of the Night • Thimphu, Bhutan
Average Google Rating
Across 1,200+ authentic traveler and local patron reviews.
Guests Welcomed
From across the 20 Dzongkhags and curious spirits worldwide.
Live Gig Sessions
Unplugged jams, rock nights, and intimate open-mic stages.
Nightly Benchmark
Thimphu’s legendary late-night food & drinks hospitality permit.
VOICES FROM THE VELVET BOOTHS
Unvarnished impressions from travelers, musicians, and nightly regulars who have found their home at 10 Hogdzin Lam.
Smilers isn’t just a bar; it’s the heartbeat of Thimphu’s creative underground. The sound is dialed, the drinks are lethal, and the staff treat you like kin.
Karma Wangchuk
Indie Frontman
Finding a place in Bhutan that serves authentic fiery Chicken Totshey alongside smoked whiskey cocktails and late-night woodfired pizza felt like discovering gold. 4.7 stars doesn’t do it justice.
Maya S.
Travel & Gastronomy Writer
Tuesdays at Smilers are an institution. Singing table-karaoke with a full cocktail pitcher with friends under the amber lamps is my favourite thing in Thimphu.
Sonam D.
Resident Regular
PULL UP A STOOL.
THE FIRE IS LIT.
Join us tonight at 10 Hogdzin Lam for smoky cocktails, hot Bhutanese comfort plates, and the finest live sound in the kingdom.
