Dhaka/North

North Dhaka is a district in Dhaka. It can be further divided into Gulshan-Banani, an upper-class district which hosts the diplomatic zone as well as several ritzy hotels and five star restaurants, and Mirpur, an industrial area housing the city zoo, national stadium and botanical gardens.

Get in

Get around

See

Gulshan

• 🌍 International Buddhist Monastery, Merul Badda, Gulshan, Dhaka, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. A Buddhist monastery that was founded in 1981, and has been at its current site since 1989. It is popular with visiting Buddhist businessmen and foreign dignitaries. 

Mirpur

• 🌍 National Botanical Gardens, Mirpur, Dhaka, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Covering a total of 205 acres of land at Mirpur, the Gardens are a haven of peace in the chaos of the city. It is situated right next to the zoo, so both can be visited in one trip. 
• 🌍 Dhaka Zoo (Mirpur Zoo), Mirpur, Dhaka, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Apr-Oct: 09:00-18:00; Nov-Mar: 8am-5pm. Closed Sundays. Colourful and attractive collections of different local and foreign species of animals and birds, including the majestic Royal Bengal Tiger. Elephant and horse riding is available for a very cheap Tk 5 and Tk 3 respectively. Tk 10, 0-2 years, school and University students are free with ID.. 

Do

Buy

Gulshan

• Pink Pearls. Available in many handicraft stores, with some dedicated outlets in Gulshan 
• 🌍 Aranya, 60E Kemal Ataturk, Banani. Another good shop with beautiful crafts. Supports fair trade practices. 

Eat

Gulshan

These areas are packed with crowded trendy and upscale restaurants, a magnet for the Dhaka elite who like good food or just want to be seen in their shiny new cars.

• A&W, The north-east corner of Gulshan 1 Circle. A burger, fries and rootbeer float will cost nearly BDT.300, which seems to be no problem for the well-off young Bangladeshi teens that fill the tables. The jukebox filled with Backstreet Boys adds/detracts from the experience. 
• Andersen's of Denmark, House 34, Road 136, Gulshan Circle I, ☎ [phone]. 11:30-00:00, Fridays 14:00-00:00. Excellent ice cream such as mint chocolate chip, oreos & cream and banana fudge, sundaes and milkshakes, cappuccinos, espressos and hot chocolate. Attached to a fast food restaurant ('Chicken King') serving fried chicken and steaks. Tk 80-260. 
• Bamboo Shoot, Gulshan avenue (upstairs from Agora department store). A Chinese/Thai restaurant that prides itself in offering 'authentic' cuisine, and this is backed up by the number of Chinese expats seen eating there on any given night. 
• 🌍 Bella Italia, Gulshan 2 (2nd floor of the Eastern Bank Limited building - beside Shoppers' World), ☎ [phone]. The proprietor was employed in the restaurant business in Italy and this place serves fairly authentic thin-crust pizzas and pastas. Mains are around Tk 300-600.. 
• 🌍 Bittersweet Cafe, House 10, Road 53 (On the first floor), e-mail: [e-mail]. 12:00-00:30 daily. Famous for the cupcakes, the milk shakes, the cheesecake and other pastries. A wide range of sandwiches and other dishes are also available. Free WLAN is also available. Food items 200-300 Taka, Cupcakes around 160 Taka. 
• CoFi 11, House 6A, Road Number 113, Gulshan-2 (Behind the Delvista Grameenphone Centre opposite of Agora), ☎ [phone], [phone]. 11:00-00:00 daily. Offers different coffee specialities made from imported beans as well as exotic drinks like Lemogini, Shikanjee, Guava Frappe, Mango Yogurt & Mandolito. CoFi 11 has a beautiful terrace with nice view over Gulshan. They also have brownies, waffles, local dishes and sandwiches. Free WiFi is also available as well as live musical performances from time to time. They have recently opened a branch in Chittagong - 36/7 CDA Avenue overlooking the forest hill. CoFi-Ctg Tel: [phone]-300. 
• Dhanshiri, Gulshan 2 (beside the Westin). The food is good, but check prices on the menu before ordering and examine the bill afterwards. There are better places to get Bengali food, but Dhashiri's location is especially convenient. Also, it's a trick by the staff to say that the requested dish is not available and would serve you the same thing with some different name and a higher price. 100-400 Taka. 
• 🌍 El Toro, House 1A, Road 138, Gulshan I, ☎ [phone]. 11:30-22:30. A Mexican restaurant serving burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas and others. Mains around 250-300 Taka. 
• 🌍 Half Past Eleven, House 67/C, Road 11, Block E, Banani (Take Banani Road 11 eastward towards Gulshan bridge, restaurant will be on your left before junction of Road 11 & Road 12), ☎ [phone], [phone]. 11:00-23:00 daily. Offers different fast food, grill and tandoori dishes. From western-style chicken dishes, burgers, sandwiches, fish 'n' chips, T-bone steaks to Tandoori and other Asian dishes. They serve Movenpick ice creams as well as excellent coffees made. 200-500 Taka for a meal. 
• 🌍 Heritage, House 10, Road 109, Gulshan-2, ☎ [phone]. Run by British-Bangladeshi celebrity chef Tommy Miah, this Mugal décor restaurant features Bangla-fusion cuisine. 500-700 Taka. 
• Hotbrew Coffee, House 108, Road 12, Banani (On the 2nd floor), e-mail: [e-mail]. 10:00-22:00. Free WLAN is also available. Mains 200-300 Taka. 
• 🌍 La Forchetta, House #10, Road-53, Gulshan Circle-2 (On Gulshan Avenue, near Gulshan-2 circle, corner of Road 53, first floor). Serves thin-crust pizzas and pastas. 300-600 taka. 
• Spaghetti Jazz, located at Gulshan-2 circle. Decent Italian restaurant that delivers pizza and pasta. A meal costs 400-600. 
• 🌍 Spitfire, NWF-8, Gulshan North Avenue, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Serves continental cuisine. Expect to pay around 2000 taka per person for a 3 course dinner. 700-3500 Taka. 
• Steakhouse, House 8, Road 53, Gulshan-2, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Serves steaks. Expect to pay at least 2000 taka per person for a 3 course dinner. 800-1800 Taka. 
• 🌍 Sura, House 32, Road 43, ☎ [phone]. Korean restaurant located across near the Egyptian embassy. Table-top barbecue and most popular Korean dishes are available, along with a selection of sushi and sashimi. Popular with Koreans and other expats. Expect to pay at least 500 taka per person for a 3 course dinner. 

Drink

Sleep

Gulshan

Budget

• Sabrina's Home (Home Stay), C1,Hs-137,RD-4,Blk-A，Banani, ☎ [phone], [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Check-in: 13:00, check-out: noon. Rate includes Wi-Fi, fan and air-con, guests' kitchen, satellite and cable TV (in dining area, 24 hour hot water shower, mosquito net (for each pure handmade wood bed), generator (one ceiling fan and one light in each bedroom will work within one hour power off), 24-hour security, 24-hour reception, elevator. Other paid services include 24-hour airport transfers, 24-hour meals and laundry. Phone call and email needed for reservation, foreign passport required for check-in. No call girls are allowed. US$30/head/bed/night. 

Mid range

If you're staying long term, flat shares or furnished apartments as well as guesthouses in Gulshan and Banani are widely available. Most foreigners find a flat share through an advertisement in one of the expat clubs. Advertisements for apartments are usually directly affixed in front of the respective building or on one of the trees in the streets.

• Green House Guesthouse, House 6, Road 13, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Walking distance from most foreign missions to Bangladesh. All rooms have air-con. Prices range between US$50 - 75, and include breakfast and free Wi-Fi internet access. 
• Eastern House, House 4, Road 24. Has internet broadband in every room, and breakfast is included in the price. Tk 3,420-6,156. 
• BRAC Centre Inn, 75 Mohakhali, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Near to the diplomatic enclave overlooking the Gulshan lake. A hotel that probably usually caters for business trips due to its location and facilities such as conference rooms. This will mean however, that your rooms will have as standard, air-con, TVs and en-suite. There is also a restaurant serving both local and international cuisine. Tk 4,100-5,460. 
• 🌍 Ideas Manzil, House -19, Road -79, Gulshan-2 (Next to the Italian Embassy), ☎ [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Ideas Manzil could be called Bangladesh's first "heritage accommodation," meaning it is the kind of place which attempts to display and preserve the richness and heritage of Bangladeshi culture. Rates from Tk 4,446 ($65). 
• Hotel de Crystal Garden, House number 28, Road number 63, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. All rooms are air conditioned, en-suite and has cable TV. Close to the American, Australian, British and a few other international clubs where you are likely to be able to get a beer. $50-80. 

Splurge

• 🌍 Hotel Sarina, Plot # 27, Road # 17, Banani (in the diplomatic area of town), ☎ [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. 5* hotel, all rooms have high speed internet connection along with dedicated port for laptop, mini bar, in-room safe and satellite TV. Has an Italian restaurant on site. $110-450. 
• 🌍 Lakeshore Hotel, Gulshan 2 (in the diplomatic area of town), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Luxury 80-room hotel, rooftop pool, fitness, wireless and LAN Internet. Corporate discounts of 30% available. Probably the best medium-sized 5* in the city. $100-220. 
• 🌍 The Westin, Plot-01, Road 45, Gulshan-2 (In the diplomatic area), ☎ [phone]. Relatively new, modern, clean, great service, and would be at home in any major western city. However, extortionately expensive - over US$10 for a small beer $200-240 in winter, varies seasonally unto $1,100. 
• 🌍 Six Seasons Hotel, Road 96, House 19, Gulshan 2 (In the diplomatic area), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. 82 rooms with all modern facilities for visitors. Menu options include Bangladeshi, Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Indian and Continental. 

Mirpur

Mid-range

• 🌍 Grand Prince Hotel, ☎ [phone]. This hotel is located in Mirpur 1 near the Grameen Bank, making it popular amongst interns. Breakfast is included with rooms. Internet is available in the lobby at 50 Tk per hour. Tk 1,368-6,840. 

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