Dhaka/North

North Dhaka is a district that 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.

See

Mirpur

• 1 National Botanical Gardens, Mirpur, ☏ +880 2 803-3292, dcfaminfd@gmail.com. Covering 205 acres (83 hectares) of land at Mirpur, the Gardens are a haven of peace in the chaos of the city. It is next to the zoo, so both can be visited in one trip.  
• 2 Dhaka Zoo (Mirpur Zoo), Mirpur, ☏ +880 2 58053030, info@bnzoo.org. Apr-Oct: 9AM-6PM; 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.  

Savar

National Martyrs Memorial

• 3 National Martyrs Memorial (Jatiyo Smriti Soudho). The national war memorial is located on the outskirts of Dhaka in Savar. It is a modernist monument with gardens and lakes where the national flower water lily often blooms. The memorial grounds offer a peaceful getaway from frenetic chaos of Dhaka.  

Do

• 1 Kurmitola Golf Club, Shaheed Sharani (near post office), ☏ +880 1730004680. Daily 8AM-8PM. (updated Jul 2021)
• Cricket: 2 Sher-e-Bangla, Mirpur Rd. This is the national cricket stadium, capacity 25,400; the name means "Tiger of Bengal". It also hosts Dhaka Dominators in the Bangladesh Premier League, a T20 cricket tournament. (updated Sep 2023)

Buy

Gulshan

• 1 Pink Pearl, Gulshan Avenue (Gulshan Pink City Shopping Center), ☏ +880 1884874277. Available in many handicraft stores, with some dedicated outlets in Gulshan 
• 2 Aranya, 60E Kemal Ataturk, Banani, ☏ +880 1787659277. 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.

• 1 A&W, northeast corner of Gulshan 1 Circle. A burger, fries and rootbeer float will cost nearly BDT300, which seems to be no problem for the well-off young Bangladeshi teens that fill the tables. The jukebox filled with Backstreet Boys may either add or detract from the experience. 
• 2 Bamboo Shoot, Gulshan Avenue (upstairs from Agora department store), ☏ +880 1781923965. 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. 
• 3 Bittersweet Cafe, House 10, Road 53, near Gulshan North Avenue (first floor), ☏ +880 1760300642, bittersweet@withmgt.com. Daily noon-3AM. 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 Tk 200-300, Cupcakes around Tk 160. 
• 4 CoFi 11 Express, House 66, Ground Floor, Road No 9, Block F, Banani, ☏ +880 1911929906. Daily 11AM-midnight. 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 also have a branch in Chittagong, 36/7 CDA Avenue overlooking the forest hill. Tk 150-300. 
• 5 Spaghetti Jazz, Gulshan-2 Circle, ☏ +880 1756422441. Decent Italian restaurant that delivers pizza and pasta. A meal costs Tk 400-600. 
• 6 Steakhouse, House 8, Road 53, Gulshan-2, ☏ +880 1976004400. Serves steaks. Expect to pay at least Tk 2,000 per person for a three-course dinner. Tk 800-1800. 

Drink

• 1 American Club, House No. 13, Road No 69 (beside Gulshan Lake Park), ☏ +880 258815115. Tu-Su 8AM-8PM, closed M. Restaurant, swimming pool, and tennis courts. Although it was built primarily for the employees of the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka and their families, mmembership is generally available to other people as well. (updated Jul 2021)

Sleep

Gulshan

Budget

• 1 Sabrina's Home (Home Stay), C1, House 137, Road 4, Blk A，Banani, ☏ +880 1199812848, +880 1911758668, sabhhl@gmail.com. Check-in: 1PM, check-out: noon. Rate includes Wi-Fi, fan, and air conditioning, guests' kitchen, satellite and cable television 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, and elevator. Other paid services include 24-hour airport transfers, 24-hour meals, and laundry. Phone call and email needed for reservation. A foreign passport is 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.

• 2 Space Apartments, Corner of Road 57 and Road 59 (near Gulshan North Avenue, Gulshan), ☏ +880 1617722301. (updated Jul 2021)
• 3 Green House Guesthouse, House 6B Road No. 68 (near Gulshan Lake Park), ☏ +880 28837053, info@greenhouse-dhaka.com. Walking distance from many foreign missions to Bangladesh. All rooms have air-con. Includes breakfast and free Wi-Fi internet access. US$50-75. 
• 4 Eastern House, House 4, Road 24, ☏ +880 1716756599. Has internet broadband in every room, and breakfast is included in the price. Tk 3,420-6,156. 
• 5 BRAC Centre Inn, 75 Mohakhali, ☏ +880 1787680854, bracinn@bdmail.net. 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. 
• 6 Hotel de Crystal Crown, House 5 Road 23/A, ☏ +880 1856230550, info@degardenhotel.com. All rooms are air-conditioned, en-suite, and have cable television. Located near the American, Australian, British, and a few other international clubs where you are likely to be able to buy a beer. US$50-80. 

Splurge

• 7 Radisson Blu Dhaka Water Garden, Airport Road (15 mi (24 km) from downtown, immediately outside the diplomatic enclave close to airport), ☏ +880 2 9834555, sales.dhaka@radisson.com. Huge luxurious hotel sprawling over 7 acres (2.8 hectares) of manicured grounds and gardens with water features. All rooms are clean and contemporary. The hotel is almost a resort as it has a large outdoor swimming pool, tennis courts, spa and a golf course. It hosts Bangla parties at weekends, which go on until late and which can be very loud and heard in rooms. $255-900. (updated Aug 2020)

Mirpur

Mid-range

• 8 Grand Prince Hotel, Mirpur Road, ☏ +880 2 9012952. 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 Tk 50 per hour. Tk 1,368-6,840. 

Near the airport

• 9 Le Méridien Dhaka, 79/A Commercial Area Airport Road, ☏ +880 9638900089. (updated Jul 2021)