Dhaka, curated by the people who know it best.
Best of Dhaka is an independent, editorial-first city guide. We exist because Dhaka deserves better than scraped Google reviews and paid listicles.
Why we started
Dhaka is one of the most complex, surprising, and genuinely exciting cities in Asia to eat and live in. Yet for years, the available guides — if you could call them that — were either outdated travel-blog listicles written by people who spent four days here, or rating aggregators filled with fake reviews and undisclosed paid placements.
Best of Dhaka was built to fill that gap. Not as a database, but as an editorial product. Something closer to what Time Out did for London, or Eater for New York. A trusted voice that has actually been to the places it recommends, and says clearly what it found.
The rule we built the entire platform around is simple: we do not write about a place we have not visited. No exceptions. No press-release rewrites. No paid placements disguised as editorial. If it is on this site, someone from our team sat there, ordered the food, and made their own judgement.
That is not a revolutionary idea. But in Dhaka, right now, it is a rare one.
To be the most trusted guide to life in Dhaka.
We visit every place ourselves, write with honesty, and give this city the quality editorial coverage it has always deserved. Every decision we make as a platform flows from this principle.
The definitive reference for Dhaka's food, lifestyle, and culture.
We want to be the trusted answer when anyone — local or visitor — asks where to go in Dhaka. The platform that shapes where the city eats, drinks, and spends its time.
Our editorial promise
We visit first
Every place on this site has been physically visited by a member of our team before a single word is written. No exceptions.
No paid reviews
We do not accept payment in exchange for positive coverage. Our editorial rating is never for sale.
We show our work
Every listing carries a visible visit date. If we have not been back recently, you will know.
We update or remove
When a place closes, declines, or changes significantly, we update the listing. Old information is a trust liability.
We write in first person
Our reviews are written by the person who was there. We describe what we ordered, what we experienced, and what we actually thought.
Unannounced return visits
We never publish based solely on a press invite. We always make at least one unannounced return visit before publishing.
Editorial standards
These are the rules we hold ourselves to on every single piece of content we publish. They are not aspirational — they are operational.
- 01
We visit every place before writing about it — no exceptions, ever.
- 02
We do not accept payment in exchange for positive reviews or editorial coverage.
- 03
We disclose clearly when a listing is a paid featured placement.
- 04
We update listings when circumstances change — closures, ownership changes, quality shifts.
- 05
We always show the visit date on every listing so you know how recent our experience was.
- 06
We write in first person and never pretend to be more objective than a human reviewer can be.
- 07
We never publish based solely on a press invite — we always make an unannounced return visit.
Who is behind this
Mohamed Shakib
Founder & Editor-in-Chief
Mohamed Shakib is a Dhaka-based entrepreneur and the founder of Best of Dhaka. He started the platform after years of frustration with the quality of information available to anyone trying to navigate the city's food and lifestyle scene with any degree of confidence.
Every place featured in the editor's picks section has been personally visited by him. The visit-first methodology that underlies everything on this platform is a non-negotiable principle he established from day one.
"Dhaka has always had great places. It just never had a guide that was honest about which ones they are."
Best of Dhaka's reviewing team is made up of Dhaka residents — people who eat here, live here, and know the city the way only regulars can. Full team profiles are coming soon.
What we cover
Six verticals, one methodology. If we have not visited it, it is not on the site.
Cafes
Specialty roasters, third-wave cafes, and quiet work-friendly spots from Gulshan to Dhanmondi. We rate on coffee quality, ambience, value, and service.
Restaurants
From family dhabas in Old Dhaka to upscale dining in Banani. Every review includes a full breakdown of dishes tried, atmosphere, and value assessed.
Hotels
Business hotels, boutique properties, and weekend retreats. We assess amenities, service quality, room experience, and honest pricing.
Things To Do
Weekend activities, cultural experiences, and lifestyle destinations. We build guides that help Dhaka residents make the most of their time in the city.
Night Out
Rooftop cafes, late-night restaurants, and social spots. We focus on vibe, safety, quality, and experience — not just what is popular.
Neighborhood Guides
Deep-dive editorial guides to Dhaka's major areas: Gulshan, Dhanmondi, Banani, Old Dhaka, Mirpur, Uttara, and more. Updated as the neighborhoods evolve.
We write the way a knowledgeable friend talks to you. Not a critic, not a corporation. Someone who has been there, ordered the food, sat in the space, and is telling you honestly what they found.
The Best of Dhaka editorial voice
Get in touch
For editorial enquiries, listing submissions, or anything else.