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, Dhaka, ☏ +880 2 803-3292, dcfaminfd@gmail.com. Covering 205 acres 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, Dhaka, ☏ +880 2 8035035, info@dhakazoo.org. Apr-Oct: 09:00-18:00; Nov-Mar: 08:00-17:00, 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.. 

Buy

Gulshan

• Pink Pearls. Available in many handicraft stores, with some dedicated outlets in Gulshan 
• 1 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, ☏ +880 1 881 8553. Su-Th 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. 
• 1 Bittersweet Cafe, House 10, Road 53 (On the first floor), bittersweet@withmgt.com. 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 Tk 200-300, Cupcakes around Tk 160. 
• CoFi 11, House 6A, Road Number 113, Gulshan-2 (behind the Delvista Grameenphone Centre opposite of Agora), ☏ +880 29897794, +880 1713364499. 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 a branch in Chittagong - 36/7 CDA Avenue overlooking the forest hill. CoFi-Ctg Tel: 01842364499 Tk 150-300. 
• 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. Tk 100-400. 
• Hotbrew Coffee, House 108, Road 12, Banani (On the 2nd floor), info@hotbrewcoffee.com. 10:00-22:00. Free WLAN is also available. Mains Tk 200-300. 
• 2 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. Tk 300-600. 
• Spaghetti Jazz, located at Gulshan-2 circle. Decent Italian restaurant that delivers pizza and pasta. A meal costs Tk 400-600. 
• Steakhouse, House 8, Road 53, Gulshan-2, ☏ +880 2-886 1604, info@steakhousebd.com. Serves steaks. Expect to pay at least Tk 2000 per person for a 3-course dinner. Tk 800-1800. 

Sleep

Gulshan

Budget

• Sabrina's Home (Home Stay), C1,Hs-137,RD-4,Blk-A，Banani, ☏ +880 1199812848, +880 1911758668, sabhhl@gmail.com. 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, ☏ +880 1939365803, info@greenhouse-dhaka.com. 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, ☏ +880 2-9886681, 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. 
• Hotel de Crystal Garden, House number 28, Road number 63, ☏ +880 2 8823147, fax: +880-2-8827076, info@degardenhotel.com. 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

• 1 Radisson Blu Dhaka Water Garden, Airport Road, Dhaka Cantonment (15 miles from downtown, immediately outside the diplomatic enclave close to airport), ☏ +880 2 9834555, sales.dhaka@radisson.com. Huge luxurious hotel sprawling over seven acres 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. Prices range from $255-900. (updated Aug 2020)

Mirpur

Mid-range

• 2 Grand Prince Hotel, ☏ +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 50 Tk per hour. Tk 1,368-6,840.