We stayed here for 3 days upon arrival in Lhasa to acclimatize to the altitude. Location is good just across from Bakhor square. However, we were allocated a main road facing room as courtyard inward facing rooms are smaller. On the 1st night, we were woken up at 2am to see Tibetan lady being beaten & forced into a SUV by 2 men from hotel across the road. That was pretty scary for 1st night in Tibet.

The hotel has no heaters or safe. There are safe deposit pigeon holes in room behind check in counter on 1st come 1st served basis. Counter staff are downright rude and unhelpful. Luckily there is a pleasant young lady at the tour desk next to hotel counter who could help us with directions to St Regis hotel where we went for nice buffet dinner on return leg to Lhasa.

There is no elevator so you need to lug your own luggage to your rooms upstairs. Luckily we had room at end of stairway. Breakfast is on 4th floor roof top in the cold morning air with a pathetic spread. The only saving grace is a view of the Potola Palace about 2km away.

Overall, the hotel feels filthy like a backpacker's hostel (they have a backpacker rear wing which is really filthy). There are many other 3 star hotels in Lhasa around the Bakhor Square area which are much cleaner and offer better service/food and has elevators (we stayed at another on return leg as Yak was full for one day - what a relief!!!).

Please don't be tricked by Lonely Planet's recommendations. The book is outdated for Lhasa.
Yak Hotel in Shigatse is even worse - toilet doesn't drain & there is a terrible smell emancipating from the drainage. Again, no heater in room & breakfast sucks.

We stayed at the Yak Hotel for 4 nights in October 2011. The location of the hotel is great, right in the Tibetan quater of town close to both the Potala and Jokhang.

The breakfast was pretty poor but the view from the roof top was fantastic. We has room 9207 which is on the 2nd floor at the back. The main advantage is it's quiet and overlooks the courtyard rather than the busy street, though the room is quiet dark. The bathroom is also a glass box at the back of the room meaning there is no bathroom privacy.

All the staff were very friendly and make you feel welcome.

the location of the hotel is fab, make sure you get a room at the top floor as they seem to be the best.
view from the roof top to Potala and the hills, free wifi available.
Breakfast as buffet at Dunya was nice, but only of its included.

NO elevators, many stairs; small decent LOOKing, crammed rm. Spacious bath. Noisy hotel w/loud laughing & talking til 2 & 3 a.m. Advertised business center was NOT open, NO WiFi. Good location but not very clean; thick carpet was filthy with many stains & what looked like 2 years top filth. Requested it be vac'd but never saw or heard a vac. Housekeeper came back with a BROOM and an attitude. She slightly swept the carpet (which didn't help much). Gross. There was a tasty breakfast w/the usual Chinese fare(vegetables and porridge) + eggs, meat, potatoes, and coffee. It was served on the rooftop w/ a clear view of the Potala Palace, which is a plus, but I wouldn't stay again. Staff had much attitude and no smiles or welcomes. Guess they know you'll be leaving in a day or two and don't care