The Yak has a great reputation, but the hotel is changing under new management. The staff at the front desk is about as rude and officious as I have ever encountered! The Yak has a wide range of accommodations, everything from 5 beds-to- a- room dorms with public showers to better rooms in the main building so you should ask to see several rooms before taking one. Our room overlooked the courtyard where cars and buses are parked, so it was noisy. We also had major construction going on everyday in the wing right next to us. The elevator is not working and the 4 story climb for breakfast in this altutude is worth noting. There are other hotels in Lhasa with equally good location in the old Tibet part of town.

The Yak Hotel is a good option, with a wonderful location but your first impressions will be distinctly guided by your last destination.
If you are jetting in from Shanghai, Beijing or some other mecca of 5star loveliness steal yourself, this is a good, basic, everything you need place but forget room service and posh bathroom fittings, if
on the otherhand you have just spend 30 days in the wilds or come overland from nepal this place will seem like heaven. The service is great, once you settle in. Upfront they dont do a walk through of what they offer so you stumble across the internet stations or laundry service as you go. But once settled in the staff really know what is going on, they can spot the right traveler a mile off and tell you your guide is after you and then reach him on his cell phone
for you without you batting an eyelid. On the otherhand they are a bit picky on check out, there is also an officious room list of everything in your room and its price in case you want off with the wooden stool or electric tea kettle and they will make you wait on check out to make sure you have not helped youself to the yak hotel personalised tea cups! That said the location is amazing, you are practically in the Barkhor and there is an amazing Potala view from the 5th floor breakfast room - dont even think of eating next door at Dunya for your toast and coffee, the morning view from the Yak is breathtaking. Across the courtyard there is also a good tour company and guide service for all those wanting to work with Tibetan focused companies called Shigatse Travels - highly recommended

I got lucky by ending up here ... I had originally booked myself into the Lhasa Hotel, simply because it was the easiest place to make an advance reservation via the Internet, but when I arrived at Lhasa Hotel, I was told that the Chinese government had decided to visit Lhasa, so they cleared out the entire hotel for them, and they canceled my reservation. Luckily a taxi driver overheard my dilemma and dropped me off at the Yak Hotel. The location was much better than the Lhasa Hotel, literally steps away from the enchanting Tibetan quarter, and it was about 1/3 the price. I don't really recommend the rooftop restaurant for anything other than breakfast (you have to twist their arms to cook you a meal for lunch or dinner, they make it clear they'd rather you leave them alone), but one of the best restaurants in town is right next door to the hotel. The decor in the rooms may be a little over-the-top Tibetan, but it's charming. Very friendly staff, and as previously mentioned, the famous Tibetan quarter is right across the street, and the Potala Palace about a 15-minute walk to the west. If your room is on the 2nd floor, take the time climbing the stairs to stop mid-way and catch your breath ... with the air very thin at such high altitudes, you could easily pass out if not careful. Try to stay here if you can.

The Yak hotel, is a good choice for Lhasa, I just arrived and went looking for accomadation and it was the best place i saw.
Its not luxurious, but its comfortable and friendly and in a great location in the old and atmospheric part of town. The rest of Lhasa seems to filled to the brink of Chinese. The Tibetans seem to be pushed out of their own home town and this old part of town seems to be their last refuge...which is a very sad reality.