Restaurants and Nightlife
in Luang Prabang
Laos food 3

"Laos food 3: Luang Prabang" was last updated on Feb 14, 2013
All information below is subject to change

Quick links:

Cheap food in Luang Prabang

Riverside Restaurants

L'Etranger Café

Scandinavian Bakery

Luang Prabang Cafe-Life & Nightlife

There's so much delicious and cheap cuisine to choose from in Luang Prabang, and it will never bore you :-)

Whether you're traveling on a budget or flashpacking, you'll find what you're craving for :-)

In this article you'll read about the food I tried in Luang Prabang, and places where you can grab a drink and have a good time.

When I last visited Luang Prabang in November 2007, I got a very good first impression of the Laotian food, and the nightlife!

CLICK ON ONE OF THE PICTURES TO START THE PHOTO GALLERY!

The most interesting Laotian dish I ate was "Lok Lak."

Now here are the restaurants, bars and food I tried in Luang Prabang - my favorite place in Laos!

Thao Teng & Nang Lea Vegetarians
and Food Market in Luang Prabang

The food in Luang Prabang is awesome! And can be very cheap! Here's the cheapest place I found:

In the evening, there's a popular food stall on Th Sisavangvong (if coming from Th Sakkarin direction, you have to pass the Royal Palace Museum). You can't miss the long queues!

Here you can get:

Mouth-running vegetarian buffet = 5000 Kip

Spring roll = 2000 kip

Water = 2000 kip

Beer Lao = 9000 Kip

It was ALWAYS crowded every time I had my dinner there, and not many seats to be found, but the food was remarkable! And the stall reminded me of Mongolian/Chinese restaurants: Pick the vegetables and noodles you want, then they heat it up for you.

For other cheap places to eat in Luang Prabang, head for the night market. Try the grilled meat, curries, chicken (10 000 kip), sticky rice (5000 kip). Otherwise, during the day you'll find food vendors selling decent baguettes (10 000 kip), shakes (5000 kip) and even flat bread made of papaya.

Flat bread in Luang Prabang, ©iStockphoto.com/Eliza Snow

Laos food 3: Flat bread in Laos

Return to top

Riverside Restaurants

You should go to the Mekong River and find open-air restaurants along the river. They serve some of the most delicious fish dishes I've ever eaten, and you get to sit by the river.

River view from restaurant in Luang Prabang

Grilled fish plus sticky rice is definitely my favorite!

Return to top

L'Etranger Books & Tea

Letranger Books and Tea in Luang Prabang

If coming from Th Sisavangvong, you have to go around Phousy Mountain to get to this cozy book cafe!

L'Etranger opened in 2001, and is just cozy and comfortable. Here you can borrow a book while being served fresh juices or smoothies, and you can also buy, sell or trade books. I tried the tea lassi and Chai tea - and loved it!

Prices at L'Etranger:

Most tea drinks (Twinings): 15 000 kip

Herbal drinks: 12 000 kip

Celestial herbal drinks: 15 000 kip (blueberry, peppermint, peach passion, wild berry etc)

In the evenings, you can watch a movie while relaxing on a big floor pillow. They have the movie nights upstairs. Get here early though, it can get crowded. The last time I saw a movie here was around 7:00 p.m. and they played "Sin City." Yeah, I know it was a long time ago!

Where: Th Chao Sisuphon

Opening hours: 7:00 am - 10:00 pm (Monday-Saturday), 10.00am-10.00pm (Sundays)

Return to top

Scandinavian Bakery

Scandinavian Bakery was the first European bakery in Laos when it opened in 1994.

Small, but a nice place to have your breakfast, pizza or burger!

If you're a sugar monster, try chocolate-filled croissants, cheese/chocolate croissants, brownies, cinnamon cake or ginger snaps! The coffee here was great as well.

For travelers coming from Scandinavia, they have "snus" ( tobacco in tiny bags; resembling tea bags). A dream come true for a Scandinavian who has run out of it ;-)

Since March 2009 the brand "Pioner Snuff" is sold at Scandinavian Bakery. It's produced in Laos and based on local Lao tobacco. It cost 55 000 kip per box.

Where: Sisavangvong road

Return to top

Luang Prabang Nightlife

Hive Bar

Most people coming here want to sit outside Hive Bar. I can see why - they have placed soft couches and chairs in a small garden with candles and lights, and they have Happy Hours.

You can sip a cocktail or Beer Lao while listening to hip-hop or electronic music.

Where: Th Chao Sisuphon

Relaxing, Volleyball and Bowling

Utopia - a nice place to chill during the day, and party at night - is tucked away on Kingkitsarath Road, a couple of minutes walk from the Night Market.

It also offers yoga and Thai Chi morning classes and volleyball fun.

Reader's update Feb 01, 2012: "You should mention Utopia. That place is gorgeous.

Especially chilling there during the day and it was thee place to be at night to hang out and play volleyball before heading off to bowling."

Bowling Party: Believe it or not, many travelers and locals get together at a bowling place located 10 minutes (with Tuk-Tuk or taxi) outside center of town!

The beers flood and the atmosphere is alright. It's a perfect place to hang out with fellow travelers!