Must-see restaurants in Laos

  • Doi Ka Noi

    Vientiane

    It took one meal for Doi Ka Noi to become one of our favourite restaurants in Laos. With a menu that changes daily (check the restaurant's Facebook page…

  • Carpe Diem

    Laos

    It's hard to envisage a more beautifully situated restaurant in all of Laos, as Carpe Diem is set in thatched pavilions dotted about the lower falls of…

  • Paste

    Luang Prabang

    Offering a Lao fusion menu inspired by the recipes of royal chef Phia Sing and sprinkled with some magic dust from Michelin-starred Thai chef Bongkoch …

  • Khambang Lao Food Restaurant

    Vientiane

    The slightly dreary, semi-open-air dining room couldn't be a bigger contrast with the tart, spicy, bold flavours served inside. This long-standing…

  • Nemnueng Sihom

    Vientiane

    Nemnueng Sihom is a long-standing, bustling restaurant that offers a fun eating experience. It specialises in nǎem néuang (Vietnamese barbecued pork…

  • Riverside Restaurant

    Northern Laos

    Since being damaged by a storm, Riverside has come back better than ever. In the evening its Chinese lanterns sway in the breeze on the decked terrace,…

  • Khaiphaen

    Luang Prabang

    Khaiphaen is a popular training restaurant run by NGO Friends International that operates a network of inspired venues across the region. The menu is Lao…

  • Tamarind

    Luang Prabang

    On the banks of the Nam Khan, mint-green Tamarind has created its very own strain of 'Mod Lao' cuisine. The à la carte menu features delicious sampling…

  • Chokdee Cafe

    Vientiane

    A Belgian restaurant and bar on the riverfront, Chokdee specialises in dishes from the homeland, including, of course, moules (mussels) and frites (French…

  • Dyen Sabai

    Luang Prabang

    One of Luang Prabang's top destinations for fabulous Lao food. The eggplant dip and fried Mekong riverweed are as good as anywhere. Most seating is on…

  • Tham Mada

    Vang Vieng

    The name here means 'normal', but there's lots that's unusual about this place. Chief among these is that the Korean owner is doing some of the better…

  • Gecko Bar & Shop

    Northern Laos

    Handmade woven gifts and tea are for sale at this delightful, memorable little cafe (two-thirds of the way down the main drag, on your left heading south)…

  • Ka-Tib-Khao

    Vientiane

    Ka-Tib-Khao (Rice Basket) has a reassuringly short and delicious menu of dishes, many from the country's north. Think sheets of deep-fried Mekong River…

  • Bouang Asian Eatery

    Luang Prabang

    This attractive eatery on the main drag puts a smile on your face with its colourful chairs, funky light fixtures and mural-covered wall. The hand-written…

  • Coco Home Bar & Restaurant

    Nong Khiaw

    Run by Sebastien and Chok, this leafy riverside oasis has a great menu, with dishes like papaya salad, mango sticky rice, mok phaa (steamed fish in banana…

  • Korean Restaurant

    Vang Vieng

    Initially, we were drawn in by the Bee Gees soundtrack, and were pleased to discover that this place does some of the better foreign food in town. Let the…

  • PVO

    Vientiane

    This fresh, no-frills eatery is one of the better places in town to grab lunch, and in addition to a variety of Vietnamese dishes, does some of the best…

  • Suzette

    Vientiane

    This bright, contemporary-feeling place specialises in galettes (crêpes made with buckwheat flour). Pair yours with a dressed salad and a bottle of cider,…

  • Pimentón

    Vientiane

    Pimentón, with its open fire pit and beefy menu, is all about the meat. But to be honest, we didn't make it past the lengthy and appetising tapas menu…

  • Breakfast Vendors

    Vang Vieng

    A string of breakfast vendors sets up shop every morning serving basic but tasty Lao dishes, from noodles to rice porridge. One of relatively few places…

  • Daauw

    Northern Laos

    Probably the friendliest vibe in town; head here to soak up sunset views on its chill-out terrace decked in low cushions and an open-pit fire, and choose…

  • Sabaidee Odisha

    Northern Laos

    Don't be fooled by the less-than-impressive exterior, cement floor and bare walls of this hole-in-the-wall joint, for the food is terrific. Prepared fresh…

  • Bamboo Lounge

    Northern Laos

    With its moss-green facade, this place is the favourite in town for travellers. It offers young people from remote villages employment and has donated…

  • Daolin Restaurant

    Pakse

    Overlook the traffic noise – this popular restaurant has great food and service. It has some of the best Thai food in town and is a great introduction to…

  • Souphailin Restaurant

    Northern Laos

    Don't be fooled by the modest bamboo exterior of this backstreet gem, as the tastiest Lao food in the city is served here. Friendly Souphailin creates…

  • Yuni Coffee

    Northern Laos

    If you're missing standard lattes your caffeine privations are over – this place is a blessing for coffee snobs. In a spacious location with a modern…

  • Nakorn Cafe Restaurant

    Southern Laos

    A pleasant melange of classy and casual, this riverside restaurant has a small mixed menu that covers duck láhp to chicken green curry to tuna sandwiches…

  • Le Panorama

    Pakse

    The rooftop restaurant of the Pakse Hotel serves up delicious Franco-Asian cuisine and unbeatable 360-degree city views. The menu includes duck breast,…

  • Delta Coffee

    Pakse

    Delta offers a lot more than the name suggests. Owners Alan and Siriporn serve coffee from their plantation near Paksong, but also have a menu that…

  • Le Banneton

    Luang Prabang

    It's the softness of the melt-in-your-mouth pastry that keeps us coming back to our favourite bakery in Luang Prabang, which serves pain au chocolat …

  • Popolo

    Luang Prabang

    Pitching itself as a 'cantina convivial', Popolo is the brainchild of the team from the ever-popular Tangor. Set in an old, exposed-brick building along…

  • Saffron Coffee

    Luang Prabang

    The beans at this hip riverfront cafe are sustainably sourced from the micro coffee plots of nearby hill tribes, while profits are reinvested in the…

  • Chinese Expedition Force Restaurant

    Vang Vieng

    We also want to know the deal behind this restaurant's enigmatic name, but for now, we'll settle for tasty food. Flip through an iPad menu of Chinese…

  • Tangor

    Luang Prabang

    Atmospheric with its low-lit interior of dark woods and tangerine-coloured walls peppered with old travel posters, Tangor boasts a menu of beautifully…

  • Privet

    Vientiane

    Dumplings, zakuski (small dishes eaten with vodka), pickled herring, blinis and caviar – peeps, Russian food is really tasty. And even if you don't agree…

  • Novelty Cafe

    Luang Prabang

    One of the most popular cafes on the main strip, Novelty offers some delectable coffees, novel teas (their pun, not ours!) and delicious fruit shakes. It…

  • Manda de Laos

    Luang Prabang

    This stunning restaurant is set in a beautiful lantern-festooned garden flanking a lily pond that is pretty by day, but enchanting by night. The menu of…

  • Le Café Ban Vat Sene

    Luang Prabang

    Luang Prabang's most stylish stop for afternoon tea and scones. Fans whirr above a serenely lit bar, while the dessert cabinet purrs at you like a…

  • Coconut Garden

    Luang Prabang

    Excellent set menus (including a veggie option) span five top-quality Lao dishes, allowing a single diner to create the subtle palate of flavours that you…

  • L'Elephant Restaurant

    Luang Prabang

    L'Elephant serves some of the most sophisticated cuisine in the city in a renovated villa with wooden floors, stucco pillars, stencilled ochre walls and…

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