Luang Prabang

The restaurant scene in Luang Prabang never sleeps. Here are a range of fantastic foodie hits from the newest establishments in town:

Popolo (on Kounxoau Road) invites you to enjoy the beautiful décor, relaxed vibe and delicious homemade Franco-Italian influenced dishes and some Asian fusion to boot.

At Bistro Pastis the menu changes every week. At this Provençale Bistro the atmosphere and location is both cosy and unique, as the chef hosts you in the back garden!

Dedicated to using fresh ingredients, you are guaranteed quality, delicious food and a great wine selection at Bouang (meaning spoon in Lao). Located on the main street, this Asian eatery encourages conscious eating and a sustainable ethos. One of the signature dishes is the Buddha Bowl full of healthy raw veg. Other dishes include gnocchi green curry, stuffed peppers and delightful desserts!

Pha Khao Lao is in Ban Aphay, just a short walk from Wat Visoun. Serving wonderfully flavourful soups and a great range of authentic local Lao and Thai dishes. The staff here are friendly, the atmosphere convivial and a new large decking area out back allows you to enjoy your meal al fresco.

Paste at the Apsara (Kingkitsarath Road) brings Luang Prabang its first Michelin-starred restaurant. Chef Bee Satongun showcases the historical layered flavours of Lao cuisine. Through building on the recipes of the great Phia Sing while retaining a creative twist, the chef creates dishes such as crunchy fermented rice balls with sour sausage, kaffir lime zest, red curry paste, river weed and rose pepper leaf.

Vientiane

The evolving restaurant tableau in Vientiane is one to dine for.

‘Slow Food’ pioneer Doi ka Noi (Sisangvong Road) is a gem of a restaurant under the guidance of owner and chef Noi. As the first Laos member of the world renowned Slow Food movement, Noi presents food that uses fresh seasonal local produce based on a deep respect for traditional Lao recipes and that means dishes are bursting with flavour. The menu changes daily and serves up 7 or 8 dishes based on what is freshest and available, including organic vegetables from the backyard garden.

La Cage du Coq (Hengbounnoy Street, Ban Haysok) is a French gastronomic brasserie. The signature dish is duck breast stuffed with foie gras. The bistro is a popular weekend brunch spot serving a variety of meat and fish dishes (duck, lamb, chicken, tilapia and salmon) with an accompanying sauce and side dishes that include pumpkin flan and seared spiced tofu.

3 Merchants (Crowne Plaza Samsenthai Road) allows the rich history of the food of Indochina to tell its own stories. You find that the dishes from Cambodia (sach moun), Laos (laap), Malaysia (Penang chicken red curry), Thailand (Massaman curry) and Vietnam (luc-lac), are matched to the themed décor of the restaurant. Here you find the heritage of local identities presented through fresh ingredients and authentic flavours.