Must-see restaurants in Vientiane

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • Soukviman Cuisine Lao

    Vientiane

    An upscale-ish place serving a hefty, but not too large, menu of Lao dishes. Choose from salads, soups, grilled dishes and more, including daily specials,…

  • Kuvieng Fried Chicken

    Vientiane

    This ramshackle restaurant draws locals for the combination of deep-fried chicken (the owner allegedly 'borrowed' the recipe from the other KFC), Lao…

  • Naked Espresso

    Vientiane

    One of the best-loved coffee shops in Vientiane, Naked specialises in home-grown Lao coffee and selected gourmet imports from places as diverse as…

  • Rice Noodle – Lao Porridge

    Vientiane

    This is a good place to sample kòw Ъęeak sèn, thick rice- and tapioca-flour noodles served in a slightly viscous broth with crispy deep-fried pork belly…

  • Grilling at Ban Anou night market.

    Ban Anou Night Market

    Vientiane

    Setting up on a small street every evening, this atmospheric open-air market dishes up Lao food, from grilled meats to chilli-based dips with vegetables…

  • Bakery By Boris

    Vientiane

    With high glass ceilings and a minimalist design, this sleek cafe is like a giant fishbowl marooned in a leafy oasis next to Wat Si Muang. Paris-trained…

  • L'Adresse de Tinay

    Vientiane

    Alchemising an eclectic gastronomic landscape of snails and scrambled eggs, sea-bream fillet, beef tenderloin, rack of lamb and rosemary, plus to-die-for…

  • Han 3 Euey Nong

    Vientiane

    Cheap and tidy, this busy family-run restaurant features tasty must-have dishes like nǎem kòw (crispy balls of deep-fried rice and sour pork sausage…

  • Noy's Fruit Heaven

    Vientiane

    Noy's is a homely, colourful juice bar with Chinese paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling. Stop in to pick up a few of your 'five a day' or decimate…

  • Common Grounds

    Vientiane

    It's air-con cool in this family-friendly cafe. Sofas to read on, a cold-selection counter boasting wraps, quesadillas, falafel, salads and homemade…

  • Korean Restaurant

    Vientiane

    Lacklustre name aside, this Korean-run place is great for sampling what is currently the most popular foreign cuisine in Southeast Asia. Most locals go…

  • Senglao Cafe

    Vientiane

    Named after a now-defunct cinema in the centre of town, this retro-themed restaurant has a cinematic theme and restored leather chairs from the old movie…

  • JoMa Bakery Café

    Vientiane

    This contemporary bakery has a friendly, air-con-chilled atmosphere and a cornucopia of lush salads and bespoke subs and bagels. It also serves brownies,…

  • Kaogee Café

    Vientiane

    Retro-themed cafe/restaurant doing the kind of sophisticated kòw jee (Vietnamese baguette sandwiches) you're not going to find on the streets. Other perks…

  • Thatdam Noodle

    Vientiane

    Hidden away down a side street near That Dam, this place is run by an affable Lao chef who is clearly proud of his noodle-soup creations. Duck is a…

  • Café Vanille

    Vientiane

    Get here early before some of the city's best croissants run out. The simple interior makes for a nice place to read the paper over a tart, salad, panini…

  • Cabana

    Vientiane

    This self-professed 'wholesome' cafe is bringing Western-style brunch to Vientiane. Think decent coffee drinks, salads, baked goods, sweets, a cozy vibe…

  • The State of Pasta

    Vientiane

    Imagine fresh Italian pasta paired with traditional Lao flavours. That's the concept behind this place, which has dishes you won't find anywhere else on…

  • Jamil Zahid Punjab Restaurant

    Vientiane

    Run by the irrepressible Jamil, who likes to take photographs of all his customers to post on Facebook (although there's is no offence taken if you…

  • Acqua

    Vientiane

    Considered by many residents to be the finest Italian restaurant in the city. Indulgent mains include sumptuous imported cuts from land and sea. The 198…

  • Pizza Da Roby

    Vientiane

    Paying homage to its location in Laos People's Democratic Republic (PDR), Pizza Da Roby turns out some of the best oven-baked pizzas in the country…

  • La Cage du Coq

    Vientiane

    Named after the fighting-cock cages that ornately decorate the garden, this eccentric place offers a unique blend of French dishes (frog legs, coq au vin)…

  • Taj Mahal Restaurant

    Vientiane

    Hidden down a side street opposite the back of the Lao National Culture Hall, this unpretentious earthy joint dishes up fresh and lively curries (tasty…

  • La Signature

    Vientiane

    With gentle jazz drifting onto the fan-cooled terrace of glass-topped wicker tables (and upstairs in the ochre-hued restaurant), La Signature is perfect…

  • Bistrot 22

    Vientiane

    Although somewhat inconveniently distant from the city centre, Bistrot 22 is nonetheless enjoying great reviews for Chef Philippe's lustrous cuisine, with…

  • Lao Kitchen

    Vientiane

    Colourful walls, alt tunes and good service complement a menu spanning stews, Luang Prabang sausage, láhp variations, stir-fried morning glory (water…

  • Khop Chai Deu

    Vientiane

    In a remodelled colonial-era villa near Nam Phu, Khop Chai Deu has been a travellers' favourite for years because of its range of approachable Lao, Thai,…

  • Osaka

    Vientiane

    A longstanding, lively hole-in-the-wall, with slatted chairs on a plant-filled verandah, cosy Osaka tempts you inside with its lipstick-red booths. Oodles…

  • Cafe Nomad

    Vientiane

    Right near the Thai consulate, this little gem has original artwork on the mustard-coloured walls, whirring fans, various delicious panini and perhaps the…

  • Sticky Fingers Café & Bar

    Vientiane

    Sticky Fingers has the atmosphere of a Sydney cafe and serves tasty cuisine that could be described as 'modern international'. Generous happy-hour drink…

  • Samba Xayoh

    Vientiane

    Vegetarians beware: Samba does an all-you-can-eat, Brazilian-style meat buffet; servers come to your table with a selection of eight grilled meats and a…