Must-see restaurants in Northern Laos

  • Vita Restaurant

    Northern Laos

    Fairy-lit Vita sits three-quarters of the way down the main drag on the left-hand side as you walk south, and dishes up decent láhp, sandwiches and…

  • Houy Xai Kaew Restaurant

    Northern Laos

    The Mekong terrace here offers a great vantage point from which to watch the boats shuttling to and from Thailand. The menu has a wide range of Thai and…

  • CT Restaurant & Bakery

    Nong Khiaw

    At the end of the bridge, this place has the best view in town. CT has a Western-friendly menu of pasta, pancakes, breakfasts, sandwiches and tasty staple…

  • Meuang Neua Restaurant

    Northern Laos

    Festooned with lanterns and Che Guevara graffiti, this hole-in-the-wall is a 10-minute walk from the main drag. It's worth a visit for the fresh spring…

  • China Si Chuan Restaurant

    Northern Laos

    Located behind the market, this clean, new Chinese restaurant packs them in with rice dishes, kung pao chicken and some interesting options such as 'smell…

  • Kemkhong Restaurant

    Northern Laos

    Passable Lao grub from pork láhp to stir-fried food. The best thing is the river view, so park yourself with a sundowner and watch the light turn a burnt…

  • Night Market

    Northern Laos

    This night market near the central roundabout has food stalls for noodle soup, Lao grills, fresh fruits and khànǒm (traditional sweets).

  • Tontavanh Restaurant

    Northern Laos

    This typical-looking local eatery serves unexpectedly appetising food and even has a menu in concise English.

  • Saykhong

    Northern Laos

    With a great terrace and simple menu, Saykhong also pulls in the lion's share of the nightlife.

  • Laosamai Restaurant

    Northern Laos

    The first restaurant on the hill as you walk up from the boat dock, this traveller-friendly restaurant has views over the Nam Ou and serves tasty, if…

  • Chittavanh Restaurant

    Northern Laos

    Savouring a delicious Chinese fried-tofu dish makes it worth braving the reverberant clatter of this cavernous hotel restaurant where vinyl tablecloths…

  • Morning Market

    Northern Laos

    There are myriad noodle stands at the morning market, where you'll also be rewarded with a photogenic vista of fresh fruit and vegetables, buffalo skin,…

  • Simmaly Restaurant

    Northern Laos

    Serves up a tasty line of rice dishes, noodles and spicy meats, including steaming fĕr (rice noodles). The pork with ginger is memorable.

  • River Restaurant

    Northern Laos

    Basic Lao fare is served at this no-frills restaurant. It's close to Tham Kang cave; to reach it head over a bamboo bridge across the Nam Ngoi.

  • Food Market

    Northern Laos

    For cheap fĕr (rice noodles), spring rolls, local sausages and fried sweet potato, the food market is the place to go.

  • Nonmengda Market

    Northern Laos

    This market has a rich variety of fruit and veg, and eyebrow-raising critters from the jungle for some unique self-catering.

  • Ban Thin Market

    Northern Laos

    Among the noodles, vegetables and fruit expect a few appearances from songbirds, squirrels, tree frogs and rats. Cooked.