Where To Eat In Luang Prabang: 13 Best Restaurants (2026)

Wondering where to eat in Luang Prabang? I’ve visited the city three times and eaten at every place on this list, covering everything from cheap Lao food and riverside restaurants to coffee, pizza, and a nicer dinner.

One of the best ways to discover a new destination is through its food. Even better is when there is a wide variety to try. However, with so little time and so many options, where do you start?

I’ve spent a good few weeks in Luang Prabang across three separate trips to Laos, and I genuinely fell in love with the food scene here. For such a small city, you’ll find a surprising mix of French-inspired bakeries, riverside coffee spots, local Lao restaurants, and even some seriously good Italian food.

However, with so many options, deciding where to eat can get a little overwhelming, especially if you only have a few days. Nothing is worse than wasting one of your limited meals somewhere average!

In this guide, I’ve included my favorite spots for breakfast, cheap eats, local Lao food, pizza, and a nicer meal out. I’ve personally visited and eaten at every place listed, and I’ll also share what each one is best for and the dishes worth ordering.

Where To Eat In Luang Prabang: My Favorite Cafes & The Best Restaurants

🚗 How I Book Cheap Transport In Laos: 12Go Asia

Quick Answer: Best Places At A Glance

In the mood for…	Go here	Why
Best cafe and breakfast	Saffron Coffee	Good coffee, big breakfasts and a lovely spot beside the Mekong
Cheap eats	Luang Prabang Night Market	Tasty, filling meals without spending too much
Local Lao food	Dyen Sabai	Go for the Lao hotpot and riverside setting
Vegetarian food	Yuni Yupoun	One of the easiest menus for vegetarians
Pizza night	Secret Pizza	The best pizza I had—just plan around its limited opening nights
A nicer dinner	Tangor	Where I’d go for a proper dinner and cocktails

Best Cafes And Breakfast Spots

Luang Prabang has no shortage of good cafes, whether you’re after a proper breakfast, a fresh pastry, or simply a decent coffee before heading out for the day.

I tried quite a few across my visits, and these are the spots I’d definitely recommend.

Formula B

⭐️ Rating: 4.7 out of 5 Stars | 📍 Location: Sisavangvong Road, Luang Prabang | Price Range: 💲💲| Best For: Creative Drinks & Sweet Treats

Formula B is one of my favourite cafes in Luang Prabang. It’s known for its baked goods, brunch dishes, coffee, and a seriously impressive drinks menu.

After trying a few hit-and-miss breakfast spots, I visited Formula B and finally had an amazing meal. I ordered one of their strawberry marble drinks alongside a brownie, and this quickly became one of my favourite cafe stops in the city.

They also serve cakes, croissants, and plenty of savoury options if you want something more filling.

I will say it’s a little more expensive than similar cafes in Luang Prabang, but the strong air conditioning also makes it a pretty good place to hide from the heat.

Must Try: Brownie

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Joma Bakery Cafe

⭐️ Rating: 4.2 out of 5 Stars | 📍 Location: Chao Fa Ngum Road, Luang Prabang | Price Range: 💲💲| Best For: A Decent Set Breakfast & Wi-Fi

Joma Bakery Cafe is an iconic eatery and a popular spot with travellers and expats. With a relaxed coffee shop vibe and good Wi-Fi, it’s common to see people here for a couple of hours grabbing a few drinks or working on their laptops.

No doubt this is one of the most reliable bakeries in Luang Prabang and is well worth checking out during your visit. I ordered an almond croissant, coconut cake, and a Lao iced coffee.

Though I will say, this place is certainly on the pricier side compared with some of the local cafes around Luang Prabang. However, you know you’ll get a decent meal, and there are plenty of sandwiches, cakes, and baked goods to choose from.

I also have to give a shout-out to Joma Bakery Cafe for its efforts to be more environmentally friendly. During my visit, they used eco-friendly takeaway packaging, which was nice to see.

Must Try: Lao Iced Coffee

almond croissant and smoothie from joma cafe, one of the best bakeries in luang prabang — almond croissant and smoothie from joma cafe

a delicious fresh sandwich from joma cafe in luang prabang — a delicious fresh sandwich from joma cafe

Le Banneton Cafe

⭐️ Rating: 4.4 out of 5 Stars | 📍 Location: Sakkaline Road, Luang Prabang | Price Range: 💲💲| Best For: French Breakfast & Pastries

Le Banneton Cafe is the perfect chill breakfast spot when you’re after a good Western meal.

They have great food and coffee, so what more could you want? I ordered one of their crepes and found this to be a good, reasonably priced breakfast option. You can also try one of their baguettes or choose something from the cabinet of freshly baked pastries.

This cafe is located inside a beautiful old colonial building, which fits in perfectly with the UNESCO World Heritage architecture found around the city.

It’s also right beside several temples, making it an easy breakfast or lunch stop while temple-hopping around Luang Prabang.

Must Try: The Cabinet Pasteries

le banneton cafe bakery cabinet where to eat in luang prabang — delicious french baked goods from le banneton cafe

crepe covered in chocolate from le banneton cafe — much sure to try a crepe from le banneton cafe

Saffron Coffee

⭐️ Rating: 4.6 out of 5 Stars | 📍 Location: Khem Khong Road, Luang Prabang | Price Range: 💲💲| Best For: Cakes & Coffees

Saffron Coffee has awesome chill vibes and seriously strong coffee. The staff here are lovely, and it makes an easy place to slow down for a while during a busy day of exploring.

It’s located directly opposite the Mekong River, with plenty of shade and comfortable tables where you can relax and enjoy the view.

On my first visit I ordered a slice of carrot cake alongside a coffee. Now, the coffee here is definitely strong, perhaps even a little too strong for me, but if that’s how you like it, you’ll probably love this place.

Second time round it was a full breakfast meal to power me for a visit to Kuang Si Falls.

For me, Saffron Coffee is worth visiting mainly for the coffee, relaxed atmosphere, and riverside setting. They also serve larger breakfasts, pancakes, and other sweet treats if you want something more filling.

Must Try: Carrot Cake

a slice of carrot cake and coffee looking over the river at saffron coffee

fresh banana and chocolate pancakes with a side of ice cream from saffron coffee

saffron coffee big breakfast in luang prabang — a massive breakfast and delicious mocha from saffron coffee

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Best Cheap Eats In Luang Prabang

Although some cafes and restaurants around Luang Prabang’s city centre can be a little pricey, you can still eat well without blowing your budget.

These are my favourite spots for a filling meal when you want something cheap, casual, and easy.

Bouang

⭐️ Rating: 4.6 out of 5 Stars | 📍 Location: Sisavangvong Road, Luang Prabang | Price Range: 💲| Best For: A Cheap Casual Meal

If you are on a budget and looking for a colorful, delicious, fresh meal, you cannot go wrong with Bouang.

This has got to be one of the better cheap eats in Luang Prabang, making it a great choice for backpackers trying to keep their food costs down. I ordered the veggie burger, and it was so good!

The colourful and unique decor immediately puts you in a good mood. It also works perfectly with the bright and fresh ingredients used throughout the menu.

As well as burgers, you’ll find local bites, salads, desserts, and several vegetarian and vegan options. It’s an easy choice when you want a good casual meal without paying the prices found at some of the fancier restaurants around town.

Must Try: The Veggie Burger & Cocktails

cheap food from bouang best cafes luang prabang — enjoying the delicious food and fresh salad from bouang

you cant go wrong with the burgers at bouang

Luang Prabang Night Market

⭐️ Rating: 4.4 out of 5 Stars | 📍 Location: Sisavangvong Road, Luang Prabang | Price Range: 💲 | Best For: Cheap Street Food

The Luang Prabang Night Market is easily one of the cheapest places to eat in the city. As well as the main market stalls, you’ll find little food lanes selling buffet-style meals, baguettes, pancakes, smoothies, and plenty of snacks.

I’ve eaten a bit of everything here, including the vegetarian buffet food, baguettes, pancakes, and smoothies. There are plenty of meat-free choices, making this one of the easiest places to find a cheap vegetarian dinner in Luang Prabang.

Check out my full guide on visiting the Luang Prabang Night Market

Just be aware that it gets very crowded and there aren’t always many places to sit. Some of the buffet food also wasn’t particularly hot, so I’d have a good look around before loading up your plate.

My personal baguette order was tofu, avocado, cheese, and tomato. Honestly, it was cheap, filling, and so good that I sometimes found myself eating at these little stalls more than once a day.

Must Try: A Freshly Made Baguette

bbq meats luang prabang night market — bbq meats and kebabs, you can add these to the noodle and rice dishes

Best Restaurants For Lunch And Dinner

If you’re after a proper sit-down meal, Luang Prabang has plenty of good options for both lunch and dinner.

You’ll find everything from easy cafe meals and international favourites to restaurants overlooking the river.

Indigo Cafe

⭐️ Rating: 4.4 out of 5 Stars | 📍 Location: Sisavangvong Road, Luang Prabang | Price Range: 💲 | Best For: Lunch & Baked Treats

Indigo Cafe is one of the best-known places to eat in central Luang Prabang. Whether you visit for lunch or dinner, it’s often busy with travellers stopping for a meal.

They have a good mix of Western and Lao dishes, including several vegan and vegetarian choices. I found it to be a great lunch option, with prices sitting around average compared with similar restaurants in the city.

Indigo House also has its own downstairs bakery. I ordered a cinnamon bun and caramel croissant, though you’ll also find plenty of cakes, pastries, and other sweet treats displayed out front near the night market.

Must Try: Cinnamon buns

charcoal burger and fries from indigo cafe in luang prabang

Yuni Yupoun

⭐️ Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars | 📍 Location: Sisavangvong Road, Luang Prabang | Price Range: 💲💲 | Best For: Vegetarian Food

Yuni Yupoun is located right in the city centre and was easily my best vegetarian pick in Luang Prabang.

They serve a wide range of Lao and international dishes, including fried eggplant with pork or tofu, pasta, burgers, Indian butter chicken or tofu, and mezze platters.

Basically, if you’re travelling with people who all want something different, this is a pretty safe choice.

I ordered the stir-fried cashew tofu for 125,000 LAK. The price felt about average compared with similar restaurants around Luang Prabang, and there were plenty of other vegetarian choices on the menu.

The decor is beautiful, the food is presented nicely, and the central location makes it an easy lunch or dinner stop. They also regularly run set-menu and happy-hour promos.

Must Try: The Veggie Options

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Where To Try Local Lao Food

Of course, you can’t visit Laos without trying some of the local food.

From Lao-style hotpot and sticky rice to crispy river weed and creative vege dishes, these are the restaurants I’d recommend when you want something beyond the usual Western favs.

Dyen Sabai Restaurant

⭐️ Rating: 4.3 out of 5 Stars | 📍 Location: Ban Phan Louang, Luang Prabang | Price Range: 💲💲 | Best For: Local Lao Food

Dyen Sabai Restaurant is my top pick for trying local Lao food in Luang Prabang. It’s set across the Nam Khan River, with bamboo huts and relaxed seating overlooking the water.

During the dry season, you can reach the restaurant by crossing the bridge. It once used to be a cute bamboo bridge but now is an iron red one, at least it won’t get washed away in the wet season.

I ordered the Lao barbecue, also known as sindad. You cook the ingredients yourself on a grill at the table, with broth and vegetables around the outside. There’s even a vegetarian tofu option!

Honestly, the food and riverside setting made this one of my most memorable meals in Luang Prabang.

Must Try: Lao Barbecue / Sindad

laos hot pot dyen sabai restaurant where to eat in luang prabang — make sure to try out a bbq from dyen sabai restaurant

Khaiphaen

⭐️ Rating: 4.7 out of 5 Stars | 📍 Location: 59 Xatikhoumman Road, Luang Prabang | Price Range: 💲💲 | Best For: Lao Food With A Good Cause

Khaiphaen serves creative Lao food, shakes, and cocktails in a relaxed setting. It’s a social enterprise and training restaurant that helps young people build skills for working in hospitality.

They’re known for their modern take on Lao food, with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free choices available. I ordered the green curry followed by the banana fritter for dessert, and found it to be really good value.

The restaurant is named after khaiphaen, a crispy Mekong river weed commonly eaten as a snack in Laos. You’ll find it featured throughout the menu, alongside curries, salads, tofu dishes, and other Lao-inspired meals.

Must Try: The Banana Fritter

the famous khaiphaen restaurant in luang prabang serving delicious dishes — the famous khaiphaen restaurant serving up their delicious dishes

Best Pizza In Luang Prabang

Sometimes you just need a break from rice and noodles, and luckily Luang Prabang has some seriously good pizza.

Whether you’re happy to plan around Secret Pizza’s limited opening nights or want somewhere more central, these are the two spots I recommend.

Secret Pizza

Pizza lovers rejoice and get to Secret Pizza for a taste of the best! Though this place is not in the easiest location to get to, trust me it is so worth it. You will need to take a tuk-tuk from the city center.

This should cost about $4.60 / 40,000 LAK for the journey, though you might have a haggle for a decent price. Nevertheless, this place is an absolute gem in the middle of nowhere.

As the name suggests, the pizzas here are the star of the show. Think thin and crispy wood-fired bases and fresh toppings, all perfectly cooked.

This place is undoubtedly the best pizza in Luang Prabang where you can just enjoy the chill countryside vibes of this secret gem.

Opening Hours: 6.00 pm until 9.30 pm, Tuesdays and Fridays only

Location: Ban Nasaphanh street 3 (End of Soi 3 Off Highway 13 Nasamphanh Village) Luang Prabang

secret pizza where to eat in luang prabang — wood fired pizzas from secret pizza

Popolo

Another great choice for Italian food is Popolo. This is the ideal spot to eat if you are craving a change from the typical Asian food and looking to mix it up a little.

Also, if you want great pizza but Secret Pizza is closed, this is a great alternative. Their wood-fired pizza oven cooks each one to perfection.

They also have delicious wines and cocktails and serve many tapa-style dishes. There are plenty of seating options for you to relax, whether you want indoors, on the patio, or at the bar.

Opening Hours: 11.00 am until 10.00 pm, 7 days a week

Location: Kounxoau Road, Luang Prabang 0600

fresh burrata surrounded by pesto and tomato's from popolo luang prabang — fresh burrata surrounded by pesto and tomato’s from popolo

delicious salad and burger from popolo luang prabang — delicious salad and burger from popolo

The Best Spot For A Nicer Night Out

The Belle Rive Terrace

A beautiful and romantic hideaway is The Belle Rive Terrace. Tucked away, surrounded by trees and overlooking the Mekong River, you must bring your special someone here for a delicious lunch!

However, if it is a little too hot to sit outside, don’t worry, they also have indoor seating.

They offer both a delightful selection of Western and Laos food which you need to try.

If you want a truly unique foodie experience, try one of their Laos tasting plates, which allow you to sample a variety of this country’s favorite cuisines.

Opening Hours: 7.30 am until 10.00 pm, 7 days a week

Location: Baan Phonehueang 99, Luang Prabang

looking down on our delicious meal from belle rive terrace

best restaurant in luang prabang the belle rive terrace — dinner at the belle rive terrace

Tangor

Tangor is another great restaurant. It will be bustling no matter what evening you go. The owners have been operating for many years and know exactly what they are doing.

With delicious and beautiful food, great customer service, and a chill atmosphere, there is nothing more you could want. Enjoy the 60s and 70s music while tucking into some of their delicious dishes.

There is a wonderful French manager here who does his best to ensure all the guests are happy and meals coming out of the kitchen are to a high standard.

Make sure to try the ceviche and get one of their scrumptious desserts!

Opening Hours: 10.30 am until 11.30 pm, 7 days a week

Location: House No.63/6, Ban Xiengmouane, Rue Sisavangvong, Luang Prabang

meals at tangor best restaurant in luang prabang — for a 5 star meal definitely head to tangor

🚗 How I Book Cheap Transport In Laos: 12Go Asia

Tips For Eating Out In Luang Prabang

Best Accommodation In Luang Prabang?

Luang Prabang offers a range of accommodations, from 5-star resorts and historic hotels to simple hostels and locally-owned guesthouses.

During our recent visit, we stayed on a charming side street just minutes from the center and across from the Mekong River. I fell in love with this spot. On this street, you’ll find budget guesthouses and upscale hotel-style accommodations.

Consider Mylaohome Hotel & Spa, which offers comfortable rooms, a great spa, and an on-site cafe. Rates start at $23 per night.

Another option is Villa Pumalin, which features an indoor pool and beautiful wooden rooms and starts at $30 per night.

La Casa Hostel

A chill hostel with friendly staff. Dorms start from $6.50 per night inclyding breakfast.

BOOK NOW

Barn Laos Luangprabang Hostel

More of a luxe hostel with great facilities. Dorms start from $10.00 per night including breakfast.

BOOK NOW

Villa Vieng Sa Vanh Hotel

A great location and with rooms starting from $45.00 per night including breakfast.

BOOK NOW

Villa Pumalin

A walk from the city attractions, starting from $26.00 per night with breakfast.

BOOK NOW

Other Things To Do While In Luang Prabang

Apart from eating to your heart’s content, there are many awesome things to do here. Actually, I recommend that you set aside at least three days in Luang Prabang so you can experience all it has to offer.

Seriously, it is such a beautiful and charming city. Plus, here you can find some of Laos’s best waterfalls and, of course, plenty of delicious food.

Visit the Kuang Si Waterfall: This waterfall is located about 23 km from the city and is surrounded by lush greenery. You can swim in the turquoise blue water and hike to the top of the waterfall.

Explore the city’s spirituality: Luang Prabang is home to over 33 temples, each with its own unique architecture and history. The temples are beautiful and give the city a deep spiritual feel.

Experience the famous night markets: The night markets in Luang Prabang are a great place to shop for souvenirs, handicrafts, and local food. They are open every night from around 5 PM to 10 PM and are located in the center of the city.

Hike up to Mount Phou Si: This hike is not too difficult and offers stunning views of the city and mountains. To avoid the heat, the best time to hike is either early in the morning or late in the afternoon.

Learn about Laos’ devastating past at UXO Luang Prabang Center: This museum educates visitors about Laos’ history and the impact of the Vietnam War on the country. It is open every day from 9 AM to 5 PM.

FAQs About The Top Cafes & Restaurants In Luang Prabang

What are the delicious traditional foods of Luang Prabang?

Laotian cuisine is known for its rich flavors, herbs, and simple and fresh ingredients. Some of the traditional dishes that you can try in Luang Prabang are Jaew, Sticky Rice, Laos Khao Soi, Larb, Khai Pan, and Sai Oua.

What do people eat for breakfast in Laos?

Laotian breakfasts are a delicious and hearty way to start the day. They typically consist of some sort of soup. Some of the most popular breakfast dishes include Khao piak sen (Lao noodle chicken broth soup), Khao piak khao (thick Laotian rice chicken stock soup), and Feu (beef noodle soup).

Wrap Up: My Favourite Places To Eat In Luang Prabang

Now you should know the best cafes and restaurants in this awesome city. Whether you are looking for traditional Lao cuisine, international flavors, or fusion dishes combining the best of both worlds, they are easy to find.

Go ahead and fulfill your foodie cravings because now you know exactly where to go in Luang Prabang for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!

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Find out where to eat in Luang Prabang for delicious food and delightful drinks. Learn about the best 12 restaurants which you need to try in Luang Prabang for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!

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