Gnok! Our Favourite Bars in...Laos
17 august 2023
If we mention nightlife in Southeast Asia, you'll probably think of classy Bangkok rooftop bars, barefoot beach bars on Koh Phangan, Siem Reap's famous Pub Street, or the charming old French colonial cafes of Hanoi.
What you probably won’t immediately think of is Laos. But, just like its food, its landscapes, and its people, Lao nightlife is scandalously little known and underrated. Like its neighbours, Laos has a vibrant drinking culture, dominated by its national brew and a huge source of pride to all Laotians: Beer Lao.
Drinking in Laos often means perching on a plastic stool swigging cold Beer Lao, occasionally (if you’re lucky/unlucky, depending on your experience of this lethal substance) accompanied by rice wine shots; further up the scale, it means sitting at a riverside bar watching the sun set over the Mekong as longtail boats chug by in picturesque fashion.
What Laos hasn’t traditionally been known for is the kind of sophisticated, upscale nightlife available in Bangkok, Saigon or Phuket, but that is gradually changing and there is a growing range of bars catering to those looking for a classy night out. So it’s time to tham keo (clink glasses), say a hearty gnok! (cheers), and check out our pick of the country’s best places for a drink…
Vientiane
525
Housed in a beautifully restored colonial villa in downtown Vientiane, this British-owned, Lao-Aussie managed cocktail bar oozes charm from every corner, whether you’re sitting inside or out in the garden.
525 offers a wide range of cocktails, fine wines and beers, and runs special theme nights (recent events have included a Nepali cocktail & snacks night, and a Thailand cocktail festival). The food, served from breakfast to late night snacks, is well worth the visit too, and runs from traditional Lao dishes to popular Western fare.
Tipsy Elephant
Laos may not have a rooftop bar scene to rival Bangkok, but Tipsy Elephant – situated on the rooftop of the SureStay Hotel by Best Western – does a pretty good job of conjuring up that high rise Bangkok vibe.
A lively crowd of expats, partying locals, and hotel guests enjoys cocktails and snacks while savouring magnificent views of the Mekong river, the rooftops of Vientiane and, on the opposite riverbank, Thailand itself.
Luang Prabang
LAODI Bar Mekong
A craft rum distillery with its own bar on the banks of the Mekong? Take our money! LAODI creates a range of quality, award-winning rums using local Lao sugarcane, including white, brown and blended versions (coffee rum? Passion fruit rum? Yum!)
As well as visiting the distillery to learn about the rum-making process, guests can relax at LAODI’s riverside bar and sample rum cocktails and Lao food. At 40km south of Vientiane it’s a bit of a hike, but well worth it for some truly unique Laotian flavours.
Tangor
A beautiful Indochinese bistro located close to Luang Prabang’s famous night market, Tangor offers creative fusion cuisine and snacks as well as one of the best drink selections in town, including original cocktails, fine wines, and craft beers (and take it from us, good craft beer is still pretty rare in Laos).
Vang Vieng
Sip & Chill
Vang Vieng is a town slowly shaking off its reputation for backpacker hi-jinks and transforming itself into a hub for experiential travel, and its nightlife scene is also becoming a tad more sophisticated.
Located on the rooftop of the S Vang Vieng Boutique Hotel, Sip & Chill has a loungey vibe and stunning views over the town’s inescapable limestone karsts. It’s a great place to watch the sunset, as well as marvel at hot air balloons and paragliders as they float over the town.
And if the mood takes you – as it may well after a few of the bar’s signature cocktails – you can channel your inner diva in one of the karaoke rooms downstairs.
