If you’re a coffee-lover, brunch enthusiast, a digital nomad, or just looking for a chill hangout in town, you’re likely wondering where the best cafes and brunch spots are. Lucky for us all, Luang Prabang has an abundance of coffee shops and casual eateries. Make sure to check in on whether its ambiance suits your needs. Some cafes are more geared towards a quick-and-casual brunch, while others don’t mind at all if you’d like to just sip and laze. Below you’ll find the town’s most highly rated cafes and what they do best.
Saffron Coffee: Best Social Enterprise Cafe
Do you need a more ringing endorsement than ‘the best coffee in Luang Prabang’? Ask locals or previous customers, and they’ll tell you the same thing: if you’re a coffee-lover, this should be your first stop. Saffron Coffee is one of few cafes in town with a deck offering gorgeous views of the Mekong River. If you’re looking for a place to sit with a laptop or book, rest assured you can do that here. Great coffee, ambiance, and sweet treats — all these boxes can be ticked on your visit to Saffron Coffee. But there’s also more.
By purchasing from this cafe, customers are supporting a wonderful cause. Many, many years ago, when the Laotian government began enforcing regulations against opium, hill-tribe families who relied on opium cultivation for income were left with no way to make a living. Eventually, they discovered how to grow coffee beans. Still, while harvests were good, there was little demand for them.
Saffron Coffee, seeing the potential of this wonderful partnership, provided the farmers with this much-needed demand. Today, Saffron continues to support 800 hill-tribe families through exclusive purchase of their coffee beans. There’s a lot of heart behind this great business, so we highly recommend doing business with them.
Location: VIEW MAP
Contact: +856 71 212 915 | Website
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 6:15 a.m. to 7:15 p.m., Wednesday from 6:15 a.m. to 7:45 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Novelty Cafe: Most Relaxing Atmosphere
If you’re looking for an easy-going cafe with a relaxing atmosphere, check out Novelty Cafe. At Novelty, you’ll find excellent breakfasts as well as a cozy place to chill and read or catch up on work. Feel free to just hang out for a meal, or make yourself comfortable with a steaming cup of coffee in the cafe’s book corner. The cafe is located on the main drag so it’s walkable from many of Luang Prabang’s main attractions, and if you’re looking to do a little people-watching, you’re welcome to enjoy your beverage on the porch. It’s a haven for coffee-lovers, bookworms, and digital nomads. And did we mention one of Vietnam’s best latte artists works here?
Location: 126 Ban Xieng Mouane, Sisavangvong Rd, Luang Prabang, Laos — VIEW MAP
Contact: +856 20 55 195 | Facebook
Hours: Daily from 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Indigo Coffee: Best Lattes in Luang Prabang
A short distance away from the Royal Palace Museum, you’ll find Indigo Coffee. Above all, this cafe is known for its out-of-this-world lattes, which numerous bloggers and previous customers have raved about. According to the cafe, all the food on their menu is organic and sustainable. Meals are decent at Indigo Coffee, but the clear highlights are their fantastic beverages. We highly recommend stopping by for one of their brilliant lattes or refreshing coolers. The cafe also has a rooftop terrace and in the evenings, grants a perfect view of the Night Market on the street below.
Location: Sisavangvong Road, Luang Prabang, Laos — VIEW MAP
Contact: +856 71 212 264 | Website
Hours: Daily from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Le Banneton: Best Baked Goods in Luang Prabang
Calling Le Banneton a local favorite is an understatement. To many, this French bakery-cafe is a staple. Many patrons insist the best baguettes in all of Asia are found here, and upscale restaurants in the area source their bread from this very bakery. While they are best known for their unbelievable baked goods, La Banneton is also a much-loved breakfast and brunch spot. Food is more European than Lao, and you’ll find many French and Italian specialties on the menu, like crepes, pizza, quiches, and tartines. Breakfast and brunch sets are also available at the appropriate hours. Stop by for a pastry that will, most definitely, rock your world.
Location: Sakkaline Rd, Luang Prabang, Laos — VIEW MAP
Contact: +856 30 57 88 340 | Facebook
Hours: Daily from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Tuesdays closes at 9 p.m.)
L’Etranger Books and Tea: Best All-Day Breakfast in Luang Prabang
Surrounded by trees in an unsuspecting little wooden house, you’ll find L’Entranger Books and Tea. When it first opened in 2001, it was the first licensed bookstore in the entire nation since the communist era. And today its presence is no less nourishing for the soul of the town, providing a cozy haven for lovers of books, tea, food, film, and much more. Wonderful breakfasts are served all day, and as its name would suggest, it offers a wide selection of tea. If you’re looking for somewhere to get cozy for a little while, then this quaint cafe is the perfect spot. Every evening, L’Entranger also hosts a movie night upstairs. Guests can stay and watch for free with an order of any food or drink.
Location: 3 Th Kingkitsarat ban Aphay Luang Prabang, Luang Prabang 06000, Laos — VIEW MAP
Contact: +856 71 260 248 | Website
Hours: Daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Sundays opens at 10 a.m.)
Zurich Bread Artisan Bakery: Best Sandwiches in Luang Prabang
If you haven’t had enough of Luang Prabang’s fantastic baked goods (and we don’t blame you), then you’ll have to save some time for the Zurich Bread Factory and Cafe. Here, you’ll find more of the best bread in Luang Prabang, and whatever form you have it in, you’ll be more than satisfied. Breakfast and brunch are an easy highlight here, receiving consistently rave reviews from previous customers. If you’re interested in picking up some pastries or bread, make sure to head over fairly early as they sell out rather quickly. And at least once on your trip, try the pancakes!
Location: Sakkaline Rd, Luang Prabang, Laos — VIEW MAP
Contact: +856 20 58 528 953 | Website
Hours: Daily from 5 a.m. 9 p.m.
Dexter’s Cafe and Bar: Best Western Breakfast in Luang Prabang
Walk by Dexter’s and you’ll find your eyes immediately caught by the gorgeous decor. Its interior is a marriage of minimalist modern styles and more traditional patterns. But its great decor and ambiance are far from the highlight. Those who come through their doors rave about the food and many consider their breakfast and brunch some of the best in town.
At Dexter’s, you’ll find hearty Western breakfasts and stellar coffee (and cocktails too – if that’s the sort of morning you’re going for), unarguably the best way to start a day. And if you decide to return, know you’re not limited to breakfast for Dexter’s also offers a range of Western, Italian, and Lao options for lunch and dinner.
Location: 98 หน่วย 2 Sisavangvong Rd, Luang Prabang, Laos — VIEW MAP
Contact: +856 20 91 700 062 |
Hours: Daily from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The Mekong Espresso (also known as the Mekong Coffee Lounge): Best Cafe for Digital Nomads
If you’re searching for a place to chill with your laptop, travelers have named the Mekong Espresso as a great cafe for a productive or relaxing few hours. But that’s not all. In fact, customers rave about their entire experience at this cafe: the heavenly coffee made from Lao coffee beans, the brilliant brunch, the ambiance, the friendly staff, and the strong WiFi. The cafe is located across the street from the Mekong river, and outdoor seating is available for customers who want to hear the rush of the river. Digital nomad or not, we’d highly recommend you stop by for brunch and a brew or two.
Location: Khem Khong, Luang Prabang, Laos — VIEW MAP
Contact: +856 20 55 666 160
Hours: Daily from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Silk Road Cafe: Best Cafe With a View
Picture this: you’re sitting on a quiet deck nestled at the edge of a tropical garden, lush greenery on one side, and the rushing Mekong river on the other. It’s peaceful, quiet, and you’re sipping on a phenomenal cup of coffee. The menu in your lap serves a fascinating variety of ‘East meets West’ food, and you’ve been told the breakfast is delicious. Whatever meal you decide, you know you can’t go wrong.
This is exactly what you can expect from the Silk Road Cafe. This tourist favorite is run by Ock Pop Tok, a local community of artisans who offer classes on silk-weaving, dyeing, batik, and much more right next door to the cafe. Why not plan on a marvelous brunch and coffee at the cafe, and pop over to the Crafts Center afterward to sign up for a fun class? You know you want to.
Location: VIEW MAP
Contact: +856 71 212 597 | VIEW MAP
Hours: Daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
More Information About Cafes in Luang Prabang, Laos
Did you enjoy this article about the best cafes in Luang Prabang? Are you looking for even more chill spots to spend your morning or afternoon? Then check out these other articles we’ve gathered to help plan your trip to this beautiful city!
- The Ultimate Cafe Guide to Luang Prabang from Silly Little Kiwi
- Cafe Hopping in Luang Prabang from Bangkok Airways
- The Best Cafes in Luang Prabang by James Clark from Nomadic Notes
- 7 Amazing Cafes in Luang Prabang, Laos from A Couple of Destinations
