Luang Prabang: Luang Prabang Bakery Cafe (February 2012)

My spouse and I enjoyed drinks on two different occasions at the Luang Prabang Bakery/Guesthouse, which has a great central location for prime people-watching. The restaurant is located on the main Sisavangvong Road, close to the steps to Mount Phousi. It has both indoor and outdoor seating (the tables are shaded by umbrellas during the hot afternoon sun) on a sort of terraced area adjacent to the street and decorated with live potted plants. It is one of the most visually appealing and inviting restaurants on the main street in Luang Prabang. When we arrived in the hot mid-afternoon, they offered cold towels to refresh ourselves, which was an excellent welcome (the cold towels were not provided in the evening when we returned a few days later for another visit). The restaurant offers free Wi-Fi - just request the password. The restaurant serves Laotian dishes, Western food, baked goods, beer, wine, and a large selection of delicious fruit shakes/smoothies. Upstairs from the cafe, several guestrooms are available. At one point, we heard a tourist inquire to a waiter as to whether there was a room available, and the prospective guest was quoted $15 per night, which seemed like a great bargain from such a cute little place. It would be difficult not to eventually wander into Luang Prabang Bakery—it has a great central location and the most enticing atmosphere of the several outdoor-seating restaurants in this part of town. It certainly is a great spot for a cool drink and some prime people-watching. The restaurant also serves more than 20 different Laotian dishes, such as jo mart len pak lae kout noi (steamed fresh vegetables with a spicy grilled-tomato sauce), and you can also satisfy a craving for Western food with a tasty hamburger, a pizza, some pasta, or even a steak. The menu includes a variety of French and Australian wines.