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ByPetra Udomprasert Updated on

Best Cafes in Luang Prabang for Sweet-Toothed Foodies

We’re not trying to find the best-tasting coffee in Luang Prabang. Before you close the tab, let me explain.

Will the coffee be good? Yes, absolutely. But if you find places with even better coffee, that’s to be expected. Ambience might not match these ones, though.

The thing is I’m a South Korea expert, with 17 visits and counting. And if you know how the cafe culture is over there, then you’ll get me. It’s not just about coffee, but also the pastry, the view, the decorations, the vibe! That’s how my brain processes a good cafe.

So yeah… during my week deeply exploring Luang Prabang, I walked into a ton of cafes, and some actually ended up as my favorites because it’s pretty and got yummy things. The famous Saffron Coffee made it, yes, and so do Lulalao, Momizu, and Laolu.

Are pretty views, good desserts, and nice coffee equally important for you, too? Then get ready to note down these best cafes in Luang Prabang, from riverside cafes to ones hidden on quiet streets!

My 8 Favorite Cafes in Luang Prabang

The cafes I’m about to rave to you all have amazing service, which is the first thing on my mind before I decide on a favorite place. It’s also a given that they all make great coffee!

The rest is a mix of best view, best desserts (very important), most peaceful, and so on.

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Tall glass of iced coffee with milk and a white straw sitting on a wooden table at Cafe Mademoiselle Ny, one of the best cafes in Luang Prabang. The drink overlooks a calm riverside scene with trees framing the view and boats docked along the Mekong River.

1. Cafe Laolu

  • Hours of Operation: 6:00 AM – 2:30 PM (Closed on Tuesday)
  • Address: Luang Prabang, Laos
  • Must-Try: Iced coconut latte, Iced Lao latte, Baked custard
  • Credit Cards: Not accepted

Talk about the most unlikely place to find a cafe… I stumbled upon Cafe Laolu while shopping for Kanom Moh Tod and Jaew Khaiphaen in the morning market.

That’s right! This lovely cafe is inside the morning market, the same one that sells fresh meat, chilis, and all sorts of fresh ingredients. But you know what’s interesting? You can’t feel the market once you’ve stepped inside.

Rustic interior of Cafe Laolu in Luang Prabang with wooden tables, wicker chairs, and traditional Lao decorations.

I saw it was pretty at first, but I honestly was like, “you sure customers won’t smell all the meat outside?” But hey, there’s a reason why people love it in there. They’ve got a lot of customers!

I love the place for their rustic feel and how they make their orders using moka pots. That’s a rarity in Southeast Asia as far as I’ve seen!

Iced Lao latte in a tall glass served with a baked custard cake on a small plate at Cafe Laolu in the morning market.

You have to try their pastry, especially the baked custard cake, which is strangely dense but so yummy. There’s a name for it that I can’t remember to save my life. So just look at the picture… 😅

What’s Neaby: Morning Market, Phousi Hill, Royal Palace & Haw Phra Bang

2. Saffron Coffee

This is one of the few places I had on my list since before I arrived in Luang Prabang. Every blogger and their mother tells you to go here, and when the vote is that unanimous, I follow.

Not gonna lie, I stood there confused for about five minutes. I may have walked around their riverside seating area one too many times trying to find the store, only to realize it was across the street! 😭

Riverside seating area at Saffron Coffee in Luang Prabang with wooden tables under trees overlooking the Mekong River. A sign on the tree reads "SAFFRON COFFEE riverside seating."
Interior of Saffron Coffee, one of the best cafes in Luang Prabang, with wooden tables, a brewing counter, and a chalkboard labeled "ALTERNATIVE BREW BAR" showing different coffee brewing methods.

I can totally see the hype about their coffee. It’s one of the few places that don’t serve sour, fruity blends, which are popular in this part of the world (and that I absolutely despise). Their Lao Latte is on point, strong, but smooth, and NOT SOUR.

Iced Lao latte in a glass mug on a riverside balcony overlooking the Mekong River and boats at Saffron Coffee.

This place is only steps away from the sunset cruise boarding point. A cup of iced coffee or two to cool you down before heading over is a good idea.

What’s Neaby: Sa Sa Sunset Cruise boarding point

3. Lulalao Coffee

This cafe is SO PRETTY! I saw it as I was temple-hopping (a very Buddhist thing to do) along the old town, and it immediately caught my eye. I had to stop for something, even though I was hella full from breakfast.

Minimalist interior at Lulalao Coffee in Luang Prabang with wooden tables, concrete floors, and large open windows letting in natural light.

It’s not flashy pretty, but minimalistic pretty. Exposed, industrial walls and wooden furniture, with so much natural light. The staff members were also very friendly.

Pour over coffee setup with drippers and kettles on the counter at Lulalao Coffee while a barista prepares drinks.
Americano coffee in a glass cup served with caramel custard dessert on a wooden table at Lulalao Coffee.

Their americano was nice, leaning towards the “less sour” side. But the custard, oh lawd. The custard was so delicious! I love it when they don’t make it too sweet, but focuses on bringing out the burnt sugar smell. Just perfect.

What’s Neaby: Wat Xiengthong, Two River Waterfront Park

4. Joma Bakery

This is a branch coffee shop that I first tried in Vientiane. To be honest, because I love boutique cafes, knowing it was a branch shop threw me off for a bit at first.

Rustic dining room interior at Joma Bakery in Luang Prabang with wooden tables, chairs, textured walls, and a tall green door letting in natural light.

But don’t be like me, because their pastries are freakin’ delicious! I tried their apple pie this time around and it was to die for. The macchiato was amazing as well, not too sweet! (I’m Thai, though, it might be sweet for you 🤷🏻‍♀️)

Apple pie with lattice crust served on a white plate beside a macchiato in a cup labeled "Joma Bakery Coffee" at Joma Bakery.

They also sell brunch foods like eggs and bacon, salads, and wraps. I haven’t tried them, but I’m sure anything done in Joma is done well.

Interestingly, this particular branch is also used as a pick-up point a lot by the locals. Out of the few guided activities I did there, two of them asked me to meet them here.

What’s Neaby: Morning Market, Night Market

5. Le Banneton Café & French Bakery

Okay, this cafe is so busy, the service wasn’t amazing. Locals and tourists all like it so much, they’d flock here and fill all the tables every morning. Poor staffs are stretched so thin, they forget things.

I got my Caffè con panna super quickly, but waited for my pear tart so long, the “panna” in my coffee shrunk back into the liquid. But when I walked up to the cashier and asked if someone could follow up, it came immediately.

Caffè con panna topped with whipped cream served with a small custard tart on a plate at Le Banneton café.
Latte in a white cup served with a slice of pear tart on a gray plate at Le Banneton café and bakery.

So that’s that about the 7/10 service. But man, both the coffee and pear tart were so amazing, I had to include this place on the list. The pear tart was so addictive, I ended up ordering another one with another latte, these two photos were from the same meal!

They also have pizzas, panini, salad, and burgers on their menu.

What’s Neaby: Wat Sensoukharam, Wat Xiengthong

6. Mademoiselle Ny

  • Hours of Operation: 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM daily
  • Address: V4VP+PRM, Luang Prabang, Laos
  • Must-Try: Honey crepe, Latte
  • Credit Cards: Not accepted

This was the first cafe I went to on my latest trip! About a 3-minute walk down the street from Saffron, it’s got similar riverside seating area, but the view is not as clear. It’s surely quieter, though!

Outdoor seating area at Mademoiselle Ny café in Luang Prabang with wooden tables and chairs under a shaded canopy beside the street.

Honey crepe was amazing. They have a ton of different ones, including banana and chocolate, which I used to love when I was little. But I wanted to get something more simple.

Honey crepe on a white plate with fork and knife served with an iced latte overlooking the Mekong River at Mademoiselle Ny café.

The latte was good. Not on the same level as Saffron, but I’d recommend this place to anyone who wants a riverside view that’s not as touristy as Saffron.

What’s Neaby: Sa Sa Sunset Cruise boarding point, Huean Chan Heritage House

7. Maison Sam San

Maison Sam San is a mix of French and Lao, literally translating to “Three-storied house.” So I guess you know how to find this cafe on the tourist strip… It’s the only three-storied building!

The owner of this cafe is French, but I appreciate how she exclusively promotes Lao artists in her first-floor craft shop and second-floor decorations.

Second floor lounge at Maison Sam San in Luang Prabang with wooden chairs, small tables, books, and colorful artwork on the walls.

You can relax with coffee or tea on the second floor to escape from daytime heat, or join the night crowd on the rooftop for drinks and food after sunset.

Degustation trio of iced teas including butterfly pea, pandan, and lemongrass with lime slices and colorful macarons on a patterned tablecloth at Maison Sam San

I went here on an extra hot day, so I ordered the Degustation Trio, with Butterfly Pea tea, Pandan tea, and Lemongrass tea. It was super refreshing.

What’s Neaby: Huean Chan Heritage House, Phousi Hill, Royal Palace & Haw Phra Bang

8. The Library at U Luang Prabang

Want something quieter than Mademoiselle Ny, even if it means you lose the river view?

I walked by this place as I was heading back to Huean Chan Heritage House from the Two River Park. I knew it was a luxury hotel, but I couldn’t help seeing the sign for “The Library.”

Outdoor patio seating at The Library café at U Luang Prabang hotel with wooden chairs, tables, and large umbrellas. A hanging sign reads "THE LIBRARY Eat Drink Chill."

It was basically their lobby cafe, which turns into a bar with snacks and drinks in the late afternoon. What had me deciding to plant roots here that morning was the shaded outdoor seating area. It was so nice and quiet, and because it was a hotel, of course the service was impeccable.

Granted, it is a little pricier than other places, but if you think of it as paying for peace and rest, well then… I only tried their Tropical Coconut Coffee Frappé. It perfect for the hot weather.

What’s Neaby: Saffron Coffee, Tum Wan

FAQs About Cafes in Luang Prabang

  • Which cafes do locals love going to?

    The locals don’t care much for riverside vibes (they live here), so they prefer chain cafes in more convenient spots like Joma Bakery.

  • Which cafes are most popular with travelers?

    Saffron Coffee takes the cake for the most popular cafe for travelers! They offer quality coffee, as well as the more traditional Lao Latte, and have an amazing riverside seating. Le Benneton is another one.

  • Which cafes serve Lao coffee?

    Saffron Coffee serves a more modern spin on the traditional Lao coffee, but if you want the real deal, you need to go to Pasaniyom. It counts more as a breakfast joint than a cafe, but that’s the place!

  • Which cafes have air-conditioning?

    Joma Bakery! Like I said, it’s sort of a hangout spot for locals. As a next-door neighbor to Laos, I can attest that if it serves as a local hangout, it needs to have A/C because we’re sick and tired of the heat!

How to Get Around The Cafe Scene in Luang Prabang

Honestly? It’s not complicated at all. I just walked everywhere when I was there. Walking was how I found nearly all these spots, actually 😂

Deciding on a place to base yourself in is an art form, especially in Luang Prabang. The city isn’t big, but it’s big enough that deciding to stay a bit too off-center can mean annoyingly long walks somewhere everyday.

To avoid “annoyingly long walks” everywhere, check out my guide to the best walkable areas in the city before you make any hotel decisions, if you haven’t already.

More foodie guides that might interest you:

Check out my Laos Cultural Travel page for ideas on Vientiane, too!

Plan the Rest of Your Trip to Laos

Below are resources to help you get ready for your trip. Don’t forget to check visa requirements!

Grab My Trip-Planner Template

To help streamline your planning process, I’ve decided to share the template I’ve created and have personally used to plan my own trips. You can grab a copy of it for free below!

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Outdoor cafe patio in Luang Prabang with wooden tables and chairs under large umbrellas surrounded by tropical plants and trees. Text overlay reads "Laos Cultural Travel" "My Favorite Cafes in Luang Prabang" and "polyglotpetra.com" with a lattice topped pastry on a plate in the bottom half of the graphic.

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Petra Udomprasert is a career immersive travel blogger and the founder of Polyglot Petra. Believing in travel as a force that inspires empathy and respect in our world, she writes travel guides that deeply explore the history and culture of every destination she visits, leveraging her fluency in five different languages to access the local perspective. Through her immersive guides and localized language tips, she has helped tens of thousands of travelers enjoy trips that leave lasting positive impacts on their lives.