Sugary sustenance for certain caffeine addicts, those hooked on traditional Lao coffee relish its bittersweet flavor, particularly when it involves watching the world meander by. For those not so keen on condensed milk, the good news is that Laotian coffee culture, especially in Luang Prabang, is now diversifying, and choosing where to imbibe is now a pleasurable experience in itself.
Receiving rave reviews all-round, the Saffron Caffé is a fairly new addition to the Luang Prabang coffee scene. Run by American David Dale and his Lao wife Tou, this is the only place in town using freshly roasted beans grown in Luang Prabang. Well-trained staff serve up everything from rich, dark espressos to frothy lattes, and the excellent iced caramel macchiato takes the heat off nicely. Homesick palates will appreciate the great egg-and-bacon breakfast wrap - Mekong river views come free of charge.
Another popular choice at the other end of town is the Joma Bakery Café. This long-established institution only uses fair-trade organic coffee from southern Laos and also boasts an extensive food menu. "Our mocha freeze is a big hit with visitors in the warm weather," says manager Debra Freeman. "Lao locals seem to go more for the espresso."
Just off Sisavangvong Road near the entrance to Phousi Mountain, the Rimwang Guesthouse is a cheaper option for both traditional Lao coffee drinkers and the cappuccino crowd. "I only use Lao Mountain coffee beans from the Bolaven Plateau," explains local owner Tity Chanpadid. There's also a nice selection of beans and organic tea here for sale.
At the budget end of the scale the daily night market on Sisavangvong offers good value beans (10,000 kip), and there are several stalls offering hot and cold coffee drinks (Kahlua and Baileys optional). During the day various stalls opposite the Ancient Luang Prabang hotel also offer cheap caffeine (5- 7,000 kip) - lunch hour sees a rush on the oreo coffee shakes by Luang Prabang schoolkids.
Luang Prababang Cafe Listing
Saffron Caffé - round the corner from L'Elephant Restaurant on the Mekong / Tel: +856 20 539 9557 / Web: www.saffroncaffe.com / coffee 10 - 35,000 kip / 250g beans 65,000 kip
Joma Bakery Café - near Luang Prabang post office on Th Chao Fa Ngun / Tel: +856 71 252 292 / Web: www.joma.biz / coffee 9 - 20,000 kip / 250g beans 35,000 kip
Rimwang Guesthouse - opposite Royal Palace Museum off Sisavangvong Road / Tel: +856 71 212 148 / coffee 8 - 10,000 kip / 250g beans 35 - 50,000 kip
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.jpg "Coffee Culture, Luang Prabang.")
.jpg "Coffee Culture, Luang Prabang.")
.jpg "Coffee Culture, Luang Prabang.")
