11 Best Bars in Laos

Blink and you might miss this cozy hidden speakeasy that seats about 15 people. The bartenders here are very talented and can help match cocktails to your tastes. The decor harkens back to the Belle Epoque with a rail carriage, trunks, and a golden chandelier.

Perched above an unassuming liquor shop and café is one of the city's best speakeasy bars. It's a stylish yet welcoming place that serves cocktails as creative as they are delicious, with jazz playing at a comfortable volume and local art adorning the walls. You can rub shoulders with Vientiane's jet set until after midnight.

This British-owned speakeasy has a delightful outdoor garden and sleek minimal-chic interior design with excellent black-and-white photography on the walls. Cocktails are strong and well mixed, and there's an eclectic menu of tapas, ranging from Mexican empanadas to lemon meringue tartlets. Brunch is also available to nurse your hangover the next day. The lively mixed crowd of locals and expats makes this an enjoyable spot for a night out.

With an interesting Tintin-inspired decor and beers imported from Belgium (14 on tap and much more bottled), it's no wonder this casual bar is as popular as it is, albeit a little expensive for Vientiane. Dishes like the excellent mussels in garlic-butter sauce greatly exceed pub-grub expectations.

This classy speakeasy behind a nondescript exterior is tiny---15 people would be a full house---and it can be tricky to locate, but well worth it if you can get a place to sit. The cocktail menu includes classics as well as a selection of in-house creations.

Luang Prabang's young nouveau riche strut their stuff at Dao Fa. The action doesn't heat up until after 10, and the party's over at midnight due to curfew, but for those who like thumping beats, this is the only real nightclub in town. Because it's out by the southern bus station, you won't see many foreign faces here.

This laid-back, bohemian-style hangout in a tiny, eclectically decorated white house is a good spot for a well-mixed whisky sour or mojito and a chat about life in Luang Prabang with the crowd of expats who hang out here. There are even theme nights with swing music or book discussions to keep things stimulating.

The bowling alley around the corner from Settha Palace serves food and drink to a rowdy mix of locals and expats.

Step into the hip deconstructed interior of Maolin Tavern and enjoy a convivial evening of Beerlao and imported beers on tap. The menu includes Lao bar snacks as well as good Western fare. In this lively space, you can run into local expats, as well as young Lao people on a night out.

An establishment for live music in Vientiane, this malapropist Wild West honky-tonk has been going strong for over 30 years. Its cowboy vibe fills the venue, from swinging saloon doors to barrel tables. The bands usually play good Thai/Lao/Western pop covers and sometimes Wind West holds heavy metal events.