4 Best Restaurants in Inle Lake, Myanmar

Open for breakfast and lunch only, the food stalls at this colorful market are an experience for the senses. Everything is handmade and the sellers take pride in what they're offering. Featured dishes include Shan tofu salad, noodle soup, and enormous round rice crackers that will be devoured by those who've had a bit too much spice. Just across from the market are a few other food stalls where you'll find inexpensive plates of tea leaf salad and spicy noodle soup.

Inle Lake is unlikely to be your first stop in Myanmar, and so by this time a break from Burmese food is likely a top priority. Pancake Kingdom is a classic backpacker restaurant, with friendly service, inexpensive sweet and savory pancakes (really somewhere between crepes and American-style pancakes), Wi-Fi, and computers. Proximity to the docks, indoor and outdoor seating, and a general laid-back and quiet atmosphere make this popular with tourists looking for a little western flavor.

This diminutive, family-run space fills up quickly, and with good reason. Salads, which utilize pickled tea leaves, coriander, bits of chili, and other assorted delicious odds and ends, have great texture and go down nicely alongside the restaurant's curries. Round out the meal with a refreshing fruit plate and a chat with the friendly owner.

There are nine varieties here, and the wine-making process is overseen by a Frenchman who joined the winery in 2002. Tours are basic but give a good overview of Red Mountain's production process. Both wine and food are quite average, but the K3,000 wine tasting paired with lovely views of the fields and cool breezes makes for a very pleasant afternoon. Note that service is molasses slow, so budget at least an hour. The vineyard can be reached by bike in about 20 minutes, and it's an easy ride save for the very last uphill stretch.