5 Best Restaurants in Sapa, The Northwest

Like Sapa itself, Le Gecko bears noticeable French influence with a menu that features a host of bistro classics. There's a comfortable bar area that is popular in the evenings, while the outside terrace is a great spot for people-watching. There's nothing particularly fussy about either the restaurant or the home-style cuisine, so don't expect fancy sauces of Parisian haughtiness.

The sister restaurant of the Maison de Tet in Hanoi, Maison de Sapa is the place to relax and unwind for a few hours and enjoy some delicious food and drinks. Specializing in fresh, farm-to-table ingredients, the menu is always changing to reflect the finest seasonal options. The bohemian decor is all made in-house and there are plans to create natural herbal baths upstairs, as well as host live-music events.

This cozy restaurant is at the bottom of the Legend Hotel; chandeliers and bamboo curtains add to the beauty of the rustic interior. There are set lunches and dinners so that groups can eat family-style, which makes this a tour group favorite. However, it's not a bad spot for a date. Upstairs you can see 10 kinds of rice wine on display, all fermented with local fruit; nothing starts the night like a glass.

Tourists gather at this restaurant near the market for the large portions of pasta and pizzas cooked in a genuine Italian pizza oven by the amiable owner-chef, Mr. Tung, who spent six months studying in Milan before opening the restaurant. Exquisite crepes satisfy a lighter appetite, and there's an extensive international wine list. During peak season, from around October through mid-December, it's best to make reservations for weekend dining.

Like most of the restaurants in Sapa, Viet Emotion has a typical Western and Vietnamese blended menu, but they go out of their way to make the building bright and colorful. If you’re hungry, try the Hunter’s Meal, which is sticky rice and pork marinated in a bamboo pipe. They also have a second (smokier) location at 17 Xuan Vien.