3 Nagas, Luang Prabang, Laos - Explore & Book

"A grand stone staircase sweeps up the façade of an elegant villa. In Europe, such a flight of steps would lead to a grand entrance. Here in Luang Prabang, it curls up to a sprawling veranda and spoiling bedrooms - a flight of French fancy added to a traditional timber-framed, clay-straw mix Laotian house. Khamboua House was built in 1903 during the heyday of French colonial rule and is a charming confection of eastern and western architectural style. Painstakingly restored in 1995, along with its neighbour Lamache House (originally built for the royal court in 1898), it then became a chic, 15-room hotel. A third building became the restaurant, and all share the name 3 Nagas, nagas being mythical serpent spirits, not sinister unless wronged. A magnificent garden rolls down to the Nam Khan river, and with mature mango and jackfruit trees providing shade, 3 Nagas brims with tropical nature. East and west meet on many levels: at daybreak, monks stream past collecting alms in their Tak Bet ritual; at nightfall, European guests chow down on terrific Laotian cuisine. Highs Charming Unesco-heritage houses carefully restored and deftly converted to a stylish boutique hotelA highly rated restaurant serving fragrant Laotian cuisine with fresh, local ingredientsAn incredibly central location on the main street so you can walk everywhere Friendly staff - but don’t expect the kind of intuitive service met elsewhere in AsiaIf you have a first-floor room, you can watch the Tak Bet alms collection, without feeling like an intrusive tourist Lows The pretty pool in the garden is ornamental and not for swimming in, but you can use the pool and spa facilities at sister hotel Sofitel Luang Prabang (a short walk away)Both houses are on the main drag; although Luang Prabang is tiny and quiet for an Asian city, expect to hear some hustle and bustleSome guests have complained of hearing others through the floorboards, and of smells from the restaurantWe've also had reports that some areas of the hotel look run down, especially the bathroomsThere are probably cheaper places in town to stay, but 3 Nagas has style, service and flair" - Rosanna de Lisle