Le Cafe/Bistro Ban Vat Sene

Cafe Ban Vat Sene is a charming spot in the heart of Luang Prabang, offering a cozy, laid-back atmosphere that’s perfect for relaxing or people-watching. The location is ideal, right on the main street, and the cafe itself has a nice mix of local charm with comfortable seating. The menu includes both Lao and Western dishes, so there’s something for everyone, whether you’re in the mood for a local specialty or a Western comfort dish. While the food is a bit on the pricey side for Luang Prabang, the quality and ambiance make it worth a visit. A great spot to take a break, sip a coffee, and enjoy the surroundings!

We loved this cafe. Great place for a late brunch/lunch. I had a set menu with coffee, salad and fish with rice. The food was delicious. We also ordered a croissant which was superb. A very cozy, clean cafe to sit and watch the streets. I highly recommend this chilled place with great food and kind waiters. It is also super clean, but most of all, the food was delicious

Top brunch spot, the Feta and Bacon baguette was incredible. I didn’t realise I was craving it until I’d had it! The crunchy baguette and soft bread rolls were a real treat, as it can be difficult to find the style of bread we’re used to. Only problem is it’s our last day in Luang Prabang so we won’t get to return tomorrow:)

We came here a second time after lunch just to try their desserts and baguette. The food is really good but can be pricey for South east Asia. I thought it was worth it just for the food alone. The baguette are freshly baked and insanely delicious, the baguette alone gets 5 stars. Desserts and the garlic baguette were pretty good as well.

Nestled on the quieter end of the market, it has good ambience with decent food. Set menu was just rightly portioned, has a mix of Italian and local food.

Laos has the unique taste of French culture infused within the city streets. It permeates in all of the architecture, a large number of tourist and of course all things culinary. We broke away from our routine search of Thai and Laotian this evening and opted to try one of the French bistros along the Sakarine road. We just so happened to stop at Ban Vat Sene and we’re very pleased with our choice. My girlfriend was craving a little something closer to home so she ordered the spaghetti bolognese and a small Neapolitan pizza, and I ordered pho with chicken as well as duck and yellow noodle. All the dishes were prepared and plated beautifully. Everything tasted amazing and felt fresh. We were fortunate enough to have a seat on the walkway itself, enabling us to soak up all the street action while enjoying every bite. The staff and service were top notch and for four dishes and waters, our total was less than 24 dollars Canadian, which I still can’t wrap my head around. It almost feels criminal to eat such high quality at such a low price. Please go support, you will not regret it! To Alex, thank you for seating us and tending to us so graciously. Wishing you all the success in your education and your future. Much love!

Le Cafe Ban Vat Sene is a hidden gem nestled in the heart of Laos (very close to Wat Sensoukharam (Ban Vat Sene temple)), offering a unique twist on Italian cuisine that pleasantly surprises the taste buds. After a long morning exploring the city, we stepped into the cozy ambiance of Le Cafe Ban Vat Sene where we were greeted warmly by the staff and comfortably seated at a table close to the bar/kitchen. Our party of 8, opted for the set menu consisting of our choice of: Salada Oceane: Tuna, Tomatoes, Mushrooms, Onion and Black Olives followed by a choice between Spaghetti a la Carbonara or Lasagne de Boeuf (Beef Lasagna) followed by a choice between Slade de Fruits Frais (fresh fruit salad) or Sorbet au citron vert (lime sorbet). The carbonara dish combined the creamy richness of traditional carbonara with the aromatic flavors of Laotian spices and herbs. The pasta was cooked al dente, and the sauce was velvety smooth, with pieces of crispy pork belly adding a delightful crunch. Overall, dining at Le Cafe Ban Vat Sene was a delightful surprise from the attentive and efficient service to the inviting ambiance and delicious cuisine make it a must-visit for anyone looking to explore the culinary diversity of Laos.

Don't walk by this place. Everybody wants to sit downstairs. That's great. But there's a secret upstairs and that's the salad bar. Yes you can take the salad bar offerings downstairs but most people don't wander upstairs it's mystifying. The salad bar offerings are varier and of quality. The only thing off putting was the pumpkin soup which was twice brought up cold with a bunsen burner underneath it was turned off. Other than that what a great atmosphere great service great food at a great price. Again don't walk by.! (And no need to sit downstairs to see and be seen. This is for the salad bar!)