The Apsara Rive Droite
Hotel · Louangphrabang
Ban Phanluang, Luang Prabang 06000, Laos
Highlights
Colonial-style boutique hotel with personal service
Ban Phanluang, Luang Prabang 06000, Laos Get directions
Colonial-style boutique hotel with personal service
Ban Phanluang, Luang Prabang 06000, Laos Get directions
"Enjoy life on the other side at The Apsara Rive Droite, a chic little hotel that puts the ou (la la) back into boutique. The peaceful waterside setting, designer furnishings and delicious food act as an opiate. Join the in-crowd at this intimate, exclusive bolthole and leave the herd behind." - Mr & Mrs Smith
"The Apsara Rive Droite quite literally sets itself apart from Luang Prabang, via the wide, fast-flowing Nam Khan River. Luckily, the hotel's wooden boat is on-hand to ferry you back and forth, which gives you a gorgeous first glimpse of the residence, encased by organic gardens and huge palms. The bamboo steps up from shore are a bit of a hike, but the pay-off is a luxurious ambiance, very much like that of a private villa, with the bonus of excellent service. This second project by Ivan Scholte (the first, sophisticated The Apsara is across the river), is a more refined undertaking, and is filled with Ivan’s favourite pieces from his travels: glass Buddhas, glowing Vietnamese lanterns, and designer wallpaper from Sussex. The 9 bedrooms are airy, vastly comfortable affairs with French doors leading to terraces overlooking the pool. This long sliver of emerald water is sublime and quite the envy of the neighbours on the peninsula, where Heritage laws prohibit pools.Don’t get too horizontal, however, as Luang Prabang, a Unesco-listed city, offers a huge amount; we loved its flower-filled streets with ornate temples at every turn. It’s unbelievably picturesque, with traditional Lao businesses sitting harmoniously alongside upmarket restaurants, and Buddhist culture pervading the spas, boutiques and galleries. And this is the perfect base to dip in and out of it all. Highs The hotel feels secluded and intimate, due to its small size and personal serviceBlissfully away from the madding crowds, yet just minutes from Luang Prabang by private boatRomantic, spacious rooms with large balconies, outdoor daybeds and tubs-for-two in the bathroomsFantastic food, especially the Laos set dinnerRising at dawn to watch the procession of monks receiving alms from kneeling locals (touristy but we enjoyed it) - then whizzing back on the boat for breakfast Lows Some might find being out-of-town inconvenient, especially if you don't like boats and therefore need to get across the river by road (approx 15 mins)Steep, uneven steps up to the hotel are not suitable for the unfitNoise from the road and village behind the hotel is sometimes audible in the roomsThe restaurant and bar close at 10pm, so those after a late drink will have to go into town (note that there's an 11.30pm curfew)As with many hotels in Luang Prabang, prices may appear a little high for Laos. But we felt it was worth the money" - Harriet Whiting
"This former rice warehouse that stands on the banks of the Nam Khan river has been beautifully transformed into a cool little restaurant-with-rooms, just one block down from Luang Prabang's main street. First and foremost, it's an absolute steal, whose remarkable prices and vibrant interiors make it hard to resist. However, this is not an uncommon conclusion to reach and the Apsara gets busy weeks in advance, so either book early or treat yourself to owner Ivan’s other venture - The Apsara Rive Droite on the far side of the river, which has a swimming pool shaded by palm trees and a boatman to ferry you across for supper. Restaurant, bar and salon all come as one; a large open-plan room that opens onto a shaded roadside terrace and which overflows with colour and style: silk lanterns hang from the ceiling, leather stools wait at the bar and seriously good food steams out of the kitchen. The 13 rooms come in a simple, intoxicating colonial style with high ceilings, shuttered windows, fabulous beds and doors onto a terrace. The Mekong is just around the corner, so hire a boat and explore; caves, waterfalls and temples await. Highs You’re on a quiet road overlooking the river, but you’re close to the action, tooWarm, colourful stylish interiors make this the coolest place in townWe loved the airy upstairs bedrooms with views of river and street from small balconiesIncredibly friendly and helpful staffExceptional Laotian cuisine for lunch and dinner, plus a substantial breakfast Lows No TVs or CD or DVD players but there is Wi-Fi accessThe rooms are popular and book up early; last-minute high-season enquiries are likely to end in failure - book as early as you canStreet-facing rooms suffer from the noise of passing traffic and ground-floor rooms are much less privateWe've had reports that water pressure and temperature can sometime be a little touch-and-goThe hotel lacks a pool" - Tom Bell
"That’s the rive droite of Laos’s Nam Khan, not the Seine — but the Apsara Rive Droite is hardly less French than it would have been if it were in Paris. Sister hotel to the original Apsara, in Luang Prabang proper, it’s a contemporary homage to the colonial era, a nine-room luxury resort that makes the most of the added degree of seclusion it earns from its right-bank setting." - Tablet Hotels
helenmM2024UM
W198ZZhelenm
Argy999
katj725
HelenSingapore_10
kerrym182
Raphael Hannaert
captainbeaky30
