Dry Martini

I visited this great venue in early September 2009, and it stood out from the crowd with its bold innovation in martini cocktails. The Tom Yum Martini was a tasty dram prepared with red chilli, and went down a treat. So much so that a second sample was required for verification purposes.

The menu was well thought out, and the bread was excellent. A known hangout for expats and locals in the know. Definitely a must following a cold Beer Lao on the Mekong at sunset.

Informative link here

This place has to be seen to be believed. Entirely unexpected, including the concrete elephant motif and excessively large driveway and covered entrance. After a night out, I returned to the bar amid the gaming tables. The dry gin martinis needed help so I spoke out. God bless the management but they took me at my word, and there ensued a  civilised discussion about the finer points of mixing, garnishes, cooling of glasses, and cost structures. Several examples were prepared for free and tasted, with the final actually working out pretty well. I was genuinely impressed by the dedication to the great drink, and they went from a 3 out of 10 to a 6 out of 10 for sheer effort. Great work guys.

Website located here.

What a truly excellent Dry Gin Martini. Shaken to perfection, utilising Bombay Sapphire gin and Martini & Rossi Extra Dry Vermouth. Served with a flourish, a lovely finish to a long day’s touring on foot. The best in Luang Prabang by far, and equal to may of the better examples in the region.

Restaurant Website is here.