Bucolic riverside Vientiane, with its slow, sun-drenched streets, seems a world away from the decidedly urban phenomenon of the ‘craft cocktail’. Yet, scratch beneath the city’s sleepy surface and you will find that recent years have brought a flourish of innovative venues staffed with masterfully creative mixologists. What’s more, the exciting variety of establishments popping up in the Lao capital has something for everyone, from upscale drinking and dining to secret speakeasies to cigar bars. Let’s take a look at some of the standout craft cocktail bars in Vientiane!

525

525 sits in a stately downtown Vientiane neighborhood, just a stone’s throw from the serene Mekong River; past the lush garden, replete with scenic outdoor seating, and into the polished yet understated interior, guests are transported into a world of comfort and warm hospitality. The brainchild of owner Andrew Sykes, 525 is a transplant from nearby Luang Prabang, carrying with it something of the refinement of the former royal capital’s hospitality. Yet, it’s far from stuffy, as Andrew notes, “It isn’t about having ‘the best’ cocktails, it’s about making people feel welcome.” His people-first approach isn’t limited to guests, either, as Andrew has made his staff co-owners in an effort to build the best possible service equitably—an approach that pays off in a genuine guest experience unrivaled in the city.

But 525 delivers on the promise of craft in its cocktail selection, as well. The house rendition of a Paper Plane is excellently executed, harmoniously blending the traditional four ingredients of bourbon, amaro, Aperol, and citrus juice. In this case, the sweet and slightly smoky base of Woodford Reserve bourbon is nicely tempered by the citrusy Aperol, balanced and deepened by the complex bittersweet and aromatic Amaro Averna, which brings hints of orange and licorice, with notes of myrtle, juniper berries, rosemary, and sage. Fresh lemon juice and a vigorous shake even out the flavor profile and texture of the drink, imbuing it with a pleasant mouthfeel that delivers on refreshment but also packs a punch.

The menu’s offerings are dynamic, with occasional guest bartenders and seasonal selections bringing fresh, vibrant flavors. One such standout drink, The Japanese, created especially for Negroni Week, reimagines the typical bitter and powerfully strong drink with lighter Japanese flavors. Innovatively, the drink adds sweet sushi rice, softening the traditionally overpowering negroni and leveraging its full flavor potential. Topped with a sprig of bubbly kelp—Japanese sea grapes—each drink gains a bit of complexity from the savory, saline aroma of the garnish.

Recently broadening the culinary selection to include a full brunch menu, 525 is open daily from 9:00 am until late, at 8 Watchan Village, just around the corner from Salana Boutique Hotel. Learn more at: 525eatanddrink.com

Gallery 38

Turning off one of downtown Vientiane’s busiest streets, onto a small side street, up a flight of stairs and past a quiet café, to a seeming dead end… yet, with just the right pressure, a burnished wood panel gives way, revealing Gallery 38, one of Vientiane’s coolest speakeasy craft cocktail bars. Inside, the atmosphere lives up to the name, with a proliferation of oil paintings adorning the walls. 

Gallery 38’s cocktail offerings match the interior for an intriguingly eccentric visual flair. The Gin 38, a house specialty consisting of gin, rose perfume, lemon juice, and rosewater, is served in an almost comically oversized glass, topped up with soda water to balance the strong gin and floral flavors. This longest of long drinks goes down very easy, with the citrusy effervescence of the soda water keeping the aromatic rose from overpowering the drink, a great thirst quencher for the steamy summer nights. 

But the menu isn’t all so light and flowery. For a more savory flavor, the Neat Truffle blends gin sous vide with truffle, apple juice, basil, pandan, and lemon juice, all of which combine in an intriguing, idiosyncratic symphony of tastes—and the musty, musky truffle is, thankfully, not lost in the shuffle.

Gallery 38 is located on Rue Manthathourath, just above Kaltura Café and across from Hard Rock Cafe, and opens nightly from 7:00 pm to midnight. Learn more at: fb.com/gallery38.societyofdrinkers

Artisan Bar 

Artisan Bar, a Vientiane establishment with a sister location in Luang Prabang, has been serving up fine drinks from its dramatically lit and sophisticated interior for years. Indeed, the visual impact of the interior cannot be understated, from the impressive stone slab bar top to the smartly dressed bartenders across it, stepping over the threshold one moves into a dark world of stark elegance and decadent pleasures—for lovers of smoke, Artisan also boasts a cigar lounge with an extensive selection of fine cigars.

While the bow-tied bartenders are well-versed in the classics, the real stand-outs are the Artisan specialties. The Artisan Creamy, for example, mixes up an extensive variety of flavors, with cherry heering, Disaronno, cacao liquor, and aloe vera juice all folded into the smoothness of cream liqueur. 

For a lighter drink, guests should opt for the delectably refreshing Wild Honey and Pandan, in which house-infused pandan rum dances with honey and citrus, topped up with a bit of soda and poured over ice. The smoky herbaceous aroma of the pandan pairs nicely with the sweet and slightly floral honey and a tang of lime—a perfect drink to cool off from a hot and humid Vientiane evening.

Artisan Bar is just around the corner from the Sacred Heart Cathedral, on Sakarin Road, and opens Monday through Saturday, from 7:00 pm until midnight. Learn more at: fb.com/artisanvientiane

Getting there: Lao Airlines has daily flights to Vientiane from throughout Laos and the region