The northeast - The Rough Guide to Laos - page 223

Nice Directly opposite White Orchid on Route 7 061 312454. Comfortable little en-suite
rooms off a lantern-strung outdoor hallway. The staff are helpful and the place is in a good
location close to the best restaurants, but bear in mind that it gets chilly during the winter.
70,000K
White Orchid On the cnr of Route 7 and the road leading to the shopping centre 061
312403. This friendly, family-run place, just off the main road, is an excellent choice. Rooms
are a little dark, but decent value and very clean. Travel and tour information (and bookings)
can be p rovided by the helpful staff, though prices tend to be higher than other places nearby.
80,000K
Xieng Khouang Hotel Route 7 061 213567, [e-mail] . A big,
modern block that lacks soul and a welcoming smile, but redeems itself sl ightly w ith clean
rooms and white sheets. The rooms highest up have good views over town. 160,000K
EATING AND DRINKING
The little fresh-food market behind the post office is well worth a wander, the amount and
variety of the produce on sale giving a good indication of just how much people's lives here
have improved since the government quietly swept communist economics under the rug. As
with most markets in Laos, it's a great choice for a quick, cheap lunch, or to stock up on fruit
and snacks before a long bus journey. Restaurant-wise, there are a fair few places to eat on
the main road, though you won't exactly be spoilt for choice. The most atmospheric place for
a drink is the bar at Kong Keo .
Bamboozle! Route 7, just west of Nisha 030 952 3913. Bamboo-bedecked, falang -friendly
restaurant with a menu that mixes Western dishes with cheaper Asian staples (the Lao noodle
soup is just 15,000K). A great place to meet other travellers and find out about charitable
initiatives in the area (five percent of the restaurant's profits go towards the Lone Buffalo
Foundation . Daily 7am-11pm.
Craters East of Simmaly on Route 7 020 780 5775. A relaxed place with UXO lined up
outside and old weaponry decorating the interior. The menu offers everything you would ex-
pect from a travellers' café, including Western breakfasts (from 14,000K), club sandwiches
(32,000K) and a few good Asian dishes, including a tangy tom yam (29,000K). Daily
6.30am-10pm.
Lao Falang Restaurant Just north of the White Orchid hotel 554 06868. Not really re-
commended for its food (mains around 30,000K), as service is so slow, but this is still a good
place to grab a Beerlao and mingle with other travellers. Each night at 6pm the owner screens
a film about the American bombing of Laos. Daily 6.30am-11.30pm.
Nisha Just east of Bamboozle! on Route 7 020 9826 6023. Bare-bones Indian place serving
great dosa , alongside the usual assortment of curries. In the mornings it's popular with back-
packers, who come for the good banana roti (12,000K). Daily 6am-9.30pm.