Luang Prabang, Laos' most touristic city, does not have the reputation of being a party town.
While there are plenty of things to do during the day, from visiting temples to swimming in waterfalls, nightlife activities are much harder to find.
There is a 11.30PM curfew on bars located in the city center, but if you go a little bit further away you can find a few clubs and KTVs open until 1AM. You also have the bowling center that closes at 2AM.
Within these time limits, there are actually some interesting venues for drinking and having fun. In this short review, I will give you a list of my top 5 favorite nightlife activities in Luang Prabang.
Best Things to Do at Night in Luang Prabang
Nightmarket
I think it's the first time I recommend a night market in one of my articles. The one in Luang Prabang is one of the most touristy you'll visit in Southeast Asia (0% local people, 100% foreigners), but it is lively and probably the best place to meet other travelers.
The night market has two lanes: The main one, on Sisavangvong Road, focuses on clothes, souvenirs and craftwork. This is where people buy elephant pants and Lao-branded shirts. Nothing special.
The second lane is more interesting. It is a bit hidden, at the corner of the Indigo House Hotel and Sisavangvong Road, and it has around 25 street food stalls. You can buy very cheap beer there and sit elbow-to-elbow with other people.
It's quite dirty and messy so you won't stay too long, but still, I'd recommend trying once.
Bar Crawling in the City Center
The city center of Luang Prabang can easily be discovered by foot. At night, there are two streets with a higher concentration of bars and restaurants:
On Sisavangvong Road (just after the night market), there are at least 20 of them. You can just walk and choose the one you prefer. Personally, I liked these:
Luang Prabang Motorcycle Club (LPMC): In front of Vat Sene temple, this bar was not the busiest but it has a great intimate atmosphere and excellent cocktails (around 45,000 kip). Independent pop/rock music. Friendly owner.
Tangor: A French-run restaurant/café/bar with a colonial décor. It is one of the most crowded in the street, and a perfect location for watching people walk by.
Check as well Artisan Bar (cocktail bar with speakeasy vibe), Maolin Tavern (younger crowd), and Icon Klub (older crowd).
A short walk from there, there are a few more bars on Kingkitsarath Road. Expats call it the Phousi Hill's nightlife precinct. None of the venues are really packed, but you have music, sports channels and alcohol.
Redbul Bar (not Red Bull) is the best in that area: A proper pub with pool tables, burgers and sports. Popular with expats. 20,000 kip for a cocktail during happy hours (5PM to 7PM).
Bowling
Luang Prabang Bowling Alley stays open until 2 AM, it serves alcohol and there's music. For many locals and backpackers, this is enough to make it they go-to nightlife spot in Luang Prabang.
Live Music Clubs: Dao Fa, U-Pub and QQ
The city curfew is more relaxed if you party just a few kilometers away from the city center. The crowd in those clubs is more local and younger.
Cheap live music space. Free entrance. Some of the songs are in English.
Modern club with a nightly live band singing Lao hits. 25,000 kip for one beer (buy 2 get 1 free). It closes at 1AM.
Dao Fa: Inside the Dao Fa hotel, it is not as new as U-Pub but more crowded. Live band and DJ (commercial EDM). It is only open from 9PM until 1AM. The Sun Karaoke KTV is attached. Based on the reviews of Dao Fa hotel on Agoda, it seems there might be some prostitution there.
Karaoke - KTV
I have to admit that I didn't partake in any karaoke session, but I saw many places that seemed popular with Asian tourists (probably Chinese) and locals.
There are some on Road 13, before and after Dao Fa. A crowded one was Full Moon Karaoke. There is also Muang Sua Nightclub and KTV on Phu Vao Road (here).
They normally close at 11PM or 11.30PM.