Elephant Bridge Bar – Luang Prabang
Words: Alison Christ
Photos: Monica Tindall
In honour of giant, majestic, four-legged wonderful creatures like elephants & water buffalo
One of the highlights of our Luang Prabang trip is an evening at Elephant Bridge Bar. Housed within Rosewood Luang Prabang and on the outskirts of the main town, it’s a destination worth the trip.
We have been looking forward to this all week. I had a sneak peek at Elephant Bridge Bar mixologist Noy’s herb garden a few days back. I can’t wait to hear his stories and imbibe his lovely cocktails.
Mixologist Thanakone Thor – AKA Noy
As you might have noticed, Noy (spelled Noy or Noi) is a popular name in Thailand and Laos. It is good for boys or girls and, loosely translated, means little or smaller. It is usually given to the youngest child in the family. Our Noy at Elephant Bridge Bar has been with Rosewood Luang Prabang since 2018 and began his journey by complementing hands-on experience with self-taught expertise. He likens himself to a painter who uses his experiences and knowledge to blend raw materials and herbs into cocktails.
Elephant Bridge Bar – Luang Prabang
It’s described as “A nod to 14th-century Luang Prabang, when it was the capital of the Kingdom of Lan Xang, known as the ‘Land of a Million Elephants,’ the Elephant Bridge Bar serves classic cocktails made with local herbs and spices.” The bar is literally a bridge built directly over a fresh running stream where the elephants used to bathe.
There are still elephants living in the wild in Laos, although their numbers have significantly declined. Laos, once the “Land of a Million Elephants”, today, however, is the land of only a few hundred wild elephants. These remaining are primarily in remote areas of southern Laos, such as the Nam Poui National Biodiversity Conservation Area and the Xe Pian National Protected Area. These elephants face threats from habitat loss, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict, which have put them at risk of extinction in the region. Thanks to conservation efforts, places like Rosewood and designers like Bill Bensley, all hope is not lost for these amazing animals.
Cocktail Menu & Prices
Elephant Bridge Bar menu has a carefully crafted collection of cocktails broken down into Negroni, Spritzers, Terracotta (my curiosity has peeked), House Cocktails and for the Gen Z’s out there, 0% Proof Refreshers. There’s also a nice selection of wines from around the world and a solid list of spirits and fresh juices. Upon previewing the cocktail menu, I already know days in advance which cocktail Monica will order first… the Vintage Negroni with gin, Campari, Barolo Chinato, and Vermouth Cocchi (USD 20).
I go with a Rum Negroni (USD 20) made of Lazy Dodo, Amaro Montenegro, bitters, Campari and Cocchi Extra Dry. I am a big fan of Montenegro and Cocchi! Lazy Dodo Rum (I fancy myself a rum lover, and I have never heard of this one) is a traditional rum produced on a plantation in Mauritius; they have been producing rum for 175 years! The Lazy Dodo rum is made from the highest quality sugarcane molasses, which goes through a double maturation process and is aged in French and American oak barrels for up to 10 years. My Negroni is perfect, and Monica’s must be as well, as hers is already gone!
I’m sticking with rum-based drinks and go next for the Lao Disco (USD 18) with pineapple rum, pandan rum, coconut pandan rice cordial and citrus. This has nothing to do with my love of the music genre Disco or the fact that I have a rescue Pomeranian named Disco (maybe a little bit). I love rum and pineapple and pandan and coconut, oh my! I am waiting impatiently in anticipation. Sorry Monica, I know you don’t like pandan – it’s a love or hate thing. I get it. It smells like Saucisson, Doritos or dog feet (if you know, you know). I love it. Pandan’s growing fresh all over the property, and I enjoy catching its scent in the breeze. The Lao Disco is thick, shaken and yummy, served in a delicate coupe glass. It’s a beautiful shade of green from the pandan and I’d be happy to keep drinking these all night!
I have to ask about the cocktail called Inspired by Ozzy (USD 20)!? Ozzy like the heavy-rock dude? Noy has no idea who that is and our dear companion Chef Ice giggles and says not that Ozzy but a mixologist from another bar who’d done a pop-up at the Elephant Bridge Bar. Although the cocktail scene in Luang Prabang is small, the team at Rosewood are always looking for ways to collaborate and grow together. If you’re visiting, keep an eye out for future guest shifts.
Instead of trying Ozzy’s drink, we get a preview of a brand-new cocktail, Spicy Basil (USD 15), made with fresh basil from the garden, salted plums, and clarified Père Kermann’s absinth. I’m normally not a huge fan of absinth, but the clarification process has tamed the wild beast. The fresh basil and salted plum give it a delicious, savoury aspect. It’s balanced and a bit spicy in a pleasurable way.
We are asked to look at the painting above the bar of the lovely Queen Rena (Rosewood’s owner) because she also has a cocktail named after her made with pineapple-infused mezcal, Laodi sugarcane Marriage Rum, pineapple shrub and Cognac (USD 20). It’s my two favourite spirits combined – mezcal and rum! Yes, sure, one Queen Rena next, please. This doesn’t disappoint and has the most beautiful, transparent leaf as a garnish. It looks like it’s made from paper, but Noy actually made it in the garden. Make sure you ask him how! You also need to try some of his special dried fruits; he has surprises you’ve never tried!
Monica loves gin, so for her finale, she ordered a Pink Herbstii (USD 20) with Master Gin, Nordes Gin, Herbst Bloodleaf, Lao sticky rice tea, homemade coconut syrup and citrus juice. The drink is magenta pink, the colour extracted from the Herbst bloodleaf plant. This Lao sticky rice tea is unreal, so good, and tastes and smells just like sticky rice (although it is only tea). Monica and I are enjoying our cocktails immensely, and Chef Ice brings us some snacks from the kitchen.
Food Menu & Prices
The kitchen team has carefully removed the bones from the Lao-Spiced Chicken Wings with Crispy Kai Phan (USD 9), making these yummy bites easy to pop into our mouths. We also love the Kai Phan, which is a popular staple here in Luang Prabang. It’s river weed. It sounds strange, but actually, it’s like kelp, and it’s a superfood. It’s fried and crispy with an enjoyable mellow flavour. We happily eat our greens!
We have a generous serving of small round Tuna Croquettes and Balsamic Onion (USD 11) in front of us. Who doesn’t love a croquette? Monica and I do, and these guys don’t stand a chance on our plate!
The Laotian Chorizo with Dijon Mustard (USD 12) is hand-made by a German man and his Lao wife right here in LP. They are tasty and the perfect bar snack.
We also try the Tacos with Charred Green Pepper Sauce and Coriander (USD 9). You can pick from a selection of chicken tenders, pork shoulder, or vegetarian. We try the delicious pork shoulder; the taco shells are perfectly crafted. Squeeze some lime, sip a cocktail, listen to the running water underneath us and relax. This is perfect. I envision a majestic elephant grazing below us, or that could be the absinthe.
Wine & Cheese at Elephant Bridge Bar
I did mention this was our last night at Rosewood Luang Prabang and our first time at the Elephant Bridge Bar for cocktails. However, it isn’t our first time here for wine. Last night, after we returned from our river cruise, we needed a snack, not a full dinner, so Chef Ice suggested we get some cheese and wine and sit at the Elephant Bridge Bar. I knew I liked this guy! Wine and cheese (that’s my middle name). Let’s go! We order the Luang Prabang Buffalo Dairy Cheese Selection (USD 15) with grapes, honey, toasted baguette and three different cheeses, all made from buffalo milk – so rich, creamy and delicious! We also got a bottle of our favourite red wine, the Vigna di Pallino, Chianti, Italy 2021 (USD 60).
The bar is adorned with over 100 or even 200 elephants (only Noy knows the exact number), statues, paintings, and sculptures. I worship these almost-gone-majestic creatures, and being here in honour of these wonderful beasts is amazing enough. But the fact that the bar is literally a bridge built over a running stream where they once travelled along is extraordinary. Hanging off the side of the bar are three hammock-like nets, very securely fashioned with metal rods and indestructible rope, dangling directly over the rushing water below. There are pillows to let us know it’s safe for sitting. Be brave, my friends. Monica and I find the best position to climb out and insist that Chef Ice join us. He’s uncertain, and we don’t care; we won’t take no for an answer. He makes it out, and the three of us are telling stories in the hammock over a river with wine and buffalo milk cheese. Oh my goodness, this glorious buffalo milk cheese!
Yesterday afternoon we took another excursion organised by Rosewood Luang Prabang to this buffalo milk cheese producer, the Laos Buffalo Dairy.
Laos Buffalo Dairy
I am lactose intolerant, and when I learn that water buffalo’s fat is higher and different from cow’s milk, more like goat’s milk (not in flavour but in humans’ reactions to lactose), I am overjoyed. I can try their ice cream and fresh cheeses like ricotta and mozzarella. Happy days, indeed. This socially responsible, sustainable business and farm offers fun and interactive tours, a farm-side cafe with a gourmet all-natural menu, and the only buffalo ice cream in Laos. They are conveniently located on the road to Kuangsi Waterfall, so be sure to schedule a stop.
We are given a tour, which includes feeding the pigs and bunnies long pieces of grass, petting cats, and attempting to milk a buffalo (I fail epically – it’s a lot harder than it looks). We learn of all the truly wonderful, sustainable practices the farm follows. Such as teaching people how to milk their animals (it seems like common sense, but few people actually know how), teaching husbandry skills including vaccinations, breeding and health care, providing jobs and renting buffalos from local farmers so they can earn a living. The list goes on and on, and you really should get here yourself to experience it firsthand.
After our tour, we meet Rachel, one of the founders. Rachel and Monica comment on how much has changed here since her last visit in 2017. We are instructed to rattle off our ice cream selections to our amazing hosts – they are giving us roadies!! Ice cream roadies. And of buffalo’s milk! Whoever heard of such a thing? Well, I’ll tell you, not me, I had no idea. I haven’t eaten ice cream in over 20 years. I am arguing in my head about the chocolate, and then my brain said, “Dude, all this tropical fruit around here? You gotta go with fruit-driven scoops!” I order ginger and coconut. Then, the other side of my brain calls me an idiot for not getting chocolate. You moron, they grow cacao here also!! Anyway, it’s too late; the message has been sent, the orders given and received, and I am handed the most spectacular ice cream I haven’t had in 20 years. My sense of smell and memory, as well as the textural feel on my tongue, are most glorious indeed. And it’s a true story, no lactose repercussions on my end. I am definitely coming back here to try the chocolate!
Elephant Bridge Bar Luang Prabang
I stop reminiscing about our lovely buffalo farm visit and realise I am sitting here on this hammock of sorts, spooning the last piece of glorious cheese into my mouth, sipping the wine, and listening to Chef Ice and Monica laugh. As I am brought back to this reality floating on air above a rapid stream, with this glorious cheese and my fantastic company, I think I see the wine in my glass vibrate slightly, sending tiny rippling waves. Did I hit the glass, or is there an elephant walking through the stream below us?
Reasons to visit the Elephant Bridge Bar: delicious cocktails, innovative ingredients, top-shelf spirits, fresh local products, awesome hospitality, open-air design, suspended river hammock, yummy bar snacks, buffalo milk cheese plates, cool breezes, homage to the mighty elephant, complimentary transfers from any location in Luang Prabang town when making a reservation, and the possibility of spotting an elephant.
Elephant Bridge Bar
Rosewood Luang Prabang
Ban Nadueay Village, Luang Prabang, 06000, Laos PDR
+856 7121 1155
[email protected]
*Prices are ++ – 10% service charge and 10% government tax
Elephant Bridge Bar Opening Hours
Daily: 4 pm to 11 pm (last order at 10:30 pm)
Find more gourmet travel recommendations for Laos here, and stay up-to-date on the latest gourmet and travel happenings around Asia via The Yum List on Instagram and The Yum List on Facebook.