The first hotel we set our eyes on in Luang Prabang, Laos is the UNESCO World Heritage site where 3 Nagas Luang Prabang MGallery by Sofitel is during a media familiarisation trip to Accorhotel‘s Sofitel and MGallery properties. We didn’t stay here, but we had a tour of its facilities and rooms. We also had lunch here as well as dinner the next day.
Three restored historical houses that has a mix of French colonial and traditional Lao design separated by a road is the home of 15 guest rooms, a cafe, a restaurant and bar and a courtyard garden. Each house is over 100 years old. Located in the centre of town, the 3 Nagas Luang Prabang MGallery by Sofitel is within walking distance to many tourist attractions including 30 temples, two rivers and the night market.
This quaint red and white house exudes a charm that resonates well with guests looking for a home that brings them back in time through its architecture, decor and neighbourhood. And if you are into photography just as I am, you will enjoy photographing memories while visiting the Restaurant and Bar or when you stay here.
3 Nagas Luang Prabang Guest Rooms
The 15 rooms in the Khamboua House look much like a home with all the comforts and warmth that a home should be. Dark wood finishings as well as the furnishings here give you a somewhat resort feel even though there is no beach front view. Each room here is between 30 sqm and 56 sqm and open out onto a beautiful garden. There are 12 Deluxe rooms and three Executive Suites. Each of the rooms come with an attached terrace or balcony and are equipped with Wi-Fi, coffee and tea making facilities, mini-bar and an in-room safe deposit box.
The seemingly quiet streets of the Old Quarter throughout the day gives you a residential neighbourhood feel despite the road being one of the main streets in Luang Prabang that leads to several temples and cultural attractions. Perhaps it is the slow pace in Luang Prabang.
Dark rosewood flooring and comfortable spaces such as a long sofa for you to relax and stare out the window as you contemplate or enjoy the view or the large queen sized bed. This is the type of room I personally enjoy living in. Cosy yet spacious enough to move around. And the air conditioning cools the room during the hot summer season. Or if it is cooling enough, you have the option of just turning on the fan instead.
Laos is in the tropical Asia. So you can expect mosquitoes. Beds here come with nets to keep away those pests. The 3 Nagas Garden covers 500sqm. The scenic central pond is under UNESCO’s protection. It is kept remote by a picket fence.
3 Nagas Restaurant – Indoor Dining
Depending on when you visit Luang Prabang, it can get rather warm here. During the later part of the year, it gets much cooler. Dining at 3 Nagas Restaurant is a delightful experience. Here you have a choice of indoor dining or alfresco dining. Both operate from 6.30am to 10.00pm.
Enjoy artisanal ice cream during the day. There are a variety of flavours to try. There’s raisin, bitter orange, coconut as well as the signature flavour – sweet, nutty-flavoured pandan mixed with coconut.
The indoor dining is housed in the red and white building along the main road where the hotel’s two vintage cars are usually parked. The cream-coloured 1956 Mercedes-Benz or the dark-crimson 1952 Citroen are available for tours of Luang Prabang or airport transfers at a fee of course.
3 Nagas Luang Prabang Alfresco Restaurant and Bar
The hotel lobby is located in the Lamache House which is also where the Alfresco Restaurant and Bar. Surrounded by foliage, this area comprises a two storey building. You check in here and can sit in the lobby gallery area which has a spiral red stairs which leads to the second floor.
Dine at the 3 Nagas Restaurant and Bar
If you only have time for one stop to try Laotian food, the 3 Nagas Restaurant and Bar is the place to be at. The dishes here give you a quick introduction to what Laos cuisine has to offer. I was pleasantly surprised how palatable Laotian food is. Try the buffalo meat. It isn’t as tough as it sounds.
The Neighbourhood
The neighbourhood around the hotel offers retail, massage and other F&B options. Located just across the road from 3 Nagas is Ock Pop Tok. Ock Pop Tok was set up to help people discover Laos through textiles. Using only the finest, locally sourced raw materials, the folks at Ock Pop Tok produce hand made products on a platform for fair trade. With women’s empowerment as one of the key pillars here, women are the driving force behind Ock Pop Tok and the handicraft industry.
Guests at 3 Nagas Luang Prabang can also partake in the religious ceremony of almsgiving. The hotel arranges for guests to sit outside the Alfresco Restaurant and bar with baskets of glutinous rice and other food stuff to offer to the monks as they walk past the stretch of the main road at around 6am. Do observe and respect this buddhist ritual.
Read our article about the other things you can do in Luang Prabang.
Getting to Luang Prabang from Singapore
Silkair will be launching thrice weekly services from Singapore to Vientiane and Luang Prabang in Laos in a circular routing from 31 October 2016. Flights will depart on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays from Singapore for Vientane followed by Luang Prabang before heading back to Singapore.
You can also fly to Luang Prabang via Bangkok on one of Bangkok Air’s direct Bangkok – Luang Prabang flights. Bangkok Air operates its ATR 72-500 propeller aircraft between the two cities.
The 3 Nagas Luang Prabang MGallery by Sofitel is located at Sakkaline Road, Ban Vatnong, Luang Prabang District, Luang Prabang, Democratic Republic Lao.
