Le Provencal is a longstanding French restaurant in Vientiane that is popular for tourists according to many Asia travel news. It serves delicious bistro-type food, along with more refined French cuisine, in a relaxed, farmhouse setting. All the classic French dishes can be found here including escargot, ratatouille and steak tartare. The daily plat-du-jour is also worth looking out for as you can sample a diverse selection of French fare at a discounted price. As well as a fairly substantive French menu, Le Provence also serves renowned wood-fired pizzas and thick-cut hearty bruschettas. It must be noted that the French wine selection here is excellent and even the house wines are magnificent.
One of the several restaurants clustered around Nam Pu Square, the iconic fountain in the city centre, Le Provencal is in an easy-to-find location just a few blocks back from the river, and is easily walkable from anywhere in Vientiane. Although the exterior could do with a little sprucing up, the interior is far more appealing; its exposed brick-and-timber décor gives the restaurant a rustic charm reminiscent of a rural manor. In keeping with the theme, the furniture is a bit dated, as are the wall displays, and the most cutting-edge technology in the whole place seems to be the calculator on the bar.
There is no air-conditioning inside but there is an excess of fans, which perform the dual function of keeping the customers cool and blowing the delicious smells emanating from the wood-fired pizza oven throughout the restaurant. To add to the authenticity, the French owner is usually found at the bar, cigarette in mouth in true Gallic style.
