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If you’re the kind of traveler who loves beautiful interiors, sweet drinks and a quiet corner to sit for a while , Formula B will probably become your “local” in Luang Prabang.
I first went because the building looked so charming from the street, and ended up staying longer than planned just to enjoy the atmosphere.
This article is for people who want a stylish, air-conditioned café on the main street, somewhere that feels a bit like Starbucks but still has local character.
You’ll find everything you need to know here: where it is, what the café feels like inside, the drinks and cakes, and when to go if you want to avoid the crowds .
Tabilus – Go Travel, Go Missing
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TOC
Is there a Starbucks-style café in Luang Prabang?
Luang Prabang doesn’t have a real Starbucks, but Formula B is about as close as it gets to a Starbucks-style café — in a good way.
It has a strong focus on sweet, photogenic drinks, seasonal specials and cakes, all in a carefully designed space.
The café is inside a renovated French colonial building, with an entrance on Sisavangvong Road , the main street where most travelers walk every day.
Because it’s right on the main street, it’s very easy to drop by between sightseeing or on your way back to your hotel .
If you like well-designed cafés where you can sit comfortably with a good drink and people-watch for a while, this place will make you happy.
ADVICE ADDED
If you’re looking only for the most local, no-frills coffee stall, this might not be your first choice.
Formula B location, opening hours and basic information
What makes Formula B feel like a “hidden” café?
Formula B opened in 2019 in a building that originally housed a gallery shop on the ground floor.
At first, you had to walk through the gallery and up an inner staircase to reach the café on the upper floor , which gave it a very “hidden spot only locals know” feeling.
Its location and style made it popular, so now part of the ground floor has also been turned into an eat-in space.
Even so, the main seating area and the order counter are still upstairs , and you still go up the inner staircase to place your order.
That little climb keeps the “secret café” feeling alive.
Climbing the stairs and suddenly stepping into a bright, stylish space was a nice surprise.
Inside Formula B: white brick walls and French colonial charm
One big reason Formula B became so popular is its interior design.
The café uses the original French colonial structure, with white-painted brick walls and a unified, modern colonial style that feels very “Luang Prabang” and very Instagrammable at the same time.
The design is simple but refined, and it’s the kind of place where you feel satisfied just sitting there with a drink, even if you’re not doing anything special.
Personally, my favorite seats are the counter seats by the window.
From there, you can watch people walking along the main street below.
That view has a strong sense of “travel mood” for me, and I never get tired of it.
It’s not flashy luxury — it’s the quiet kind, where you sit by the window and feel like the street belongs to you for a little while.
Are there Instagrammable seats on the first floor?
https://m.facebook.com/formula.b.cafe/ Part of the first floor is now an eat-in space, and the window seats on the ground floor are especially popular for photos .
They really look like they were made for Instagram: soft light from the street, stylish furniture and a clear view of the outside.
In my experience, these seats are often occupied by groups of women taking photos, chatting and enjoying their drinks.
ADVICE ADDED
If you find the first-floor window seats empty, consider yourself lucky.
If those seats are full, it’s still worth going upstairs — the main space has more seats, and the atmosphere is quieter.
Drinks: sweet, Starbucks-style creations and proper coffee
https://m.facebook.com/formula.b.cafe/ Another reason Formula B is loved is its wide range of sweet, dessert-like drinks .
Many come piled high with cream and toppings, and they’re the kind of drinks you automatically want to photograph before you take a sip.
There are also many limited-time seasonal drinks , which makes it clear that the café puts a lot of effort into its sweet drink menu.
It’s no exaggeration to call it the “Starbucks of Luang Prabang” .
At the same time, there are plenty of regular coffee-based drinks too, so you don’t have to love super-sweet options to enjoy this café.
Both coffee lovers and people who don’t usually drink coffee can find something that suits them here.
I’ve been here with friends who prefer strong coffee and others who just wanted a sweet, cold drink, and everyone was able to choose something easily.
Tabilus – Go Travel, Go Missing
Cakes: popular, seasonal and easy to take back to your hotel
https://m.facebook.com/formula.b.cafe/ Formula B also puts a lot of effort into cakes.
Like the drinks, they often offer seasonal and limited-time cakes , so you might find something different depending on when you visit.
The cakes are popular enough that you’ll usually see a large number of cakes stocked in the fridge on the ground floor , ready for both dine-in and takeaway.
Reviews and comments often mention how good the cakes are, which matches what you’ll see when you open the fridge.
The café is great for a relaxed break, but taking a slice of cake back to your hotel and eating it slowly later is also a nice way to enjoy it .
I like picking up a cake here, keeping it in the fridge at my accommodation and having it as a treat after a hot day of walking around.
Tabilus – Go Travel, Go Missing
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When is Formula B least crowded?
Because Formula B is on the main street and combines a stylish interior with photogenic drinks and cakes, it does get busy — especially in the middle of the day .
Tourists naturally gather here when the sun is strong and they need a cool café break.
If you want to take photos or relax quietly, the best time to visit is in the morning.
The café opens earlier on weekdays (from 8:00) and a little later on weekends (from 9:00), so you can plan your visit around that.
ADVICE ADDED
I find that going soon after opening makes a big difference: it’s calmer, the light is nice for photos, and you can choose your seat more freely.
Tabilus – Go Travel, Go Missing
Who will enjoy Formula B?
If you…
love stylish interiors and French colonial architecture ,
want Starbucks-style sweet drinks and seasonal specials in Luang Prabang,
enjoy people-watching from a comfortable, air-conditioned café on the main street ,
…then Formula B will probably become one of your favorite stops in town.
ADVICE ADDED
If you prefer very local, minimalist cafés with no crowds, or you dislike sweet drinks and popular spots, you might want to drop by once just to see the interior, then spend more of your coffee time at quieter, less-designed places.
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