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Ock Pop Tok Silk Road Café is one of those places you fall for instantly.
It’s wrapped in tropical green, it looks straight out over the Mekong River, and you can actually sit and eat in a treehouse.
It’s a short ride from central Luang Prabang — not exactly in Old Town — but that distance ends up being part of the charm, not a problem.
And honestly, access is easy anyway because there’s a free tuk-tuk shuttle from their sister boutique in town.
On top of the café itself, the property is part of Ock Pop Tok, a craft and textile center where you can watch silk weaving, join workshops, and learn about Lao culture.
So it’s not just “go for coffee, take a photo, leave.”
It’s more like “spend a slow half-day by the river and come back with a story.”
Basic information for Ock Pop Tok Silk Road Café
| Address | Ban Saylom, Luang Prabang, ラオス |
| Hours | 7:30–20:30 (last order 20:00) |
| Official site | https://www.ockpoptok.com/visit-us/silk-road-cafe/ |
A riverside café-restaurant surrounded by green

Silk Road Café sits inside Ock Pop Tok, a local craft center known for traditional Lao textiles.
There’s no entry fee, and you’re absolutely welcome to come just for food or drinks.
The café itself looks out over the Mekong River, and the property is dotted with different seating areas — garden tables, shaded corners, and that famous treehouse.
Everything is mostly open-air, so you’re sitting with birdsong, river breeze, and jungle-y green all around you.
Because the café is a bit away from Old Town, it’s handy (and honestly fun) to get there by bicycle or scooter if you’re exploring on your own.

Getting there: the free tuk-tuk shuttle from town

Ock Pop Tok also runs “The Boutique by Ock Pop Tok,” a shop in central Luang Prabang.
If you stop by The Boutique, staff can arrange a free tuk-tuk shuttle that takes you out to Silk Road Café (and back).
There’s no fixed timetable — you just ask.
And you don’t just get any tuk-tuk; they’ll often pull up in this bold, bright-pink tuk-tuk that looks almost designed for Instagram.
The shuttle is technically only between the two Ock Pop Tok locations, but “The Boutique” tends to be close to many guesthouses and hotels, which makes it super convenient for visitors.

Note that The Boutique is retail-only — it doesn’t have a café attached.
But the products sold there are essentially the same lineup you’ll find at the main site.
The star: a private treehouse table over the Mekong


The showstopper here is the treehouse table.
It’s basically your own little lookout above the Mekong River — leafy, quiet, and almost absurdly photogenic.
Here’s the catch: there’s only one treehouse table.
It’s first-come, first-served, so if you show up and it’s empty, claim it right away.
It honestly might be one of the most relaxing coffee spots in Luang Prabang.
Food & drinks: traveler-friendly Lao dishes (and yes, it’s not cheap)
Silk Road Café runs as a full café-restaurant with a broad menu — not just cakes and smoothies, but proper meals.
The kitchen leans toward Lao cuisine, but flavors are gently adjusted so that international travelers can enjoy them comfortably.
Prices are on the tourist side, so expect to pay more than you would at a local street stall.
That said, the chef sources local ingredients carefully, and overall the quality feels in line with what you’re paying.
You can browse the menu ahead of time on the official website, which is helpful if you have dietary preferences.



It’s also worth mentioning that Ock Pop Tok operates with a focus on women’s empowerment and fair trade, and that mission is part of why prices sit a little higher.
See real weaving up close


Ock Pop Tok originally started as a weaving workshop, not a café.
Today, the craft center is open to visitors, and you’re free to walk around and watch the weaving process.
Watching artisans hand-weave silk textiles right in front of you is the kind of thing that’s surprisingly hard to experience in most places.
Join the free 30-minute tour (silkworm to finished textile)


Every day, Ock Pop Tok runs a free 30-minute guided tour that walks you through the full process — from the silkworm to the finished fabric.
There’s one session in the late morning and one in the late afternoon.
As of now, the usual times are 11:30–12:00 and 16:30–17:00.
Details can shift a little depending on the season, but again, it’s free, so it’s kind of a no-brainer to join.
Try a hands-on craft workshop


Ock Pop Tok also offers hands-on workshops, where you’re not just watching — you’re actually making something yourself.
Classes include natural dyeing, silk weaving, Hmong embroidery, Hmong batik, bamboo weaving, and even lessons in traditional village crafts.
Depending on what you choose, workshops can run from a half-day session to a three-day deep dive.
If you’re staying in Luang Prabang for about a week, you could honestly build your whole trip around this and go home with skills and pieces you made yourself.
Now, pricing: workshops aren’t cheap.
Expect to pay around $30 at minimum, and some of the longer or more involved classes can reach close to $240.
But lunch is included in the longer sessions (not the half-day ones), you’re guided by real artisans, and you take your finished piece home.
For families with kids, this can turn into one of those “remember when we…” core memories of the trip.
If you’re interested, it’s best to book ahead — either by email or directly in person.
You can even arrange it at The Boutique by Ock Pop Tok in town when you first arrive in Luang Prabang.
Email: reservations@ockpoptok.com
Shopping: high-quality, handmade souvenirs


There’s also an on-site craft shop stocked with handmade silk pieces and other locally made items you genuinely won’t see in airport gift stores.
Prices lean premium, but this is where you find something thoughtful for someone important back home.
Yes, you can actually stay here: “Mekong Villa”


Here’s a fun surprise: the Ock Pop Tok property even has its own guesthouse-style hotel called “Mekong Villa,” right on the river.
Rooms are decorated with Ock Pop Tok textiles and crafts, so you’re literally living inside the aesthetic — and if you fall in love with something in your room, you can often buy it.
Staying there, browsing the shop, taking a weaving class, having coffee in a treehouse over the Mekong River — it honestly starts to feel a little like the “Disneyland of Luang Prabang.”




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