Gary's Irish Bar

Guinness from Dublin kegs, pub food, live music and live sport in Vang Vieng. Open every night from 5pm.

A packed crowd cheering and raising their drinks along the bar at Gary's, with the Guinness tap in front

Our story

Gary O'Donoghue left Kerry with a simple idea: a proper Irish pub somewhere nobody would expect one. He landed in Vang Vieng, and Gary's opened its doors in 2008.

The Guinness comes in kegs shipped from Dublin. The cooking is honest and filling, the kind that feels like home when you're a long way from it.

Mostly, though, it's the people. Gary, Katae and the team make strangers feel like regulars from the first round.

"There are no strangers here, only friends you haven't yet met."

Irish and Lao owned.

The green Gary's Irish Bar sign over the entrance, with people at tables inside — The sign over the door

Drinks

Guinness pulled from Dublin kegs, Beer Lao cold off the tap, and a cocktail list with the classics, a few twists and some surprises.

On draught: Guinness, in kegs shipped from Dublin. Beer Lao on tap.
Bottles and imports: Kronenbourg 1664, Hoegaarden, Corona, Beer Lao Gold, White, IPA and Dark. Somersby ciders.
Cocktails: Espresso Martini, Long Island, Pina Colada, Whiskey Sour, Tequila Sunrise and plenty more.

3 for 2 on all cocktails

Happy hour, 6pm to 10pm, every night.

A couple drinking pints of Guinness at the bar

Food

Homemade and filling. The kitchen opens at 5pm, and it's cash only.

Burgers

All served with homemade chips and coleslaw.

Signature Cheese Burger: The one that started it all. Classic, no fuss.
Crispy Chicken Burger: Chicken breast in a bun, crispy outside and juicy inside.
The Veggie Burger: A homemade patty.

Mains

Fish and Chips: With coleslaw and curry sauce.
Bangers and Mash: Imported pork sausages, mashed potato and proper gravy.
Homemade Cottage Pie: Made from scratch with imported beef, and slow-cooked.
Roast Chicken Special: With mashed potato and gravy.
Pan Fried Chicken Steak: With a rich pepper sauce.
Pan Seared Tilapia: Fresh local fish, simply cooked.

Vegetarian

Vegetable Curry: Freshly prepared, served with rice.
Vegetable Soup: Homemade, with a fresh-baked baguette.
Fried Lao Mix Veg: Local vegetables, wok-fried and served with rice.

Sides

Homemade Chips: Plain, or loaded with cheese and gravy.
Garlic Bread: Simple and good.

What's on

Sport on four screens, pool competitions with prizes most nights, and live music from Simon. There's free WiFi throughout, and room to spread out and stay a while.

People watching football on the big screen, with the pool table in the foreground — **Live sport** on four screens

Simon playing guitar and singing to the bar — **Live music** with Simon

People around the pool table, with a neon sign on the brick wall behind — **Pool**, with competitions most nights

Photos

A crowd singing along while Simon plays, with the pool table behind

A table of friends laughing and waving at the camera

Four friends raising their drinks against the brick wall

Friends smiling at a table on the open-air terrace at night

A long table of travellers drinking together under the terrace lights

Reviews

Rated 4.5 out of 5 from 835+ reviews on TripAdvisor.

The vibes and atmosphere are genuinely unmatched. Gary makes time to chat with everyone — you feel like you've known him for years by the end of the night.
TripAdvisor traveller

The Guinness is spot on — kegs from Dublin, properly poured. I'd travel back to Vang Vieng just for this. My favourite bar in all of Laos.
TripAdvisor traveller

Came in as a solo traveller feeling a bit lost. Left with a table of new friends and an empty pint glass. The kind of bar that doesn't exist at home anymore.
TripAdvisor traveller

The fish and chips were enormous and the cottage pie tasted exactly like my grandma used to make. Seriously good cooking for a bar in the middle of Laos.
TripAdvisor traveller

Best place to watch the Premier League in Southeast Asia. Four screens, cold beer, and a crowd that actually cares about the game. Absolutely perfect.
TripAdvisor traveller

Gary's been doing this for 15 years and it shows — this place runs like a dream. Every single night feels like a proper party with people you actually like.
TripAdvisor traveller

Killer pool competition, free WiFi, draught Guinness and a playlist that somehow gets better the longer you stay. Go for one drink. Leave much later.
TripAdvisor traveller

Find us

Address: The Rising Sun, Ban Savang
Vang Vieng, Laos
Open: Every day, 5pm to midnight
Kitchen: From 5pm. Cash only.
WhatsApp: +856 205 611 5644
Email: contact@garysirishbar.com

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