Best Yangshuo restaurants, bars and cafés – expat favorites
Luna
Luna is the Yangshuo Village Inn rooftop restaurant specializing in authentic Italian cuisine. Luna offers stunning views and best wine list of and Yangshuo restaurant. Luna is also a patio bar and café. 10 years listed on TripAdvisor among the best Yangshuo restaurants.
Ganga Indian Restaurant – Northern authentic Indian cuisine that is the best in Yangshuo county. A must-try!
Pure Lotus Vegetarian Restaurant [CLOSED 2019]
In an elegant setting with old Chinese artifacts adorning the walls and eating area this vegetarian restaurant has an up market feel to it with excellent food.
Café China
The ground floor offers good Western food. Definitely worth trying is the thick creamy cheesecake and the lasagna with its tender pasta and delicious sauce. Another classic of Café China is William’s roast chicken, crispy outside and juicy inside – must be ordered in advance (50 RMB per chicken). The second and third floor have views of West Street and are more up class with Asian art, candle light and big spacious tables. The roof top offers an open air dining experience which is great in the summer months.
Yangshuo Mountain Retreat
Located a beautiful 40 minute easy hike through the rice fields and across the Yulong River, our sister hotel has some of the best local village food in the area, especially beer fish, spring rolls, duck and ribs. They also have western favorites and an extensive imported wine selection. The Mountain Retreat’s simple village-style Chinese dining is considered among the best Yangshuo restaurants.
Cloud 9
In a small side street that branches off West Street near the beginning called Chengzhong Lu this place offers probably the best crispy duck in town with Chinese pancakes and Hoi Sin sauce (and without bones!)
Lucy’s
Lucy’s is a long time backpacker favorite. A a reliable eatery with Chinese and western breakfasts and snacks. Good coffee and relaxed atmosphere. Friendly staff.
Le Votre [CLOSED 2019]
More of an up-market dining experience in Yangshuo. Great outdoor dining area located in the center of Yangshuo. The inside of Le Votre is impressive with high ceilings, wood carvings and other Chinese Art and Antiques. It is a French cuisine restaurant; however their menu also covers other International classic dishes. Very good in-house brewed beer!
Night Food Market
A perfect place for backpackers on a budget and to drink a beer with some friendly locals. The market is a 30 min walk from West Street in the direction of Guilin outside the town centre. The fresh ingredients are displayed on each stall. If you don’t speak Mandarin don’t worry they also have English Menus to make it easier to order for foreign visitors and you can always point. The prices might be slightly higher than for locals but still very reasonable. You will find all specialties of the region including beer fish, dog hot pot, frog, rabbit, fish head soup, snails and other exotic tastes. The price for fish, frog, rabbit or dog is normally indicated per 500gr on the menu. This is not a luxurious dining experience, you sit under a building on small wooden chairs around a wooden table but it is authentic and not frequented by many travelers. For precise directions please ask at the Yangshuo Village Inn reception.
Rosewood Café
Romantic Atmosphere with often live Chinese music. If the music is a little too intrusive you can always escape to the upstairs dining area and sit on their balcony and watch West Street pass by as you dine. Extensive menu and the food is professionally presented. One of the best Yangshuo restaurants for romantic young Chinese especially.
The best Yangshuo bars and pubs
Hideaways and local expat favorite hangouts
Yangshuo really comes to life at night and is a really atmospheric place to be. With its small narrow streets the mixture of music floods the night air together with the smell of barbequed meat from Xingjiang Kebab stalls and the shouts of people having fun.
There is a range of bars and clubs to choose from including of course some KTV clubs that are endemic throughout China. The below bars are recommended by the Yangshuo Village Inn and are generally popular with Westerners.
Luna Bar
Luna is the rooftop bar at Yangshuo Village Inn. In addition to authentic Italian cuisine, Luna features a great collection of Italian, South African, Australian and Spanish wines as well as mixed drinks. One of the great things about this unique Yangshuo bar are the sweeping views of the karst peaks and Moon Hill. Luna is open until 10pm and can also cater private parties. Luna is a quieter and more private experience with the best views of any Yangshuo bar.
Yangshuo Mountain Retreat Corner Bar (pictured above)
If you prefer to stay out of the noise and chaos of town, our sister hotel, the Yangshuo Mountain Retreat has a cozy fireplace bar with views of the Yulong River. It is a great place to meet mostly western travelers (couples and families) and enjoy ice cold beer and a range of cocktails, as well as an extensive selection of imported wines. There is a free shuttle twice daily to the Mountain Retreat from Yangshuo Village Inn.
The Brew (Alley Bar) [MOVED TO YANGSHUO MOUNTAIN RETREAT 2018]
Run by Andy, a longtime Yangshuo resident from Austria, the Brew features the largest variety of imported beers in Yangshuo, as well as some good value wines. His pizzas and pastas are excellent, as is his New Zealand steak. He often has a football game on a projector screen outside. Ample outside seating where you can watch all the Chinese tourists taking pictures of random objects. Highly recommended!
Rusty Bolt
If you’re into climbing or into climbers, or even if you just want to hang out with a fit crowd and enjoy cheap beers, this is the place for you. The bolt usually doesn’t get going until after 9pm and sometimes a band will get together and jam. There are also some imported beers and spirits from the well-stocked bar. Friendly people and a nice sidewalk location, just up the street from the former Brew location. Be forewarned there is a crap music bar across the street whose singers make up for their complete lack of talent by turning up the sound to 11.
DEMO
This place has an actual sound system where practiced bands will play certain evenings and there is a popular pub quiz here every Wednesday night. Look for all the expats in Yangshuo to show up for this and enjoy mostly Chinese beers.
Best Yangshuo coffee
Over the years there has become a steady increase in the quality of coffee in Yangshuo. Now there are some places available that serve really good cups of coffee with beans from all over the world. From laid back chilled cafés to slightly more up-market establishments Yangshuo has a great variety of places to drink a fresh cup of coffee and refreshing Chinese teas. So if you’re in need of that caffeine boost or you want to try a Dragon Well or Silver Needle then check out the following cafés.
The Balcony
These guys make a great cup of coffee and have some interesting teas on the menu such as rose bud tea. They also have delicious French Crepes with a range of great fillings. The furnishings may not be as comfortable as the other two mentioned above but the friendly staff and chilled tunes make for a relaxing break.
The Best Coffee
Serving coffee from all over the world this place is squeezed between two shops on West Street with décor that is slightly colonial but comfortable.
The Soul Cafe
A hip establishment serving good coffee and a range of fine wines and cigars. Look out for the picture on the wall of a women in a traditionally Chinese posture. Located on Guihua Road this place takes you away from the hustle and bustle of West Street.
Mingyuan Coffee
Located in a cozy shop on Bingjiang Road (at the end of West Street and about 200m to the North = Left). High quality coffee and nice desserts.
Try our selection of fresh brewed coffee & tea at The Grove