Le Petit Gecko Restaurant- 07 Xuân Viên, Sapa — Restaurant in Sa Pa Ward

I used the Le Petit Gecko's amazing restaurant. Located on two floors of a pretty and colourful building near the Notre Dame du Rosary, the restaurant is in the thick of the tourist district and close to the Sapa Funicular Railway Station. The dining space is high on aesthetics, ambience and colour. There's outdoor seating on both the floors. The space, whether outdoors or indoors is equally enchanting. The first floor balcony has potted hanging plants and overlooks the road below and the amphitheater and the Sapa Station nearby. It's a very pretty place to dine. The first floor indoor space with a huge glass window separating it from the balcony, is extremely colourful with a ceiling of wood and local textiles. There's local textiles on the tables and sofas as well. The ambience is enhanced by the wicker basket lamps with warm lights hanging above the tables. Their reflection on the glass tops of the tables is entrancing. Le Petit Gecko has a vegetarian section on the menu and mentions its vegetarian creds prominently on the signage too. I ordered an eggplant curry with rice, a local specialty, for lunch and an apple pie with icecream for dessert. The eggplant was delectable and I chose to eat with chopsticks, the better to enjoy every tiny morsel. The apple pie was freshly baked. The Le Petit Gecko grows on you, the longer you linger. A restaurant that's more than just the sum total of its food...

This place is trying so hard to be the cool kid in Sapa, but honestly, it’s more like the awkward cousin at the party. Let me break it down for you: We waited a long time for 4 mains and 4 desserts. Here’s what we got for our patience: A chicken burger that tasted like it had given up on life, with fries that were clearly protesting their fate by staying half-raw. A croque madame… minus the egg. They did toss it on the side after we pointed it out, but by then it felt like a bad apology letter. An omelette overcooked it could’ve been used as a frisbee. A croque monsieur that was actually decent! Gold star for that one.

And then came dessert: Two apple tarts straight out of the freezer. They warmed up to the idea of being food eventually and turned out okay, but the so-called “ice cream” was just tasteless fluff. -A coconut tart that was surprisingly good! (There’s hope!) Pancakes that showed up fashionably late to the party and were undercooked they could’ve been dough auditions for a bread roll.

To be fair, this spot might work if you just want a coffee or a drink with a side of vibes. But if you’re here for food, Sapa has plenty of places that are tastier, cheaper, and way...

We had the opportunity to dine at this restaurant on two separate occasions, first for dinner and later for breakfast and both experiences were consistently impressive.

During our evening visit, we began with a serving of fried spring rolls: crisp, golden, and well-balanced in seasoning. For the main course, we opted for the fried noodles and the cured buffalo with garlic. Each dish was thoughtfully plated, with portions that felt generous without being overwhelming. The flavors were bold and harmonious, showcasing a confident hand in the kitchen. Service throughout the meal was prompt and attentive, enhancing the overall dining experience.

Our return for breakfast was equally satisfying. The scrambled eggs were cooked to perfection, light, fluffy, and seasoned just right. The chicken and cheese sandwich stood out for both its size and flavor: hearty, satisfying, and well-composed. Both the coffee and tea met expectations, rounding off a well-executed breakfast.

This establishment demonstrates a commendable consistency in both its culinary offerings and service, making it a reliable choice for any...