The ancient temple complex of Angkor Wat is Cambodia's national treasure. The nearby city of Siem Reap has developed dramatically since the days Angelina Jolie filmed Tomb Raider here and fell in love with the nation.
While some lament the discovery of Angkor by the masses, the site is still breathtaking and Siem Reap offers all the comforts one could wish for on any budget.
Many do simply holiday at Angkor and travel no further, but Cambodia has a lot more to showcase. Consider as well a break on the lazy white sand beaches of Sihanoukville, a stay at a stylish resort in resurging coastal Kep, or a tour to the atmospheric, mist-shrouded Bokor Hill Station for a taste of Cambodia's 1960s heyday.
Many write off Phnom Penh, yet it's a beautiful city, with a stunning colonial heritage, a gorgeous riverside promenade featuring a glittering palace, and a great selection of restaurants and bars.
Shopping here has taken off: trawl the stalls of the Russian market for "antique" finds, wispy organza fabrics and chic ceramics, stop in a few boutiques for home-grown designer clothes and get some leather shoes handcrafted at a bargain price at one of the city's skilled cobblers.
The reminders of the horrific genocide perpetrated by Cambodia's Khmer Rouge make for harrowing but essential viewing: do see Tuol Sleng and make a trip to the Killing Fields just outside the city for a sobering aside to your travels as you pause to remember the atrocities humans are capable of committing.
Further afield, Battambang offers travelers a taste of laid-back rural life. Stop to see Cambodia's first winery and tour isolated Khmer temples, some of which pre-date Angkor.
The former Khmer Rouge stronghold of Anlong Veng is another key stop for the more intrepid and adventurous traveler, where the grave of Pol Pot serves as another reminder of the history Cambodia is struggling to overcome.
Travel fish shows you how to make the most of the popular destinations, points you in the direction of Cambodia's best-kept secrets and equips you with the knowledge you need to make up-to-the-minute decisions throughout your trip to Cambodia.
Nightlife in Cambodia:
Cambodian nightlife is a lot more locally orientated than in Thailand although foreigners are amply catered for in the country’s many bars, restaurants and clubs. Go Go bars are a no-go in Cambodia and most hostesses are fully dressed but that's not to say that naughty stuff doesn't happen; it does and with girls from Vietnam drawn to the nightlife scene the effect is multi-tiered.
Some clubs are open 24 hours round the clock and none close early. The restaurant scene runs parallel, that is to say late, along with the nightclubs.
The Pubs and Clubs of Phnom Penh (capital):
Alley Cat
Bar A bar with character. Excellent little bar and cafe tucked away on an alley behind the National Museum. Very good Mexican food, great hamburgers, including some massive entries. Popular place with a loyal following. Full bar, good conversation, good people. Look for the sign at the alley entrance.
On the alley 30m off Street 19, between St.178 and St.184, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
10:00AM – 10.00PM
Aqvarivm Bar
Located on the ground floor of the Sofia Hotel, Aqvarivm is a trendy new hangout that moves seamlessly from early mornings to late nights. Stop by for breakfast or a coffee in the morning, or after work for a drink - Aqvarivm stays open late and has a wide range of creative cocktails to tempt you. In addition to coffee beverages and cocktails they serve a range of tasty nibbles and snacks. Live acoustic music Friday and Saturday.
Corner Street 55 & 254, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
8:00AM - 1:00AM
**Happy Hour: 5:00PM - 8:00PM
Tel: 077-536342
Cadillac Bar & Grill Restaurant: Western/American
Very welcoming, a/c riverfront bar and restaurant serving up some excellent, home cooked American and western dishes, specifically southern and Texas cooking. A comfortable place.
#219E, Sisowath Quay (on the riverfront), Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
7:00AM - Midnight
Tel: 011-713567
California 2 Bar/Restaurant: International/Western
Good western food and a few Asian/Khmer selections. Burgers, sandwiches, mains and legendary Baja Fish Tacos. Friendly, efficient service, full bar, pool tables, sports/news/movies on the TV, open 24 hours a day.
#79, Sisowath Quay, on the riverfront, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
24 hours
Website: www.cafecaliforniaphnompenh.com
Candy Bar 24hr Bar/Restaurant: International
Fully air-conditioned, totally comfortable 24-hour sports bar and restaurant on Street 136 just off the riverfront. Lots of hostesses, cushioned seating, relaxed atmosphere with good music at conversation volume. Pool table, live sports TV, games. Serving a nice selection of western, Khmer and Thai dishes - western breakfast, pizzas, burgers, Thai food and more. Guesthouse rooms available.
Visa/MC/JCB/ANZ
#30, Street 136 (map - riverfront area), Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
24 hours, Happy hour 9:00AM - 7:00PM! $1.00 beers and $2.00 house spirits.
Tel: 083-355555 (Daytime)
013-213213 (Nighttime)
Facebook: candybar.phnompenh
Website: www.candybarphnompenh.com
Cantina Bar/Restaurant: Mexican Gringo
A.k.a. ‘Hurley’s Place’. A bar with heart and a restaurant too. Always interesting company about. The best selection of tequilas in Phnom Penh. Great Mexican food. Indoor and sidewalk seating with an entertaining riverfront view.
#347, Sisowath Quay (map - riverfront area), Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
The Cavern Pub & Café Pub and Café: English
Welcoming, fully air-conditioned Street 104 pub and restaurant serving up a full bar, a good choice of British and western fare and a genial neighborhood pub atmosphere. Pork chops, bangers and mash, roast, lots more food, good full bar with draft and a healthy selection of beers and spirits, including particularly good selection of single malts. Sports TV. Wifi. Occasional live music.
#19, Street 104, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
11:30AM - 2:00AM
**Happy Hour: 11:30AM-6PM
Tel: 012-620441
Website: www.cavern-pub-phnom-penh.com
Chow Restaurant Restaurant/Bar: Southeast Asian
Posh riverfront restaurant and bar at The Quay boutique hotel, sporting an urban chic ambiance with clean modern decor and simple line, a menu of Asian fusion and contemporary cuisine and a bar to be envied - top cocktails, a smart wine selection and a choice of fine spirits. Great place for a gathering of friends over a bottle of wine. Great happy hour specials 6PM-8PM. Fully air-conditioned.
Visa/MC/JCB/AMEX
#277, Sisowath Quay, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
7:00AM - 11:00PM
Tel: 023-224894
Website: http://chow.thequayhotel.com
D.R Bar Night Club/Discotheque
Dance club, open into the very late evening. DJs every night playing hip-hop, rap, funk, trance, house and R&B. Attracting a young local crowd as well as tourists and expats. Full bar with beer, spirits and cocktails..
#40, Street 214, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
7:30PM - 4:00AM
Tel: 011-337327
Website: www.dr-darkroom.com
Equinox Bar/Restaurant
One of the most popular and long-established places on Street 278 in Boeung Keng Kang 1 (BKK1). Friendly, relaxed comfortable atmosphere. Very popular with expats and travelers. Good food - salads, sandwiches and pizzas. Full bar. Ever changing art exhibitions keep the place feeling fresh and artsy, and live music on the weekends by some of the country’s hottest bands - blues, rock, fusion, hip-hop...
#3A, Street 278, BKK1, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Enigma Lounge and Bar Bar
This hostess bar on Street 108 sets itself apart by its stylish decor and modern lighting. Completely renovated with attention to detail, Enigma offers seating in the form of cozy booth and "legs" stools at the bar. The bar stocks a wide variety of beers, spirits, cocktails, champagne and premium drinks, and sports are shown on a flat screen television.
#84, Street 108, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
8:00AM - 2:00PM
Tel: 023-214786
Foreign Correspondents Club (FCC) Bar/Restaurant: Intl
This is the famous FCC - still as much a journalist’s meeting place as a popular tourist/expat bar and restaurant. Located on the second floor of a beautiful old Colonial era building, the FCC’s open balcony provides a spectacular, sweeping view of the Tonle Sap and Mekong Rivers. The FCC kitchen offers a good selection of contemporary, modern, and mainstream western dishes as well as some of the best wood-fired over pizza in town. Photo shows and exhibitions. Delivery. Bookshop. Fresco Delicatessen on the ground floor.
Visa/MC
#363, Sisowath Quay (map - riverfront area), Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
7:00AM - 12:00mid
Tel: 023-724014
Website: www.fcccambodia.com
Freebird Bar & Grill Restaurant/Pub
An extraordinarily comfortable a/c bar and restaurant with a authentic friendly neighborhood bar ambiance - a beautiful wooden bar with extra comfortable seating, along with good conversation, in a genuine friendly place. The Freebird also offers a fully stocked bar and a wide selection of American, Tex-Mex and many other western foods. (Kitchen closes at 10:00PM) Huge music selection and excellent service, always with a smile! Dependable home delivery service. Listed in the exclusive Miele Guide 2009/2010 (to Asia’s finest restaurants,) “...for homesick Americans...Freebird is heaven on earth.” Ladies Night Friday and Saturday.
#69, Street 240 (map - Street 240), Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
7:00AM - 11:00PM
**Happy Hour: 3:00PM - 9:00PM, Ladies night Friday and Saturday
Tel: 023-224712
Garage Bar Bar/Restaurant: American
Very comfortable, very welcoming, fully air-conditioned bar just off the riverfront. Great music on the box, some of the best in town, Velvet Underground, Roy Orbison and the like. More than a terabyte of music on disk. Just ask for your favorite. Good people. Good conversation. Full bar, draft beer, spirits and cocktails, all at very reasonable prices. Delicious flame grilled burgers and dogs. Great fries. Try one of the new Cuban sandwiches. Free wifi. Recommended.
#9, Street 110 (map - riverfront area), Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
5:00PM - 1:00AM
Tel: 012-754763
Heart of Darkness Bar/Club
One of the most well-known bars in Cambodia, drawing a mix of tourists, locals and expats. Very stylish place, sporting a Khmer-baroque flare that’s now common in Phnom Penh but had its genesis here at the Heart. Feeling much more the club than a bar these days, there’s music, dancing, cocktails, beer, pool table, continuing till near dawn. Busiest after midnight. Packed sardine-tight on Friday and Saturday evenings.
#26, Street 51, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
(map - Street 51)
7:00PM - Very Late
Honey Disco Restaurant/Coffee Bar/Discotheque
Honey offers an entire evening of entertainment: their restaurant features al fresco dining in their lovely garden courtyard and boasts a large menu of Asian and Western dishes. Honey also has an ice cream and coffee bar (as well as beers, spirits and more). After dinner and drinks, head inside to Honey Disco, an elaborate nightclub featuring a giant disco ball and dancing until the wee hours.
Corner of Street 51 & 254, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
6:30AM - 10:00PM
Tel: 013-337327
Island Bar Bar
Well-known, popular hostess bar just off the riverfront. Lots of friendly hostesses, speaking Khmer, some English and a couple of other languages depending on who you meet. Comfy sofas and fully air-conditioned, pool table on the mezzanine level and more than a couple of good players in-house to keep you entertained.
#32, Street 118, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
4:00PM - 4:00AM
**Happy Hour 4PM-7PM
Tel: 017-761530
K-West Brasserie-Bar Restaurant/Bar: International
Trendy, stylish, comfortable riverfront restaurant and bar on the ground floor of the Amanjaya Hotel sporting a relaxed fusion décor with hard-wood floors and modern art around the walls. Long, comfortable bar with a picture-window view of the riverfront. Fully air-conditioned. Full bar offering a good cocktail menu, draft beer, a wine selection and happy hour (6PM-8PM) specials. Also serving a wide range of contemporary Asian and European cuisine at moderate prices. Great place for all occasions - business, family or leisure. Take away.
Visa/MC/AMEX
#1, Sisowath Quay (map - riverfront area), Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
6:30AM - Midnight
Tel: 023-214747
Le Moon Terrace Bar Bar/Café: International
Roof-top bar on top of the upscale Amanjaya Pancam Hotel on the riverfront, offering a commanding view of the Mekong and Tonle sap rivers and colorful Wat Ounalom. Full bar, draft, imported beers, cocktails and wines. Snacks and ‘small plates.’
#1, Street 154, Sisowath Quay, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
5:00PM - 1:00AM
Tel: 023-214747
Website: www.amanjaya-pancam-hotel.com
Lone Star Saloon Bar/Restaurant: American
New location on Street 23. Serving up a friendly Texas bar atmosphere and a selection down home good Tex/Mex and southern food. Good burgers. Good home cooking. Happy, friendly, efficient service. Ice cold beer. Sports TV. American football, NCAA and more. Golden Tee golf machine. Free wifi.
#30, Street 23, between Street 154 and 172, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
8:00AM - 10:00PM
Tel: 017-830560
Martini Pub Pub
This is the famous Martini’s. A legend since the days of UNTAC. Their ad reads, ”Bored, lonely, hungry. We have everything you need!” and that just about sums it up. Lots and lots of bar girls. Generous drinks. Dancing inside the disco, open air restaurant with giant screen TV outdoors.
#45, Street 95, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
7:00PM - 3:00AM
Website: www.martini-cambodia.com
Matilda Bar Hostess Bar
All new look at Matilda! Music, neon tables and laser light show, bubbly ambiance. Bar, table and comfy sofa seating at the back. Outdoor seating too. Full bar, cocktails, draft, good selection of spirits. Free bbq every Friday from 7PM. Daily drink specials.
#13E, Street 104, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
5:00PM - 8:00PM
**Happy Hour 5PM - 8PM
Tel: 088-9569885
Website: www.facebook.com/matildabar
Mekong Lounge Lounge/Restaurant
Lounge/restaurant with a local atmosphere - indoor air-condition dining and outdoor terrace seating featuring regular live music starting at around 7PM. Cambodian band playing pop, rock and more. Full bar, cocktails and a good selection of beers. Cambodian snack and meals.
Dream Land Park, opposite NagaWorld.
4:00PM - 1:00AM
Tel: 012-643535
070-710101
Website: www.mekonglounge.weebly.com
Mr. Butterfly Bar
A corner Street 136 hostess bar a block off the riverfront, cater-corner to Candy Bar. Full bar, lots of hostesses, sports on the TV and a large food menu, western and Cambodian dishes, Belgian dishes, pizzas and pastas, burgers, more.
# 31, Street 136, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
11:00AM - 6:00AM
Tel: 083-355555 (Daytime)
013-513513 (Night Time)
Facebook: butterflybarphnompenh
My Lien Bar
Long running Street 51 hostess bar. Loyal following. Reasonably priced drinks. Open late. Vietnamese, Khmer and English spoken.
Very late
Street 51, near the Heart, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
NagaWorld Restaurants, Bars and Casino
The NagaWorld resort and casino complex has it all - luxury accommodation, fine dining restaurants, entertainment venues with bars, karaoke, a dance club lounge and sprawling casinos with extensive gaming facilities. It would be easy to plan the entire evening around NagaWorld - drink, dine and dance all night.
Visa/MC
Samdech Hun Sen Park, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Tel: 023-228822
Website: www.nagaworld.com
The Aristocrat Wine & Cigar Bar Cognac, whiskey wine and cigar A connoisseur of wine and cigar. The Aristocrat provides a huge variety and stock of imported wines and cigars. Located on Level 1 of the NagaWorld Hotel. Many diners find this to be the right place to be after a big meal. Open noon till midnight.
Happy Hour 5:00PM - 8:00PM
Lobby Lounge Enjoy an afternoon tea or evening cocktail while enjoying the ambiance of hotel waterfalls as you are being serenaded by a self-playing piano.
Darlin Darlin Bar, Live Music and Dancing “A Red Hot Spot of Music & Entertainment” This recently opened club brings a modern and sophisticated look showcasing a favorable lifestyle. With a great selection of drinks from high- end champagne to a variety of cocktails and wines, this is what a upscale night spot is all about. The decor is edgy and fresh, attracting a young crowd and appealing to sophisticated night lifers.
Open 8:00PM - 3:00AM.
Night Flight Bar Bar
Tucked away on Street 5 a block off the riverfront, cozy little hostess bar with good music, air-con and a dozen friendly ladies to help you while away the time. Full bar, draft, beers, shots and cocktails.
#33, Street 5, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
5:00PM - 2:00AM
**Happy Hour 4:00PM - 7:00PM
Tel: 092-718534
092-718624
Nordic House Restaurant/Bar/Guesthouse: Scandinavian/Asian/Western
Guesthouse, bar and restaurant in the heart of the very popular Street 136 bar scene just off the riverfront. Full bar, draft beer, lots of spirits (including Linie Aquavit,) all very affordable. Also offering a good selection of reasonably priced meals and drinks - lots of western dishes and a few very nicely done home-made Scandinavian specialties .Guesthouse rooms available.
Visa/MC
#22, Street 136, just off the riverfront, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
(map - riverfront area)
7:00AM - Midnight
Tel: 023-998676
Website: www.nordic-cambodia.com
One More Pub Pub/Restaurant: German/Alsatian/French
Cozy little air-con bar and restaurant with an Old World ambiance. Offering draft and imported beers, a selection of wines, cocktails and a genial neighborhood pub atmosphere. Nice selection of home-cooked German, Alsatian and international dishes. Indoor and garden patio seating. Guesthouse rooms available.
#16Eo, Street 294, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
5:00PM - Late (closed Sunday)
**Happy Hour 5:00PM - 7:00PM
Tel: 017-327378
Website: www.onemorepub.com
One3Six Bar Bar
Popular hostess bar on the very popular Street 136. Lots of friendly hostesses, good music including lots of classic rock, relaxed atmosphere, bar games and a good selection of beers, spirits and cocktails all make for a fun place to while away the evening.
Live music Fridays 8PM-11PM.
#17, Street 136, just off the riverfront (map - riverfront area), Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
5:00PM - Late
**Happy Hour 5:00PM - 9:00PM
Tel: 016-416802
OneZeroFour Bar
Long-running, popular, fully air-conditioned little hostess bar on Street 104. Good music, sports TV, full bar - beers, draft, spirits, cocktails - lots of ladies. Particularly good selection of spirits including several premium bourbons, tequilas and single malts.
#25, Street 104, just off the riverfront, , Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
5:00PM – Late
Happy Hour 4:00PM - 9:00PM
Tel: 012-620441
Website: www.104-cambodia.com
Orchideé Restaurant Restaurant/Café/Bar
Stylish VIP bar at the Orchideé restaurant. Full bar, cocktails, wine list. Al fresco and a/c seating.
#106, Pasteur (Street 51) corner St. 208, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
6:00AM - 12:00AM
Happy Hour 7:00PM
Tel: 023-969853
023-969854
Website: www.orchidee-restaurants.com
Oscar’s Pub Bar
Street 104 hostess bar with character. Live music at night several days a week, especially weekends. Bands and open mike. Fun, cozy, musical, easy-going atmosphere. Full bar - draft, spirits, cocktails. Lots of ladies. Open earliest, 3PM. Happy hour till 9PM: $1 draft, 1 for 2 cocktails.
On Street 104, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
3:00PM - Late
Happy Hour 3:00PM - 9:00PM
Tel: 089-482827
Paddy Rice Sports Bar Restaurant: Traditional Irish
Popular Irish sports bar on the riverfront with indoor and sidewalk seating with a great view of the riverfront scene. Full bar and restaurant serving a wide selection of western, Cambodian and, of course, Irish favorites. All the big sporting events on TV. Live music. Check the website for sports and event schedules.
Visa/MC
#213-217, Sisowath, Corner 136, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
7:00AM - Late
Happy Hour All Day Specials
Tel: 017-773102
Website: www.paddyrice.net
Pickled Parrot Restaurant/Bar: International
Popular riverfront-area bar and restaurant on Street 104 offering a large menu of Western, Indonesian, Thai, Chinese and international fare. Imported Australian steaks. Burgers, soups, salads. Well-stocked bar, a/c and one of the best pool tables in Phnom Penh (slate). 9-ball is the game. 24hr live satellite sports. Serving food and drinks all night long. Western management. The mid-range Tonle Sap Guesthouse upstairs. Spend $5 and get free Wifi.
Visa/MC
#4-7Eo, Street 104 (map - Street 104), Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
24 hours
Tel: 023-986722
Website: www.tonlesapguesthouse.com
Plan B Bar
Street 51 hostess and sports bar next to the Heart and opposite Golden Sorya Mall. Fully air-conditioned, lots of friendly hostesses, a couple of TVs with the game on, a pool table, free wifi and reasonably priced drinks. Curbside seating a good place to sit and watch the Street 51 scene.
Street 51, near the Heart of Darkness, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
6:00PM - 2:00AM
Tel: 097-9904356
089-760060
Pontoon Bar/Club/Discotheque
The ever popular Pontoon is now located in the Street 51 entertainment area, just around the corner from the Heart. Busy place with a mixed crowd, big dance floor, DJ’s, reasonably priced drink, open very late and always hopping busy.
Street 172, just off Street 51, Golden Sorya, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Riverhouse Lounge Club/Lounge
Open seven nights a week, the Riverhouse Lounge features live DJs as well as monthly theme parties and events. Whether you prefer to mix it up on the dancefloor, in the VIP area or on their breezy balcony overlooking the river, Riverhouse lounge offers something for everyone looking for a night out in Phnom Penh.
Corner Street 110 & Sisowath Quay, on the riverfront, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Tel: 023-992420
Riverside Bistro Restaurant: International
Popular, long-running riverfront restaurant and bar set in a beautifully refurbished classic old colonial-era building. Pleasant curbside seating with a great river view and comfortable fully air-conditioned indoor dining and bar. Extensive menu. Full bar, cocktail menu, good selection of beers and wines. Pool table. Free wifi. Live music Wed - Sun from 8:30. Open mike Tue and Sun.
#273A, Sisowath Quay, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
7:00AM - Late night
**Happy Hour 7:00AM - 7:00PM
Tel: 023-213898
012-277882
Website: www.riverside-bistro.com
Sexy Girl Bar Hostess Bar
New, fully air-conditioned hostess bar on Street 136, one of Phnom Penh’s most popular bar streets. Promising good music, snacks, sports TV, free wifi and friendly women.
#36 Street 136, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Tel: 077-653167
Website: www.sexygirlbar.com
