Located just to the north of Raffles Hotel Le Royal and Wat Phnom, The Sangkum is a fantastic new hotel addition to the Phnom Penh scene. The two-storey hotel, a former house renovated into a breezy 1950s/60s style, has 12 air-con rooms all individually kitted out with retro furniture, a tasteful restaurant and a small, welcoming pool; … read the full post

Located in the mostly residential Tonle Bassac area, The Willow offers just 16 air-con rooms in a building shaded by a series of tall trees — hence the name — and is a good option if you want to spend a little more than a backpacker for a touch of luxury, but still enjoy the … read the full post

Just five minutes’ from the bustle of Independence Monument is the oasis of calm that is Hotel Nine. In best Phnom Penh boutique hotel style, owner Franco has revitalised one of the city’s villas and put it to good use reviving weary travellers. Almost hidden behind an epic bougainvillea, the white-painted hotel does its best to enforce relaxation. There’s … read the full post

Dormitory rooms are a relatively new concept in Phnom Penh and the backpacker feel can be hard to find in the big smoke. With a large hang-out area and pool hidden behind a white wall, the three-storey Eighty8 Backpackers fills the gap. Two blocks from Wat Phnom to the north of Phnom Penh, it’s no … read the full post

As the rains are determined not to shirk their seasonal obligations, it seemed an appropriate time to visit the Monsoon Boutique Hotel in Phnom Penh. From its jazzy facade of wonky white metal to the leaf imprints on the stepping stone entrance, it’s clear this property, which opened in August 2012, hasn’t been knocked together … read the full post

Although we feel that calling any establishment the Fancy Guest House might be overstating the case, this little Phnom Penh gem does have something that can be tricky to find in budget accommodation — it’s squeaky clean. You get the feeling that dust and grime long since gave up the fight and moved on to somewhere with … read the full post

Mention the word ‘lakeside’ to any traveller who visited Phnom Penh before 2009, and they’re likely to get a faraway look in their eyes, accompanied by a smile or a shudder. Famed as a backpacker ghetto, Boeung Kak (Green Lake) is the stuff of myth and legend. There were $2 rooms, suspicious herbs in bowls … read the full post

Sadly lacking in Robert Redford lookalikes, at least Sundance Inn won’t break the bank like the Kid and Butch Cassidy did. In business for a year, Sundance brings a touch of good value originality to the Phnom Penh guesthouse scene. On the up-and-coming Street 172, Sundance is two blocks back from the riverside and a … read the full post

A few hundred metres from Phnom Penh‘s Central Market, Yong Hout‘s location makes for an interesting alternative to riverside or around Independence Monument. The unapologetically green guesthouse occupies a corner plot on Street 136 halfway between the must-see market and Norodom Boulevard. The street is lined with fashion boutiques and fruit shake stalls, and also … read the full post

Although it’s a small hotel, there’s certain things Monument Hotel likes to do big. There’s the impossibly large entrance gate, the enormous tassled room keys and the ear to ear smiles from staff as you walk in. Even better, they don’t miss the little things that make your stay — candles at night around the … read the full post