Our top 10 places to stay in and around Battambang
A class act
There was great excitement when Bambu first opened in 2010, and the positive vibes haven’t died down since.
With a winning combination of decent location, good design, friendly staff and good value for money, that’s hardly any surprise. The architect-designed villa-style hotel is located down relatively quiet Street 203, so only a 10-minute walk into the centre. The French colonial-style buildings are a mixture of restoration and new construction though for the latter a lot of old materials collected from derelict buildings were used. The result is classy without being over the top and there’s plenty of tropical vegetation about with a large salt water pool as the central feature. There’s a comfortable outdoor bar and eating area with some well prepared Khmer, Western and fusion dishes on offer. Rooms themselves are tastefully decorated and well equipped with flat screen TVs and DVD players plus all come with small balconies. They somehow make you feel special as soon as you cross the threshold.
The only drawback we could see is that with just 16 rooms you’ll have to book well ahead in high season, though there are plans afoot to expand. If the rates here are a little too high, try Phkha Villa which is just down the road from Bambu and has a similar style, with rooms laid out around a pool in a garden setting. The rather cool bar and restaurant area is a great place to drop in for a sundowner or a bite to eat, even if you’re not staying here.
Address: Street 203, Phum Romchek 5, Battambang
T: (053) 953 900, (012) 731 405;
Email: bookings@bambuhotel.com
Web: http://www.bambuhotel.com
Coordinates (for GPS): 103º12'8.68" E, 13º5'55.61" N
See position in Apple or Google Maps: Apple Maps | Google Maps
Room rates: US$75 to 150
What we were quoted as a walk-in.
| Standard single room | US$80 | US$95 |
| Standard double room | US$95 | US$110 |
| Superior single room | US$95 | US$110 |
| Superior double room | US$105 | US$120 |
Reviewed by
Nicky Sullivan
Nicky Sullivan is an Irish freelance writer (and aspiring photographer). She has lived in England, Ireland, France, Spain and India, but decided that her tribe and heart are in Cambodia, where she has lived since 2007 despite repeated attempts to leave. She dreams of being as tough as Dervla Murphy, but fears there may be a long way to go. She can’t stand whisky for starters. She was a researcher, writer and coordinator for The Angkor Guidebook: Your Essential Companion to the Temples, now one of the best-selling guidebooks to the temples.
Our top 10 places to stay in and around Battambang
