Siem Reap

The name "Siem Reap" literally means "Siam Defeated", commemorating a (possibly apocryphal) victory over invading Thais in 1549. These days, however, the only rampaging hordes are the tourists heading to the Angkor Archaeological Park. This once quaint village has become a major tourist town, full of things to do, places to eat and drink. New high quality tarmac roads and beautiful wide paved sidewalks have replaced the red dirt pot holed roads that were muddy in wet season, and dusty in dry season. The building boom is mostly over, and it's now a very pleasant town with lots of beautiful shady trees, especially along the riverbanks and roads around Angkor Wat.

Check out the ConCERT tourist office, a local NGO committed to raising the standards of responsible tourism and eco-tourism activities and providing information on the causes and effects of poverty in Cambodia, volunteering opportunities and eco-tours.

Siem Reap
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D       3.7     32 20       4.7     34 22       29     35 24       57     36 25       150     35 25       214     34 25       193     33 25       209     32 25       288     32 25       200     32 25       51     31 23       7.3     31 21 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation+Snow totals in mm Source:w:Siem Reap#Climate
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D       0.1     89 69       0.2     92 72       1.1     95 75       2.3     96 78       5.9     95 78       8.4     92 77       7.6     91 77       8.2     90 77       11     89 76       7.9     89 76       2     88 73       0.3     87 69 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation+Snow totals in inches

Travel to and around the Angkor Archaeological Park is extensively covered in its own article. The following is a discussion of travel inside Siem Reap.

The city centre is fairly compact and flat, now with good quality and often wide, paved sidewalks. Though in places you can find them doubling up as motorbike and car parking lots. However, as Siem Reap has grown, many interesting neighborhoods have popped up that are further outside of the main downtown business district, and are a bit out of the way for pedestrians.

Siem Reap is a popular place to cycle, with some scenic cycle paths painted green, or trails in forests near roads leading to and around Angkor Wat. There is also a green cycle path running along side the river, often in the shade of large trees, starting at the Hard Rock Cafe, then heading north. Bicycle rental shops around town mostly don't open earlier than 07:00, so if you want to ride to Angkor Wat early in the morning, rent one the day before. Some guesthouses also rent bicycles. One day rental varies between US$1 to US$8, depending on the quality of the bike. Discounts available for longer rentals. Guided electric mountain bike tours are also available in Siem Reap, offering pedal-assist bikes that make the Angkor circuit more manageable in the heat, with access to jungle trails not accessible by tuk-tuk or bus.

Motodops (motorbike taxi) abound and will make sure you know where they are. Rides within town should only cost US$0.50 or 2,000 riel, although prices can double at night or during bad weather. Agree a price first. Full day can be arranged for ~US$10. Helmets for passengers are rare though may materialize if requested in advance.

Renting motorbikes is no longer prohibited. There are plenty of options available from the ubiquitous gasoline-driven scooters (starting at ~US$8 per day), small electric scooters for one with a top speed of 25 km/h (~US$10) to larger ones for two people going up to 60 km/h (~US$15). It can also be possible to rent a motorbike only for half a day, so you will pay only half the daily rate. You may need to leave either your passport or US$100-300 as a collateral, while some places only take a photo of your passport and don't take any deposits. Driving inside the city isn't very stressful (as well as going to Angkor), especially in comparison with huge Asian cities (for example Bangkok) or countries with more chaotic driving approach like Vietnam.

Wear a helmet, both for your safety and because the police will stop you at checkpoints and fine you US$15 if you don't. Some restaurants will let you charge the battery.

Tuk-tuks or Cambodian-style remorques (two-wheeled carriages pulled behind a motorbike), hang out on street corners, or you can summon one on your phone with Grab or PassApp.

A typical short trip within Siem Reap should cost about US$1.25 (5000 riel) regardless of how many people pile on. Most 3-wheeled tuk-tuks can carry two or three people, or a Remorque can carry four people comfortably, though the extra weight can make the low-powered bikes go slower. Some modern Remorques are being made even bigger and more luxurious, for extra comfort or to carry 6 people pulled by a more powerful motorbike and wider sporty car style chariot wheels. The iconic-looking Remorques are slowly disappearing in many parts of Cambodia, such as Phnom Penh, as the cheaper to buy bog-standard tuk-tuks replace them, but in Siem Reap, Remorques are still very popular with tourists, as they are more comfortable, fun, and give a better view, especially for larger-sized people, than the smaller, cramped 3-wheeled tuk-tuks. Their drivers tend to speak a higher level of English, as they transport mostly tourists.

There are also electric tuk-tuks, by a company called TADA, and they use their own booking app of the same name.

Prices can go up at night or during bad weather. It's also possible to hire a tuk tuk driver for a full day to explore Angkor, it can cost ~US$20, a bit more if you go early for sunrise or stay late for sunset.

Ensure you and the driver are in crystal clear agreement on the destination and total fare before departure. Payment is made on arrival and doesn't increase if the driver gets lost or has to take a circuitous route.

Cars with drivers can be hired for single or multiple days. While all drivers are familiar with the area and happy to suggest good routes, most speak little English and are not actual tour guides. Licensed tour guides charge US$45-50 per day for a driver and English speaking guide. Drivers will likely ask for US$5-10 extra for trips to further temples such as those of the Big Circuit, Banteay Srey and more for remote sites like Beng Mealea.

• Siem Reap Transport Service. A private tuk-tuk and car service providing transportation within Siem Reap and around the Angkor Wat temples. Private cars also available to and from Phnom Penh. 
• Siem Reap Private Driver. This service run by two brothers Sa and Sout who offer transportation in luxury cars. They can also arrange for guides with drivers.

Most people come to visit Angkor Archaeological Park, which is thoroughly covered in its own article. The town has some worthwhile attractions and a number of beautiful modern Buddhist temples.

• 1 Angkor National Museum, 968 Charles de Gaulle Blvd (T Galleria department store, beside the museum, runs a free shuttle (a little train) from the Old Market, every 30 min from 10:30 except on W), ☏ , info@the-anm.com. Daily 08:30-18:00. A modern museum with exhibits covering the history of the Khmer Empire, and the art, architecture, clothing, and culture of Khmer civilization, with a special focus on the Angkor complex. It is worth spending a couple of hours in the air-conditioned galleries as a break from visiting temples. Lots of pre-Angkorian and Angkorian statues, plus informative videos. Some say the 1,000 Buddhas room is as impressive as it sounds. The gift shop has some lovely souvenirs and fascinating books, but they're very overpriced. Visitors are required to check bags, water, and hats at the entrance (for free). Photography prohibited. US$12; audio guide in many languages US$5 (credit card accepted).  (updated Feb 2020)
• 2 APOPO, Trapeang Ses Village, Kouk Chauk Commune, Siem Reap Koumai Road, ☏ , visitor.center@apopo.org. Daily tours every half hour 08:30–11:30 and 13:00–16:30. A demining organization that uses trained rats to sniff out land mines, a strategy which is much faster and safer than using metal detectors (if the rats step on a mine, they are too light to set it off). The visitor's center has guided tours including examples of land mines and UXO (unexploded ordnance) and a demonstration of how the rats find mines. The tour takes about 45 minutes and is a fascinating way to learn about the problem of land mines in Cambodia and support demining work. The guide's English may be hard to understand, but the demonstrations are so interesting, the tour is well worth doing anyway. US$10. (updated Mar 2024)

• 3 Angkor Botanical Garden (rear entrance opposite Apopo). Beautifully kept gardens and mini zoo and playground with Rukha Cafe & Restaurant. A great place to visit just after visiting Apopo. free entry. 

• 4 Lotus Silk Farm, 9, Road 63, Phnom Krom, ☏ , contact@lotussilkfarm.com. Daily 08:00-18:00. The lotus silk farm offers guided tours every hour, providing visitors with a comprehensive understanding of the lotus silk production process. For those seeking a more hands-on experience, the farm also offers handicraft workshops where participants can learn Cambodian traditional handicraft techniques. The farm features a shop with variety of lotus silk products, cosmetics and jewels, and a tea lounge where guests can savor traditional lotus tea. Adult US$5, free for kids less than 12. (updated Sep 2024)

• 5 Angkor Eye, Phum Krous (a 15-min drive NW of town on Route 6), ☏ . Daily 14:00–18:00. An 85-m-high Ferris wheel with 48 four-person baskets able to accommodate up to 192 people. The trip takes 18 minutes. It is the third highest Ferris wheel in Asia. Adult US$12, child US$6. (updated Feb 2020)
• 6 Flying Foxes. A large colony of day time flying fruit bats (they can see unlike most smaller species of bat), can be found hanging around in some of the tall trees in the parkland adjacent to the Royal Residence, an amazing sight you don't expect to see in the center of town. 

• 7 Wat Bo, Samdech Tep Vong St and St 22 (east side of the river; follow the road that continues from over Wat Bo Bridge). As one of the oldest temples it makes a nice contrast between the oldest and the glittering new ones, though the rough artwork wouldn't match the craftsmen of Angkor. The architecture of the ramshackle open air hall next to the main building blends French-style arches and balustrades with Thai-influenced Buddhist details. A forest of chedi surround the main hall, in between frangipani trees and some fine topiary. 
• 8 Wat Damnak (east side of Siem Reap River, just east of Art Night Market, on Wat Damnak Road). A landscaped temple with many stupas, a small decorative pool, and a school on the premises. Within the site of the temple is the Center for Khmer Studies, an open reading library with materials about the art, culture and history of Southeast Asia with specific interests in Cambodia. (updated Feb 2019)
• 9 Wat Preah Prom Rath, Pokambor Ave. The glittering modern temple grounds give few hints as to its 500-year history. Though the lotus-themed architecture seems to emulate temples from over the border, the front gate integrates Bayon-style heads and a scene in relief of the Buddha seated under a tree, while armies fire arrows on one side and others are eaten by crocodiles on the other side, that looks like it could have been taken directly from Angkorian mural. Legend is that the site was established around 1500 when a famous monk landed ashore on a piece of his sinking boat. The boat wood was carved into the oddly foreshortened reclining Buddha installed in a swimming pool-like pit behind the imposing, yet despondent looking, seated Buddha in the main hall. Perhaps mimicking the construction materials origins, the reclining Buddha has taken on a sunken slant at the feet end. A pair of small weather worn cannons on either side of the hall are of unknown origin but their style, an embossed crown-like seal and mysterious numbers suggest a European origin. 
• 10 Wat Thmei Temple & Stupa Memorial to the Killing Fields. A large Buddhist temple. In the grounds is a stupa with glass sides contains bones and skulls of victims of Pol Pot's army. Be wary of people purporting to be guides or asking for donations. Also, several of the photographs on the display boards are actually of the Holocaust in Nazi Germany. Take this attraction with a pinch of salt. Free, donations welcome. 

• 11 Apsara Theatre, Wat Bo Rd. Daily performance 20:30-21:30. Showcases Cambodia’s rich cultural heritage, traditional performing arts. Dancers, singers and musicians. US$33. 
• 12 Phare The Cambodian Circus (Phare Circus Ring Road, just south of the intersection with Sok San Road). Nightly 1-hr performances at 20:00. Phare performers use theater, music, dance, comedy and modern circus arts, to tell uniquely Cambodian stories; historical, folk and modern. It's typically a 15-minute tuk tuk ride from Siem Reap town centre ($3). Adult US$18-38, child (5-11) US$10-18. (updated Feb 2026)

• 13 Banteay Srey Butterfly Centre, Sanday Village (3 km before the Landmine Museum on the road to Banteay Srey temple), ☏ . 09:00-1700. Banteay Srey Butterfly Centre is a community development project and tourist destination just down the road from the Landmine Museum and Banteay Srey temple. Revenue from admissions is used to pay families in remote villages who are farming butterflies for the exhibit. The project makes a real difference to the farmers' livelihoods and provides a wonderful experience for visitors as they can see spectacular local butterfly species flying close at hand in a beautiful tropical garden. US$4 adults, US$2 children under 12.  

• 14 Butterfly Paradise, Kantrak Village (5 km from Psar Chas Market on Butterfly Paradise Road), ☏ , butterflyparadisesr@gmail.com. Sun-Fri 09:00-16:30. A park with butterflies amongst many species of plants and flowers, with waterfalls and ponds. US$10 adult, US$7 child, US$4 Khmer adult, US$2 Khmer child.  
• 15 Kampong Phluk Floating Village (off the Highway to Phnom Penh). This mangrove forest offers a much more authentic floating village experience than the one close to the Tonlé Sap ferry harbour. This fascinating fishing village on stilts can be reached by tuk-tuk, motorcycle, or taxi from Siem Reap. It takes about 1 hour to reach the village, depending weather conditions. Beware of scams. In addition to the tuk-tuk or taxi fare, the boat to take you around the village costs US$25 per person (which drivers will often conveniently forget to mention until you're almost there). In the dry season the village just has the appearance of a bunch of houses on stilts over the mud, but is still somewhat interesting as you can see the houses' structure. After touring the village you can eat in a floating restaurant with views of the lake. US$25.  (updated Feb 2020)

• 16 Landmine Museum (6 km south of Banteay Srey Temple, 31 km from Siem Reap), ☏ . Daily 08:00–17:00. This tiny museum was set up by local deminer Aki Ra to educate locals and tourists about the dangers of land mines. Piles of defused mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) lie around the site and the guides are mostly teenagers who were orphaned or injured by mines, many of whom live on-site. This is a very worthwhile attraction that brings home the scale of the problem and shows you a slice of real Cambodia. Used clearance charts from their demining operations are available for purchase at the gift shop, letting you buy the organization's waste to support their operations. US$5.  (updated Mar 2024)
• 17 Phnom Bok. The highest hill in the area. Temple ruins similar to those found atop of Phnom Krom and Phnom Bakong can also be found on top of Phnom Bok. It lies 20 km to the north east of Siem Reap. Expect a tiring hike up the stairs. A guard may be able to show you around. Don't forget to check out the old howitzers from the civil war. Admission is free, no pass is needed for the Angkorian ruins.  
• 18 Phnom Krom. The hill which dominates the view, as you approach the floating village of Chong Kneas from Siem Reap. At the top, temple ruins similar to the other two hills can be found. This particular hill is popular for sunsets, as it can be viewed over the flooded plains during the wet season, and over incredibly vibrant rice fields in the dry season.  
• 19 War museum (National Hwy 6 heading west, turn right after Cultural village), ☏ . Daily 08:00–17:30. Collection of old (mainly Russian) tanks, artillery, landmines, handguns etc. Also some history background about the Cambodian civil war is displayed. Worthwhile for a 1-2 hour visit if interested in military. US$5.  (updated Aug 2017)

• 1 Angkor Pottery Center (3 km South of Old Market on Road 63), ☏ . Daily 08:00-17:00. Daily pottery classes for beginners as well as professionals in pottery making, carving and glazing by local potter, Mrs Paruth Hann. Make your own design and take your glazed pot home as a souvenir. An enjoyable experience whilst supporting an enterprise creating fair wage jobs for the poor village women in Siem Reap. US$7-20. 
• 2 Samatoa Experience, 11, road 63, Phnom Krom, Siem Reap (8 km South of Old Market on Road 63), ☏ . Daily 08:00-18:00. Daily handicraft classes for kids and adults in yarn spinning, paper, incense stick-making and bracelet-making taught by local experts. US$25-45. 
• 3 Pottery Classes & Painting classes, 130, vithey Charles de Gaulle (On the main Temple road very near the Angkor national museum, 30m after the traffics light on the right hand side), ☏ , info@khmerceramics.com. Daily 08:00 to 20:00. With the pottery class and clay class course, you can make your own ceramic artifact on the potter wheel. After you finish your piece, you can add different designs on it with potter's tools. With the painting activities, you can draw and / or paint your own design on a pot, cup, plate or other kinds of ceramics products. All activities from US$15. 

• 4 Kameng Leng ~ Daycare, Playground & Restaurant, ☏ . This is a fun, safe, creative, indoor-outdoor play and activity and education center with day care service and restaurant, for kids up to 8 years old. 

• 5 Kids Playground, next to Angkor Eye. This is possibly the nicest and biggest outdoors playground in Siem Reap. It's under a circular canopy and is in good condition. There are clean bathroom facilities for kids and a mini cafe and shop nearby. There are also basketball courts behind for older kids. $1 for kids. 

• 6 Adventures Cambodia, Wat Damnak Area, ☏ , info@adventurescambodia.com. Private guided tours of the Angkor temples and the Siem Reap countryside by pedal-assist electric mountain bike, vintage Jeep or Vespa. Women-owned company founded in 2013. Licensed guides, and hotel pickup is included. The evening street food tour also runs as a small group. US$68-790 per person depending on the tour. (updated Jul 2026)
• 7 Wake Park. Excellent wakeboarding park and only one in Cambodia. $24 for 2 hr including instructor guidance. 
• 8 KKO - Off Track Mountain Bike Tours, St 20, Wat Bo Rd (Close to the New Apsara Supermarket on Wat Bo Rd), ☏ , tours.offtrack@gmail.com. KKO is a local charitable non-profit NGO. They offer unique Angkor park and countryside off track bike tours. The entire profit generated from the bike tours flows back to the local KKO School. US$35 for a guided hlaf day bike tour and US$45-60 for a full day bike tour. Booking is required. US$35-65 for a full-day tour. 
• 9 Sabai Motorbike and Jeep Adventures, ☏ . Explore the Cambodian countryside on a guided motorbike adventure or in a Jeep. On tour, get off the beaten path to discover authentic, rugged, and fascinating Cambodia. Sabai Moto and Jeep Adventures tours start from Siem Reap. 

• 10 Beyond Unique Cooking Class (Sivutha Blvd and Alley West), ☏ . Daily 09:30-15:30. Cambodian cooking classes in a village 10 min from town. The classes are three hours long and include a visit to a local family and information on Cambodian cooking customs and beliefs. Hands on classes for a maximum of six people unless you book a private group. US$32 for half-day class. (updated Oct 2017)

• Angkor Photography Festival: Photography for Change. Annual festival that showcases outdoor projections and various exhibitions around Siem Reap of regional and international photographers. The festival is held during the last week of November every year, consisting of 7 evenings of outdoor projections and more than 10 gallery exhibitions across various venues in the city. The festival is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia and is also the biggest. It aims to highlight the work of Asian photographers and provides free workshops for 30 young photographers from the region every year, led by world renowned professionals, which are showcased during the event. There is a full time office/gallery for the festival located on the East river road near the Bopha Angkor Hotel. As well as the festival, the organisers support a local NGO working with street children, that promotes the arts and runs a photography course with students. Photography from these students is also showcased as part of the festival programme. 
• The Annual Street Puppet Festival. An exciting pageantry with the concept of sticks and stilts manipulated puppets much like those which debuted in the opening parade of the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and also quite similar to the Trinidad & Tobago Carnival. 
• The Water Festival. This vast festival is probably the most extravagant festival in the calendar. Over three days starting with the last full moon day in October or the beginning of November up to a million people from all walks of life from all over the country flock to the banks of Tonle Sap and Mekong Rivers in Phnom Penh to watch hundreds of brightly coloured boats with over 50 paddlers battle it out. The boat racing dates back to ancient times marking the strengths of the powerful Khmer marine forces during the Khmer empire. In the evening brightly decorated floats cruise along the river prior to and complementing the fireworks displays. there is often a parallel festival at Angkor Wat and although it is smaller in scale it is just as impressive due to the backdrop of Angkor Wat. The festival marks the changing of the flow of the Tonle Sap and is also seen as thanksgiving to the Mekong River for providing the country with fertile land and abundant fish. It is at this time when the river flow reverts to its normal down stream direction. The remarkable phenomenon that is the Tonle Sap sees the river flowing upstream during the rainy season and then change direction as the rains cease and the swollen Tonle Sap Lake empties back into the Mekong River leaving behind vast quantities of fish. 

The Khmer believe that Thai massage is derived from Khmer massage and that it is more relaxing as it requires less twisting and turning. The numerous Khmer-style massage shops mostly offer genuine massage and are not a front for sexual services. Contrary to common belief, blind massage services do offer "special massages" too.

• 11 Fish Massage (around the Pub St area). This Thai fad has crossed the border. Dip your feet in a tank of fish and wince as they eat the dead skin off your toes. Trying a tank with feet already inside it will tell you if the fish are hungry. Some claim to have no piranhas while others offer a free beer to subdue any doubts. US$1-2 for 15 min. 
• 12 Frangipani Spa, 615/617 Hup Guan St (At the ANZ Royal Bank on the corner go a few metres south to the next (small) street and turn right on Hup Guan St. The spa is near the end of the street.), ☏ , info@frangipanisiemreap.com. Wonderful spa with a nice atmosphere, peaceful rooms, and experienced staff. The massages actually feel like trained people are giving them. No special services or hidden fees. It is a nice place to go as a couple or alone. They have massage tables and air conditioning. Tasteful exterior surrounded by frangipani plants (partly obscuring their tasteful green sign saying "frangipani"). US$35-75. 
• 13 Lemongrass Garden, 7 Sivatha Blvd, ☏ , lemongrassgardenspa@gmail.com. Daily 11:00-23:00. Lovely little spa with a relaxing atmosphere and experienced staff. 60 minute Khmer massages are US$16, while 90 minute Khmer massages are US$23. They also offer oil massages, "spiritual massages," and manicures/pedicures. Treatment rooms have air conditioning, and they provide a cool drink before treatment and warm tea afterwards. They also claim to pay higher wages than most places in Siem Reap, as well as provide other benefits to their workers. US$10-70. (updated Sep 2016)

Children are not tourist attractions, and especially orphaned children. Some visitors feel visiting an orphanage is a good way to make a positive contribution to Cambodia, while others feel that orphanage tours do more harm than good. The largest child protection group in the country has asked that tourists not to visit orphanages. The great majority of Cambodian children in orphanages have living parents, who rent them to the orphanages. Most are scams and have histories with severe child abuse. It is strongly encouraged that you do not support this 'business'.

This page uses the following price ranges for a typical meal for one, including soft drink:
Budget	Under US$5
Mid-range	US$5-10
Splurge	Over US$10

Eating options span the full spectrum of tastes and budgets from the rudimentary Asian staples and pizza to authentic Khmer and sophisticated fine-dining featuring exotic local ingredients. The highest assortment of restaurants are in few blocks north of the old market, but there are appetizing alternatives along Wat Bo Rd and hidden in the surrounding neighbourhoods.

Though Pub Street is better known for its bars, a handful of places serve great food, many with seating upstairs so you can escape the partying milieu on the street below. Crammed along The Alley is a wider selection of restaurants that offer a generally quieter and more intimate experience. The local restaurants lining Phsar Chas have extensive, yet near identical, menus of cheap fried rice and Westernised approximations of Khmer dishes. At dusk the Kindergarten on the corner of Street 8 and 11 becomes a jumble of small BBQ stalls, replete with billowing smoke, noise, and the persistently entreating peddlers. The phnom pleurng here is the cheapest you will find.

• 1 The Red Piano, Pub St. 2 floors. Serves a variety of Italian and other European food with Britney Spears music videos in the background. 

• 2 Viva (Corner of 2 Thnou St & Street 9), ☏ . A bright orange Mexican restaurant. Burritos, enchiladas, and quesadillas are reasonably authentic considering the location. They have some Khmer dishes if you want to eat more local food while enjoying the view over the balcony. US$2-6. 

• 3 Williams Fish and Chips (at the cobra roundabout across from the Ibis hotel), ☏ . Mon-Sat 11:00-21:30, closed Sun. Classic British-style fish and chips with mushy peas or coleslaw, and bread and butter. US$3.50-6.50. (updated Feb 2026)

Nestled in the leafy central neighborhood north of Pub Street and south of the Old French Quarter you'll find Siem Reap's rising arts and culture precinct.

• 4 Common Grounds Restaurant (American Coffee Shop & Cafe), #719, St. 14 / Mundol 1, Khum Svay Dangkum (Behind Central Market, across street from U-Dara Guesthouse). Mon-Sat 07:00-20:00. Serving Western dishes; chicken tenders, grilled cheese, crispy chicken apple salad, German chocolate cake, seasonal muffins, cinnamon rolls and some Asian dishes. All profit goes to fund local humanitarian projects through NGO People for Care & Learning. Air-con & high speed Internet. US$5-10. 

Further west of Kandel Village you will find this pleasant street with wide flat pavements full of nice restaurants including those below and Buribo Burgers, EASTanbul, Fresh Fruit Factory, Golden Pumpkin and Madam Moch.

• 5 Bong Srey Mith Laor, Taphul Road, ☏ , konsovatana@gmail.com. Tasty Cambodian food with lots of vegetarian options. Try the white mint tea shake. US$2-5. (updated Feb 2020)

• 6 My Little Cafe, Taphul Rd, ☏ . Daily 07:00-21:00. Sometimes closes a bit early. Absolutely phenomenal Khmer food. The other dishes are great as well. Always full, with locals, tourists and expats alike. But they'll magically make a seat for you, somehow. Around $3 mains. (updated Jan 2023)

• 7 The Source Cafe, Taphul Rd, ☏ . Daily 07:00-22:00. Delicious western-style cafe dishes, many healthy options and good Italian-style coffee. US$3.50–7.50 mains. (updated Sep 2025)

• 8 Try Me Restaurant, Taphul Rd, ☏ . Daily 09:00-22:00. A popular restaurant with a good selection of both Khmer and western food. US$3-4 mains. (updated Jan 2023)

Across the river from the main city center, along Wat Bo Rd that runs parallel to the riverside road and the side roads connecting them both, there are some trendy restaurants, cafes serving the most authentic Khmer food and International food. Some have relocated from the more crowded Pub Street area across the river, to this more tranquil and upmarket area.

• 9 the muffin man. This is a locally owned cafe, the owner is Australian trained. The staff are mostly people with mild disabilities, their menus are labelled for vegan and gluten-free options. 

• 10 Peace Cafe, East River Road, ☏ , peacecafeangkor@gmail.com. Sit outside in a big, soft, minimalist chair in the shade of a tree while you eat delicious vegetarian versions of Cambodian and international dishes. Large menu of authentic Khmer food, grilled sandwiches, fresh salads, juices, and shakes. The atmosphere eating in the courtyard is quite nice, and a gift shop is attached. Good vegan options. US$5-8 including a drink. (updated Feb 2020)

• 11 Viroth's Restaurant, #246 Wat Bo Rd, ☏ . Stylish Khmer restaurant that is often so full you will have to wait for a table. The extensive menu is a mix of Khmer and Asian-esque dishes and with some vegetarian options. Some say the food is not spicy enough but the outdoor setting is nice if it is not raining. US$5-8. 

Just south of Wat Bo Village this is an up and coming area competing with its more upmarket area to its north. Lots of nice and often cheaper eateries etc to be found here.

• 12 Haven, Chocolate Road, Wat Damnak area (West of Angkor High School), ☏ , eat@havencambodia.com. Mon-Sat 11:30-14:30 and 17:30-21:30, closed on Sun. Training restaurant teaching disadvantaged young adults. Cambodian, Asian, Western Food, with many vegetarian/vegan options. (updated Sep 2017)

• 13 Molop Wat Damnak Restaurant, Rambutan lane (south of Wat Damnak Pagoda Rambutan Ln), ☏ . Daily 07:00-23:00. Cosy restaurant offering Organic Khmer and Western food of high quality. The vegetables are from the uncle´s farm, which can also be visited on a nice and educating half-day tour. Plenty of vegetarian and even vegan options available. They also offer cooking classes for Khmer cooking. The dishes are rich and delicious, and not too spicy. Always serve some spicy peanuts. Main dishes from about US$3. (updated Jan 2019)

• 14 Joe's Burger Bar & Grill. 11:30-22:30. Burger joint. Eat in or takeaway. 

• 15 Shrimp noodles and spring rolls. A local lady doing a great noodle dish in an outside eatery. The spring rolls go for 500 riel and should definitely be tried. 4,000 riel. (updated Jan 2024)

• 16 Angkor Herb. Delicious Khmer and international food. US$6-8. (updated Feb 2020)

• 17 L'Annexe French restaurant, Sok San Road 17259, ☏ , booking.annexe@gmail.com. 16:00–22:30. French food. Exquisite cuisine made by a passionate chef, who prefers excellence and quality before all. Subtle and creative cuisine in a friendly atmosphere, bringing authentic French cuisine, wines and hospitality to Siem Reap. US$4.50-17. 
• 18 Curry Walla, Two locations Sivatha Blvd & Night Market Rd, ☏ . Authentic vegetarian & non-veg Indian food. 

• 19 Neary Khmer Restaurant, ☏ . 16:00–22:30. Local food along with good vegetarian options. US$4.50-17. 

• 20 L'Angelo (Le Meridien Hotel). Probably Siem Reap's most daring restaurant, serving fusionesque Italian cuisine like foie gras on a bed of white asparagus and balsamic vinegar ice cream in a setting so achingly modern that the only decoration is a cloud of black dots on the white wall. A full meal with a glass or two of wine costs around US$100 for two. 
• 21 Cafe D’Angkor (Raffles Grand Hotel D’Angkor) (across from the main park next to the Siem Reap River, within view of the Royal Residence). This restaurant is inside the colonial-era Raffles Hotel. Main courses include western and Khmer dishes, and range from US$20-30. Both the food and services were excellent. There are other restaurants in this hotel. (updated Feb 2019)
• 22 Cuisine Wat Damnak, Wat Damnak Market St (behind Wat Damnak Pagoda, between Psa Dey Hoy Market and Angkor High School), ☏ , info@cuisinewatdamnak.com. Tue-Sun 18:30-21:30, closed Mon. French food with Cambodian influence. Only has two tasting menus, no à la carte dishes. Indoor and outdoor seating. US$19-26. 
• 23 The Dining Room (Park Hyatt Hotel), Sivutha Blvd. The quality of the food is excellent. Acclaimed by some as the best Khmer restaurant in all Cambodia, it is set in a chic hotel with a minimalist modern feel. The chefs source the freshest ingredients for both Khmer tasting menus, as well as a la carte dishes. Sit in air conditioned comfort, or outside tables and lounge furniture and enjoy the nighly music and dance performances that commence at 20:00. (updated Feb 2017)

Coffee shop cafes with bookshelves with books for both kids and adults, and sometimes games, include Aris Café, Bayon Pastry School, Chocolate Gardens, footprint cafe, Peace Cafe, Pi Riel Coffee, Rukha Cafe (located opposite Apopo hero rats center, small a/c library attached to cafe building), Sister Srey Cafe (upstairs), Source Cafe, Temple Coffee n Bakery (Riverside).

• 1 Sister Srey Cafe, 200 pokambor St, Siem Reap, Siemreab-Otdar Meanchey (a one minute walk from the old market). Run by two Australian sisters. Located in an old colonial building. Excellent coffee. Wonderful atmosphere. (updated Oct 2018)
• 2 footprint cafe, Street 26, Wat Bo, ☏ . 07:00–22:00. Cafe focused on sustainability and supporting local communities while serving tasty food and drinks. Vegetarian and vegan options are available. They have a large selection of donated second-hand books. (updated Nov 2025)

Many of the bars and pubs of Siem Reap are concentrated on a strip called Pub Street and its surrounding side roads and alleys. Although peaceful during the day, the streets in the Pub Street area which is just a block away from the historic Psah Chas (Old Market), comes alive with lights and music. A range of international tourists start pouring into the bars and pubs and give the streets almost a nightly street party scene.

Started in the late-1990s by a local business called Angkor What? Bar and followed by its rival, Temple Bar, from the across the street, Pub Street is often recommended as a must-see attraction in Siem Reap, but there is little to experience that is not already implied by its name.

The distinction between eating and drinking establishments is fairly blurry as even the most humble of restaurants can have an extensive cocktail list on their menu. Nonetheless, a vibrant drinking scene concentrated along Street 8, aptly dubbed "Pub Street", is where serious drinkers head for cheap beer, loud music and the sweaty backpacking hubbub scene akin to Bangkok's Khao San Road. The biggest and most well-known Pub St bars, Angkor What?, The Red Piano, Temple Club and Le Tigre du Papier, are easy to find, with Angkor What? and Temple Club engaged in a running battle playing pop music across the street at very loud volumes.

Travelers looking for more subdued place to appreciate a quiet drink can seek out some of the smaller places along "The Alley", "The Lane" and the adjoining streets. A few drinking holes offer a bit more than cheap drunkenness.

Most places have draught Angkor beer for US$0.50 or US$0.75 and cans of other beers for US$1-2. Cocktails and spirits go for as little as US$2. Imported red and white wine, generally from the less prestigious wine producing countries, is widely available and cheaper than you would expect. Better quality Australian and French wines are available in more upmarket establishments at a correspondingly premium price.

Beer cans tend to be cheaper than bottled beer and are better for the environment too.

These are hostess clubs popular with the locals, room charges are about US$5-10 per hour, beer is US$2-4. Most of these places are fronts for prostitution. Many of these places have two menus. One for Cambodians, which has cheaper prices, and one for foreigners, which have higher prices. If you see that the beer is US$4, they probably gave you the foreigner price.

Pub Street features two main late night bars, that turn into night clubs with loud music and dancing, as the night progresses, but there are others now, the original one, Angkor What? and Temple Club, which are directly across from each other. Sadly the former has closed as of late 2025.

• 3 Khmer Pub Street Beergarden KTVs (on Khmer Pub Street). close 02:00. There is a strip of local Cambodian bars near the Platinum KTV. If you walk past it, there is a whole 2-3 block street full of local Cambodian bars. Menus are not in English and few employees speak English, but the prices are good. These are restaurant/bars, they have young women sitting at the entrance, and you can have one accompany you for US$1.50. Beers are US$1. US$0.50 for draught beer. (updated Apr 2015)
• Angkor What?, Pub St. sundown until late. It was the most famous backpacker bar in Siem Reap, directly across from competing late night spot Temple Club. US$1 draught beers, US$2 mixers, US$6-8 buckets. Large Western crowd. Offers inside and outside drinking. Open until late. As of October 2025 it looks like it has permanently closed.. 
• 4 Banana Leaf, Pub Street. Restaurant serving Khmer, Asian and Western food, with live music. Great cocktails. Opened in 2005 before Pub Street existed. 
• 5 X Bar, 102 Sok San Road (opposite Pub Street), ☏ , carlo@xbar.asia. 15:00-sunrise. Open air rooftop bar featuring a 2-m skateboard halfpipe, jam sessions every Wednesday evening, live DJs and bands every week and a resident tattoo shop with a French artist. Probably the best city views in town, and unusual sunset over the halfpipe. At the end of Pub Street, look up for the X. 
• 6 Miss Wong Cocktail Bar, Wat Bo area. This sophisticated bar serves up delightful refreshing cocktails in a sultry red lounge plucked straight from 1930s Shanghai. 

International ATMs in Siem Reap are plentiful and most banks will do cash advances from credit cards. Two Sacombank ATMs can be found along Sivutha Boulevard west of the tourist hotspot aka Pub Street — see Cambodia#ATMs. ABA Bank, which is owned by a Canadian bank, and Canadia Bank, have a big, modern branch in the center of town. They have several modern ATMs, where you can withdraw up to US$500 with a fee of $5, dispensing notes usually in a mix of denominations of 50s and 20s. As of 2024, the ATMs no longer have the tendency of only allowing you to withdraw $100 bills, and will instead give you the opportunity to withdraw $20s or in Cambodian Rial.

Most things in Siem Reap are overpriced wherever tourists are frequent, head further away from the center or bargain (at markets).

The Heritage Watch non-profit organisation supports business that promote Cambodia's arts, culture, heritage and development. Certified businesses display either a gold or silver Heritage Friendly logo.

• 1 Artisans d'Angkor, Stung Thmey St, ☏ . Daily 07:30-17:30. A workshop in the city centre. Showcases traditional Cambodian handicrafts such as wood and stone carving, lacquering, gilding and silk painting. Visitors are conducted on a free guided tour where they can see the craftsmen in action. The boutiques display the many items produced. Tours available in Khmer, English, French, German, Spanish, Japanese and Chinese. 
• 2 Khmer Ceramics & Fine Arts Centre, Vithey Charles de Gaulle, Khum Slorkram (on the road to the temples; 30 m after the traffic light when coming from Siem Reap), ☏ . Daily 08:00-19:30. Glazed stoneware bowls, plates, teapots and decorative objects made with traditional Khmer ceramic techniques. 
• 3 L.A. Bookshop, Wat Bo Rd. Large shop, with low prices on stationery items like books (upstairs), paper, arts and crafts, bags, kitchenware and kids' toys. 
• 4 Theam's House Gallery, Veal Village, Khum Kokchak, ☏ . Daily 08:00-19:00. Exhibits paintings and art created by the artist-designer Theam Lim, who has studied at Ecole Boulle and Ecole Supérieure des Beaux-Arts. Theam's House Gallery and atelier are in the house of the artist, built by himself, inspired by Khmer rural architecture, surrounded by a garden. 

• 5 GIVE Kefir - Probiotic Brewery. They make their own kefir and kombucha drinks. Free tasting, flavors include spirulina, ginger, beet, butterfly pea, and dragon fruit. 

• 6 Sombai Cambodian Liqueur Shop & Workshop, Wat Damnak Area (Close to Wat Damnak Pagoda. Follow the street from the Hard Rock roundabout, with the roundabout behind you.), ☏ (Khmer and English), contact@sombai.com. 11:00-20:00. This shop is the factory outlet of the locally-produced infused liqueur called Sombai. The beverage comes in nicely hand-painted bottles. The shop offers free tasting and a general presentation of the production. Also available: a range of non-alcoholic products that also come in hand-painted bottles and jars (updated Aug 2026)

• 7 Angkor Trade Centre, St 9 and Pokambor Ave, ☏ . The mall, Cambodian-style. A reasonably extensive selection of packaged food, drinks whitening deodorant, imported alcohol and the familiar feeling of shopping in air conditioned comfort. 
• 8 Central Market (Sivutha Blvd and Achamean St). Eclectic collection of clothes and trinkets. Bargain. Most stalls carry the same selection so you can shop around and find the cheapest price. 
• 9 Old Market (Psar Chas) (St 9 and Hospital Rd). Market with tourist prices, fruits and food often twice the local price and for art or cloths better assume 20% as the starting price for bargaininh. Generally a range of knick-knacks and tourist junk. Some items purport to be antique, but they probably aren't. If so, most likely it has been stolen. 
• 10 Morning Market (near Noni Tree House). Daily 06:00–12:00 (but better be there before 11:00). Inexpensive fruits, meat, snacks and half a dozen local eateries with noodle and curry dishes for 3–4,000 riel. (updated Jan 2024)

Wi-Fi is available in all the usual places and most Cambodians and visitors buy a local sim card with a 4G / 5G data plan from as little as $1 per week.

Most hotels will have cable TV with many international channels such as BBC and CNN as well as those from surrounding countries. There are several FM radio stations, which include international broadcaster Radio France International on 92.0 MHz.

• Cambodia Post Office, 54 Pokambor Ave. Daily 07:30-12:00, 14:00-17:00. English-speaking staff. (updated Feb 2020)