Pre-Covid Cambodia had a bustling nightlife scene, but how are things faring right now? The Street Food Guy presents the ultimate Cambodia nightlife guide for 2021.
Cambodia Nightlife Guide – Pre-Covid
Before the pandemic Cambodia welcomed around 6 million tourists a year, turning Phnom Penh,Siem Reap, Sihanoukville and Koh Rong among others into extremely busy party towns (and islands).
Things have obviously changed somewhat, but with one of the most welcoming visa regimes for foreigners and growing middle-class the Cambodia nightlife scene might not be thriving, but it is certainly surviving. Lockdowns and alcohol bans notwithstanding you can still enjoy a great night out in Cambodia.
Of course no two places are the same, so our Cambodian Nightlife Guide will head far and wide to check out the current scene.
Phnom Penh Nightlife Guide
When it comes to nightlife nowhere in Cambodia can hold a candle to Phnom Penh. Whatever it is you are looking for from $15 cocktails to 50 cents beers the capital city has it all, and this includes a great craft beer scene.
Best Craft Beer bar in Phnom Penh
When it comes to craft beer in Phnom Penh there is an awful lot of competition and indeed some great bars. Embargo is well known, but can get hotter than the sun due to lack of AC. Therefore i’d opt for Box Office (also the best pickled eggs)as my favorite craft beer establishment. It was also here that I first tried Durian beer – indeed a unique brew.
Best all you can drink deal in Phnom Penh
Alcohol bans not withstanding the best deal in the capital is Ruby’s Sports Bar. They are snugly located next to Brooklyn Restaurant and as well as $15 all you can drink beers also offer an all you can eat wing deal for $8
To read about the best all you can eat wings click here (link).
Best Pool Bar in Phnom Penh
Sitting by the pool and supping cocktails is very much a rite of passage for Phnom Penh locals. There are a ton of great deals out there, but for $10 in consumables Patio Rooftop Bar takes some beating. If you want to go more high end then check out Palace Gate Hotel.
Best Bars of the Riverside
The riverside has some “normal” bars, but the area is predominantly dominated by what we call “girly bars”. For a great pub and culinary experience either head to Harry’s, or Gastropub 130. Alternatively check out our guide to the bars of Street 130.
Best Gay bar in Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh and Cambodia in general is extremely gay friendly and many bars draw a mixed and eclectic gay/straight crowd. Probably the best out and out gay bar though is Blue Chili.
Despite the fact they were recently raided due to the alcohol ban Blue Chili is the gay bar in Phnom Penh. They have drag acts, a very mixed crowd and best of all one of the greatest karaoke nights in town, at least during normal times.
Sorya Mall and Pub Street Phnom Penh
There’s a Facebook group called RIP Pub Street and this says it all. Basically it is closed and what is open is rather sleazy. This is where ladies without full-time jobs hang out to find gentleman.
Phnom Penh on a budget – Street 172
Home to fake McDonalds, fake Subway and whole heap of cheap western food. Not classy, but very cost efficient.
You can read our guide to Street 172 here.
Street Food Phnom Penh!
Street food in Phnom Penh is still wonderful! You can read my all guide to it here.
Cambodia Nightlife – Clubs of Phnom Penh
Sadly clubs are currently closed in Phnom Penh, with no clear sign of when they might open. When they do though Apsara Dance in Phnom Penh will be worth checking out.
There are currently a number of clubs being built within the capital, such as Tarzan Lounge, but for now clubbing in Phnom Penh is very much a watch this space kinda thing.
Cambodia Nightlife – Siem Reap
When it comes to any Cambodia nightlife guide Siem Reap is the one place that has seriously lost entrants in 2021. Not only does the city rely on tourism, but they are also “renovating”, this has meant many favorite haunts shuttering up their doors.
Best Bars in Siem Reap 2021
Sadly there are only a few entrants on this list, although we expect certain bars to reopen, or more to jump into into the gap as things get better.
Best Pub Quiz in Siem Reap
Star Bar have very much weathered the storm in Siem Reap and are probably theist bar in the city. You can read more about them here. They also far and away have the best pub quiz in Siem Reap, great food and a real pub atmosphere.
Pomme Siem Reap
When it come stop pubs in Siem Reap it really is a toss up between these two bars. This is a great place to hang out with expats of a weekend, good drinks list and decent menu.
Best breakfast in Siem Reap
Hands down Cafe Sorya, which you can read about here. Proper breakfast muffins, as well as hash browns and some great milkshakes. More a brunch and Bloody Mary place really, so I would also give a big shout out to Pong Cambodia if you are in a rush.
Best Burger in Siem Reap
Still hands down Jungle Burger, despite many upstarts entering the fray. They are in a new location on Sok San Road. Also the best pies in the city.
Star Bar also do a mean Blue Cheese Burger and there are even talks about a Lok Lak Burger. Watch this space.
Girly Bars in Siem Reap
If you are looking for a certain kind of Cambodia nightlife in Siem Reap then it is still about Sok San Road. Freelancers and bar fines galore if thats your thing. Keep in mind this street is usually one of the first to close if there is a lock down.
To read about bar fines in Cambodia click here.
Pub Street Siem Reap
For all intents pub street in Siem Reap is closed to business, although Cozy Bar have somehow weathered the storm by offering food. We truly do live in strange times. Pub Street Siem Reap will likely be back to business when things finally improve whenever that may be….
Cambodia Nightlife – Kampot
After Phnom Penh Kampot is the one place that seems to have weathered the storm somewhat. They even managed to have a beer festival a few months ago (link).
Best Hotel, Pool and Pool Bar in Kampot
Onderz Kampot do $20 a night with best pool in the city. Probably the best place to stay still.
Best restaurant in Kampot
Happy Pizza should not be confused with other “happy” type places, there are no greeneries other pizzas. They do a great Blue Cheese steak, as well as having great oysters and of course pizza. Huge menu. Laundry probably do the best burger still, though I loath to admit it.
Kampot Nightlife
Everything is still largely based around the main street, with lots of bars to choose from. This includes a few girly bars for those inclined. The hostels etc by the riverside are for all intents closed.
Kep Nightlife guide!
There is no nightlife in Kep and that is partly what makes it so beautiful. Come here get a nice cheap hotel and go to Kep Seafood market. You can read about wet weekend in Kep here.
Nightlife of Cambodia – The Islands
Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem are not the party towns they once were. If you do want nightlife then Koh Toch is still your best bet. Things are largely dominated by Treehouse Bungalows, although you can read our full Koh Toch Guide here.
For Koh Rong Sanloem there really is like zero nightlife, go here to stay in a resort and chill.
To read a guide to Koh Trong click here.
Cambodia nightlife – other provinces
Outside of these major places there really is not much going on, although we have written more extensive guides to a few places. Most of them involve 0, or at best one bar, but all at least have street food.
To read our guide to Kratie click here (link)
To read the Prey Veng guide click here.
To read the Anlong Veng Guide click here.
Cambodia Nightlife prices
We will probably give this its own article at some point, but again location, location, location. Draft beer can cost as little as 50 cents, with craft beer costing up to $5 a glass. Cambodia has fine0dining restaurants such as Oskars (link), but even a fine dining meal here will only set you back $40 for two people likely at most.
Then again if you want to do 50 cent beers, cans of Ganzberg and street food you can get drunk and fed for less than 10 bucks.
And that is Cambodia nightlife Gudie 2021. Not as eclectic as it once was, but hey were still here.