Siem Reap is really rockin’ these days, a big change from just a few years ago when there were no real bars. One street now has so many drinking holes that it has earned the nickname Bar St and we are happy to go with that given the lack of street names in town! It is definitely worth hitting the bars at least once – each place has its own character, making it prime pub crawl territory.
Many of the bars here have happy hours, but so do some of the fancier hotels, which is a good way to sample the high life even if you are not staying at those places. Some of the best are the Elephant Bar at Grand Hotel d’Angkor, with happy hour from 4pm to 8pm when most drinks are two-for-one; L’Explorateur at Victoria Angkor Hotel, which kicks off late from 9pm to 11pm is also two-for-one; and FCC Angkor, with its Brunswick pro pool table, with happy hour from 5pm to 7pm.
Angkor What
Add: Bar St
One of the first and still one of the most popular bars in town. This hole in the wall heaves from 9pm most nights and stays open until the last person leaves. Sorted sounds and a bulging bar keep the punters happy and a small slice of the profits supports the Angkor Children’s Hospital, so drinking here helps someone’s liver (if not your own).
Temple Bar
Add: Bar St
Laterite stone and pediments give the exterior a temple feel, but the only worshipping going on here “all hail the ale”. Pavement tables, a generous happy hour from 4pm to 9pm with buy-two-get-one-free and some alternative rock have quickly earned it a loyal following.
Buddha Lounge
Add: Bar St
Opposite the Temple and in a similar vein, the Buddha Lounge brings a touch of the Heart of Darkness to town, as the owner used to work in the famous Phnom Penh bar of that name. Spiritual decor and spirited drinks should bring success.
Linga Bar
Add: The Alley
Siem Reap’s it and currently only gay bar in town welcomes all-comers with a laid-back lounge look that wouldn’t seem out of place in any major city. A cracking cocktail list, tapas tasters on the small menu and dance beats are helping to spread the word.
Molly Mallone’s
Add: Bar St
This Irish pub brings a bit of the Emerald Isle to home-sick Irish (and Brits and everyone else for whom Irish bars have become institutions!) in Siem Reap. Big bar menu, Guinness in cans and the word is that draught is soon on its way…
Ivy Bar
Add: Psar Chaa
This well-known long-running English bar has recently relocated up the road, offering a spacious and sophisticated setting in which to take a drink at any time of day. The international bar menu is one of the best in town.
Butterfly Garden Bar
Admission US$1 – Open: 9am-5pm)
The tropical garden here is home to hundreds of live butterflies flitting under a huge net. It’s a quiet spot in which to pass the time when it’s hot, and it’s hot, and small menu includes drinks and international dishes.
Martini
Add: Wat Dam Nak area
Nothing to do with its namesake in Phnom Penh, this is probably the most popular Khmer nightclub in town, with a large beer garden and a dark, dark disco. Try some rom vong, the popular Cambodian dancing that involves everyone gliding around in circles and flapping their arms dementedly. We say everyone, but we mean foreigners – Khmers carry themselves with genuine grace.
Tags: Drinking in Siem Reap