Cafés and Rooftop Bars in Phnom Penh
Part of the Phnom Penh travel guide — see every topic in All Phnom Penh Guides.
Modern Phnom Penh is a city of good coffee by day and rooftop views by night. BKK1, short for Boeng Keng Kang 1, is a leafy central district with cafés, restaurants and small hotels. The streets around the Russian Market have their own young café scene. After sunset, rooftop bars on hotels and towers look out over the rivers and the growing skyline. This guide covers where to sit, what to order and how to plan your evening.
BKK1 by day
BKK1 lies just south of Sihanouk Boulevard and west of Norodom Boulevard, close to the old centre. It is one of the city's most popular areas for people who live and work here. The streets are quieter than the old centre, with trees, villas and new apartment towers. You find speciality coffee shops, bakeries, brunch places, juice bars and co-working spaces. Many cafés have strong air-conditioning and good Wi-Fi, so they are popular for laptop work. Street 308 and the lanes nearby are known for small bars and restaurants that get busy in the evening. Walk in the morning or late afternoon, and use a tuk-tuk in the midday heat.
The Russian Market café streets
The streets around the Russian Market, in the Toul Tom Poung area, have become a second café district. Old shophouses now hold small coffee bars, design shops, vintage stores and craft studios. It is a good area to combine shopping with a long coffee break. Local coffee chains and independent roasters both serve iced lattes, cold brew and Khmer-style iced coffee with condensed milk. Many places also serve healthy bowls, smoothies and cakes. The mood is relaxed and young. Visit the market in the morning, then rest in a café before the afternoon heat. Most cafés open early and close in the evening.
Rooftop bars and the skyline
Phnom Penh's skyline has grown fast. Vattanac Capital Tower, about 188 metres tall, is one of the tallest buildings in the city. Around it stand bank towers, hotels and new apartment blocks, and more towers rise on Koh Pich, or Diamond Island, near the rivers. Several hotels and towers have rooftop bars. Some sit high above the city with wide views. Others are lower, on the riverside, and look straight over the water and the Royal Palace roofs. Many have a pool, a cocktail list and music at night. Go just before sunset to see the city in daylight, then watch the lights come on.
Planning your evening
Many rooftop bars run a happy hour in the early evening, which is a good time to arrive. Smart casual clothes are a safe choice for hotel bars. Some ask for no beachwear, and a few do not allow sandals in the evening. Weather matters on a rooftop. In the rainy season, from about May to November, check the sky, as heavy showers can close the open areas for a while. Book ahead on Friday and Saturday nights, or for a table by the edge. Use PassApp or Grab to get home, so you know the price before the ride.
Cafés and Rooftop Bars at a glance
| Getting there | BKK1 is just south of Sihanouk Boulevard; the Russian Market area is further south |
|---|---|
| Hours | Cafés about 7 am to evening; rooftop bars from late afternoon to late night |
| Cost | Coffee is cheap; rooftop cocktails cost more; happy hours help |
| Best time | Dry season, about December to April, for clear rooftop views |
| Dress | Smart casual for hotel rooftops |