Battambang and the northwest - The Rough Guide to Cambodia - page 116

T 097 398 7815. Battambang's newest and most
innovative restaurant (with a menu supervised by
Australian Thai-food guru David Thompson) serving up
top-notch Khmer, Thai and Vietnamese dishes in tapas-size
portions ($3-4) using seasonal organic produce. The
restaurant also helps train underprivileged young people,
with profits going to the Cambodian Children's Trust. Tues-
Sun 11am-9pm (last orders).
★

mainly classic Khmer given a French makeover - sautéed
frog with Khmer pesto, for example - along with a few
European dishes (mains $6.50-12). A cocktail bar is
planned for next door. Daily 9am-2/3pm & 5-10pm.
Smokin' Pot Two blocks south of Psar Nat T 012
821400. Known for its long-running cookery classes (see
p.118), this simple café-restaurant serves inexpensive and
authentic Khmer food, plus a decent range of Thai and
Western dishes (mains $2.50-4). Or just come for a drink
on the small pavement terrace and watch the world go by.
Daily 7am-10pm.
Sunrise Coffee House Just west of the Royal Hotel. Old
Battambang stalwart, still serving good meals (Khmer and
Western) at rock-bottom prices (mains $2-3), plus the
“world's best coffee cake”, as it's modestly described. Mon-
Sat 6.30am-8pm.
La Villa La Villa hotel, east of the river T 012 991801,
W lavilla-battambang.com. Colonial-style dining (mains
$6-9) in the former orangery at this characterful hotel. The
French food is some of the best in town, and there's also a
good Khmer selection. Or just come for a drink (see below).
Daily 11am-3pm & 6-9pm.
White Rose Street 2 T 012 536500. Travellers' favourite,
with a long menu of inexpensive Khmer and Chinese dishes
(mains $2-3), plus a good selection of Western breakfasts
and assorted light meals and snacks. Daily 8am-10pm.
Wood House West of the market, opposite Royal Hotel
T 070 496402. Cosy little café with all the usual travellers'
essentials ranging from breakfasts, salads and sandwiches
to more substantial Khmer mains ($3.50-5) and an eclectic
selection of Western and international ($5-6) dishes -
anything from malai kofta to Wiener schnitzel . Daily
6am-10pm.

2

Khmer Delight One block south of Psar Nat,
between Street 2 & Street 2.5 T 012 434746. One of the
nicest-looking restaurants in town, with lots of cane
furniture and romantic lighting after dark. Food features all
the usual Khmer classics through to Western dishes such as
spag bol and chicken and chips in a basket - a mite
expensive (most mains around $4.50) but excellent quality,
and served in big portions. Daily 7am-10pm.
Kinyei Street 1.5. Tiny café on a quiet backstreet corner
serving some of the best coffee in town, plus a
few breakfasts and Western light meals ($3-4).
Daily 7am-7pm.
★

Lotus Street 2.5 T 092 260158. Lively new bar-
restaurant in a lovingly restored old Battambang
shophouse given a chic urban makeover, with bright
lighting and plenty of naked brick. The menu lists a short
but excellent selection of Western mains (around $5) - the
Lotus burger might just be the best in Cambodia - plus
good coffee and a well-stocked bar. Doubles as an art
gallery, so always worth having a look to see what's on
show upstairs, and also hosts occasional live music and
events. Tues-Sun 10am-10pm or later.
Pomme d'Amour Street 2.5 T 053 650 2188. Upmarket
little French-run restaurant on Battambang's finest colonial
street - a nice place for a romantic tête-à-tête . Food is

DRINKING
Madison Corner Street 2.5 T 053 650 2189. No-frills
little corner bar, always lively, with pool table, darts and a
TV screening big matches and other sporting events.
There's also a bit of food including a few Western and
Khmer dishes, plus great ice cream and excellent crêpes.
Daily 7am-midnight.
Riverside Balcony Bar Riverfront, south of the centre
T 012 437421. Atmospheric bar upstairs in an old wooden

house on a curve of the river, with soft lighting, good music
and moreish cocktails. Tues-Sun 4-11pm.
La Villa La Villa hotel, east of the river W lavilla
-battambang.com . Re-create a few French Indochina
fantasies over a drink at this colonial-style hotel, with
tipples including a good international wine list and a fair
selection of cocktails. Daily 11am-3pm & 6-9pm.

SHOPPING
As usual, the best source of basic provisions is at one of the minimarts attached to the town's various petrol stations -
those at the Tela (just south of the centre) and Total (north of the centre next to the Stung Sangke Hotel ) stations are both
well stocked - or try BB Mart, a few doors west of Madison Corner .

Gecko Shop Street 3. Downstairs from the popular Gecko
café, selling a small but attractive selection of jewellery,
kramas

Jewel in the Lotus Street 2.5 T 092 260158. Possibly
Cambodia's most offbeat shop, specializing in “beautiful
and strange objects from around the world” and stuffed
with quirky curiosities and collectibles from Cambodia,

and T-shirts in colourful designs. Daily

9am-10pm.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT SHRINE, WAT BANAN P.124 ; COLONIAL HOUSE, BATTAMBANG P.114 ; BANTEAY CHHMAR P.128 >