Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
French-colonial building is full of period atmosphere, with
streetside seating downstairs and an attractive open-air
first floor. Food doesn't quite match the setting, sadly, with
an uninspiring and rather pricey menu of Asian ($4-7) and
Western ($7-10) dishes, including pizzas and pasta. Worth
a visit for a coffee or an ice cream, though, for the ambience
alone.
Daily 7am-11pm.
Happy Herbs Pizza
Hospital St
T
092 459525; map
p.140.
One-stop backpackers' café with a menu as long as
your arm featuring good breakfasts, myriad Khmer dishes
($3.50) and some of the best pizza in town ($6.50).
Daily
7.30am-9pm.
Haven
Sok San St
T
078 342404,
W
havencambodia
.com; map p.140.
Peaceful Swiss-run restaurant tucked
away on a quiet(ish) side street and helping to train up
disadvantaged local kids. Food features well-prepared and
-presented Khmer and Asian classics ($5-6) plus a small
but judicious selection of Western dishes ($6-7) including
good vegetarian and a couple of Swiss options. Booking is
usually essential, although you might get lucky at lunch
during the low season.
Mon, Tues & Thurs-Sat
11.30am-2.30pm (last orders) & 5.30-9.30pm (last
orders), Wed 5.30-9.30pm.
Il Forno
Between The Lane & Pub St
T
078 208174,
W
ilfornorestaurantsiemreap.com; map p.140.
In the
buzzing heart of the Psar Chas tourist zone, this stylish
modern Italian restaurant feels more like a busy corner of
Milan, London or New York than anything remotely
Cambodian - as do the prices. The menu features superb
pizzas straight out of the Neapolitan wood-fired oven,
excellent home-made pasta and top-notch mains using
quality ingredients (black ink
tagliolini
with prawns and
zucchini, for example, or black and white ravioli with
calamari
ragù
). Pizza and pasta $4-10, mains $12-18.
Daily noon-11pm.
Khmer Kitchen
The Passage
T
063 966353,
W
khmerkitchens.com; map p.140.
Inexpensive, family-
run restaurant that provides great authentic Khmer
home-cooking with the occasional modern twist, plus
a few Thai dishes. All mains $4 (including rice).
Daily
10.30am-11pm.
Miss Wong
The Lane
T
092 428332,
W
misswong.net;
map p.140.
Svelte little venue, with opulent 1930s
Shanghai-style decor, all moody lighting and rich-red
walls. It bills itself as a cocktail bar (see p.153) but also has
a short but excellent selection of classy contemporary
Chinese food ($3.50-6.50), with mains including wine-
flavoured chicken thigh and tea-smoked tofu pockets with
mushroom stu
ng, plus dumplings, hotpots, noodles and
wonton.
Daily 6pm-1am.
New Leaf Book Café
Off Pokambor Ave
T
063 766016,
W
newleafbookcafe.org; map p.140.
Good-looking and
sociable café - one of the centre's nicest places to hang out
while browsing the extensive selection of secondhand
PSAR CHAS AND AROUND
AHA
The Passage
T
063 965501,
W
shintamani.com;
map p.140.
One of the hippest restaurants in town, with
urban-chic decor and excellent Khmer and contemporary
Asian food with an international twist (mains $7-10). Or
just come for a drink and a plate of international tapas.
Daily 11.30am-9.30pm.
Angkor Palm
Hospital St
T
063 761436,
W
angkorpalm.com; map p.140.
Smart-looking but
budget-friendly restaurant offering an above-average
selection of authentic Khmer cooking - although you'll
have to get the waiters to explain what's in some of the
more recondite dishes. Try the
amok
or the
samlor
curry, an
explosion of lemongrass flavours in a rustic clay pot. Mains
cost just $3.50-5, although rice will set you back an extra
$2.
Daily 9am-10.30pm.
The Blue Pumpkin
Hospital St; map p.140.
The original
branch of this hugely popular café-cum-bakery (now with
outlets all round town). Construct your own snack or picnic
from a wide selection of freshly baked breads, sandwiches,
cakes, shakes and ice creams - and there's even a fair
selection of alcoholic beverages, served in the snowy-
white “Cool Lounge” upstairs. A second branch is located
nearby on Sivatha Blvd.
Daily 6am-11pm.
Chanrey Tree
Pokombor Ave
T
063 767997,
W
chanreytree.com; map p.140.
Suave and romantic
modern riverside restaurant whose short menu of excellent
and authentic Khmer dishes (mains $8-9) has a touch of
fine-dining style. Choose from classic curries and stir-fries
or more unusual offerings including grilled stuffed frog or
fermented fish and pork.
Daily 11am-2.30pm &
6-10.30pm.
Common Grounds
Street 14
T
063 965687; map
p.139.
Laidback and usually very peaceful coffee shop on a
quiet street in the old French quarter serving good hot
drinks plus fresh cakes, sandwiches and light meals
($3.50-6). Profits go to support humanitarian projects.
Mon-Sat 7am-8pm.
Dakshin's
Hospital St
T
012 566610; map p.140.
This
smooth new place is a cut above the many other slightly
ropey Indian establishments around town. The menu
features a good range of north Indian meat ($7-8) and veg
($5-6) classics - tandooris, birianis, kormas and so on
- plus a few south Indian dishes including dosas and
uttapam, all served in big portions, richly spiced. Pricey, but
worth it.
Daily 11am-2.30pm & 5-10.30pm.
For Life
The Lane
T
012 545426,
W
forliferestaurant
.com; map p.140.
A local expat favourite, slightly away
from the tourist crowds and serving excellent, authentic
Khmer food at very competitive prices, with almost
everything for $4 (including rice) or under.
Daily
11am-11pm.
Le Grand Café
Cnr Hospital St & Street 9
T
012
447316,
W
legrandcafe.asia; map p.140.
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