Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
COOKERY CLASSES
Taking a
cookery course
offers a great way to learn more about Cambodian cuisine. Classes
typically last around three hours, starting with a visit to a local market to buy ingredients, after
which you get into the kitchen and start cooking under the guidance of a trained chef,
finishing off by eating the meal you've just prepared.
Asana Cambodian House
Between St 7 & The Lane
T
092 987801,
W
asana-cambodia.com.
Learn to
create your own Khmer-style cocktails at the lovely little
Asana
bar (see p.152), with an introduction to the use of
local herbs and spices, and to
sombai
, a classic
Cambodian tipple made with infused rice wine. $15.
Beyond Unique Escapes
Cnr Alley West & Sivatha
Blvd
T
077 562565,
W
beyonduniqueescapes.com.
Cooking classes (twice daily) with a difference, held just
outside town and swapping the usual market visit for a
walk through a rural village to see local food production
at first hand and the chance to meet a village family and
learn about Khmer cooking in a Cambodian home -
after which you head to Beyond's purpose-built cooking
pavilion in the village to have a go yourself. $22 half-
day, $35 full day.
Cooks in Tuk-tuks
The River Garden, river road,
north of NR6, west of the river
T
063 963400,
W
therivergarden.info.
Classes at this lovely hotel
(see p.147) start with the obligatory market visit, before
cooking up a lunchtime feast with the produce you've
purchased. $25.
Royal Khmer Cuisine
Ra
es Grand Hotel d'Angkor,
Royal Gardens
T
063 963888,
W
ra
es.com
/siemreap.
The most exclusive (and spectacularly
expensive) course in town, held at this grand hotel (see
p.147). After a market visit with the chef, you'll learn
about ingredients and how to combine them, before
cooking a number of dishes that are served at lunch with
a complimentary glass of wine. A cookbook, certificate
and
Ra
es
apron complete the day. $100.
Le Tigre de Papier
Pub St, next to Angkor What?
(see p.152)
T
012 265811.
The original Siem Reap
cooking class, running since 2003 at this Pub Street
restaurant. Classes include a market visit to buy
ingredients for a three-course meal that you prepare
and eat; proceeds help support students at nearby Sala
Bai Hotel School. $14.
3
books for sale. Good coffee and drinks, including local
sombai
(rice wine infused with fruits and spices), plus the
usual café food and a few Khmer and Western mains ($4-
7). Try the delicious iced coffee and the simple but very
satisfying Khmer chicken rice. All profits go to support local
causes.
Daily 7am-9.30pm.
Soup Dragon
Hospital St
T
012 731152; map p.140.
Popular restaurant spread over three floors of a street-
corner building, with great views of the crowds below. The
food's not bad either, with a mainly Vietnamese menu
(mains $4-6) featuring classics such as
bánh xèo
(rice
pancakes),
pho
, hotpots, soups, stir-fries and spicy salads,
plus a few Khmer and Western dishes. Service can be
excruciatingly slow.
Daily 7am-11pm.
Viva
Hospital St
T
092 209154,
W
ivivasiemreap.com;
map p.140.
Wildly popular Mexican restaurant serving
tasty cover versions of all the usual Tex-Mex classics
(around $5) including quesadillas, nachos, enchiladas,
tacos and burritos galore. The restaurant's signature
margaritas are cheap and go down fast - as do many of the
punters come closing time.
Daily 6am-midnight.
students are learning to cook (lunch set menus $9/$11).
Reservations advised, and note that the school may close
during the summer.
Mon-Fri 7-9am & noon-2pm.
★
Sugar Palm
Taphul St
T
012 818143,
W
thesugarpalm.com; map p.139.
Attractively rustic
pavilion restaurant under a huge wooden house -
perfect for a romantic candlelit dinner. The menu focuses
on authentic Khmer food with a short but inventive
selection of dishes (mains $6-7) - frogs' legs with basil,
for example, or squid with black Kampot pepper, plus
flavoursome pomelo and green mango salads.
Mon-Sat
11.30am-3pm & 5.30-10pm.
THE ROYAL GARDENS AND AROUND
FCC Angkor
Pokambor Ave
T
063 760280,
W
fcc
cambodia.com; map p.139.
Siem Reap's branch of the
FCC
in Phnom Penh provides a memorable setting for top-
notch Western and Asian food (mains around $8) - or just
come for a drink at the attractive terrace bar.
Daily 7am-
midnight (bar open from 5pm).
Restaurant Le Grand
Ra
es Grand Hotel d'Angkor
T
063 963888,
W
ra
es.com/siem-reap; map p.139.
The swankiest restaurant in town, with a fine à la carte
menu of Khmer and international dishes (mains around
$30) backed up with a fine wine cellar and impeccable
service. Booking is advised and the dress code is smart
casual.
Daily 6.30am-10.30pm.
TAPHUL STREET
Sala Bai
Taphul St
T
063 963329; map p.139.
Hospitality school that opens to customers for training
purposes; the inexpensive, daily-changing menu features a
mix of Western and Khmer dishes according to what
