Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
1
dazzling 360-degree panoramas of the city, river and
distant hills.
Daily 5pm-2am.
AROUND PSAR THMEI
CENTRAL MARKET
AND
TOWARDS THE RIVERFRONT
Heart of Darkness
26 Street 51
T
077 837777,
W
heartofdarknessclub.com.kh; map p.66.
This gothy
place was
the
hipster hangout in Phnom Penh a decade
ago; these days it's the haunt of a
uent young Khmers and
becomes progressively more seedy as the night goes on,
with fights frequently breaking out.
Daily 9pm-5am.
Pontoon
Cnr streets 178 & 51
T
016 779966,
W
pontoonclub.com; map p.66.
This famed nightspot
started out on the river before finding its feet in the
clubbing district of Street 51. While it's still the preserve of
local and international DJs, spinning house, hip-hop and
commercial tunes, its over-the-top drag and cabaret shows
(Thurs; free entry and two-for-one drinks until 11.30pm)
and regular comedy club nights make it a pioneer in the
city's nightlife. Around $8 cover after 11.30pm at
weekends.
Sun-Thurs 9pm-4am, Fri & Sat 9pm-5am.
Sharky's
126 Street 130
T
023 211825,
W
sharkycambodia.com; map p.66.
Cambodia's longest-
running rock-and-roll bar and low-key pick-up spot is a
great, lively hangout and serves decent Mexican, Thai and
American food. Daily drink specials from 5pm.
Daily
5pm-2am.
BOENG KENG KANG AND AROUND
INDEPENDENCE MONUMENT
Aussie XL
205A Street 51 (near Street 288)
T
023
301001,
W
aussiexl.com; map p.66.
Popular spot near
Street 278 whose cheap drinks and food (including home-
made pies, burgers, spit-roasted pork and wood-fired
pizza) attract a lively mix of backpackers, travellers and
expats. Also shows Aussie sports matches.
Daily
9am-11pm.
Score!
5 Street 282
T
023 221357,
W
scorekh.com;
map p.66.
Cavernous sports bar with a 5m x 5m screen, a
handful of slate pool tables and loungers, plus Converse
sneaker-clad staff and Western food (including a mean
weekend lunchtime roast).
Sun-Thurs 8am-midnight,
Fri & Sat 8am-2am.
LIVE MUSIC AND NIGHTCLUBS
THE RIVERFRONT/WAT PHNOM AREA
★
The Doors
Cnr streets 47 & 84
T
023 986114,
W
doorspp.com; map pp.58-59.
This awesome new
urban venue hosts a diverse variety of musical acts
ranging from classical Spanish guitarists, opera singers
and pianists to international DJs and local funk bands.
Decor is distinctive, with the murals of street artist
Sheryo adorning the walls. Drinks are brilliantly
inventive - “toast and berries” (a gin-based cocktail) is
served in a jam jar with a broken eggshell containing
fresh bread and jam ($5) clipped to the edge. Their
Spanish
BOENG KENG KANG AND AROUND
INDEPENDENCE MONUMENT
★
Equinox
3A Street 278, just off Street 51
T
023 676
7593,
W
equinox-cambodia.com; map p.66.
This bar-
restaurant in the heart of BKK is one of the hottest
nightspots in town, an impressive small art gallery
that hosts an eclectic line-up of live acts several nights a
week.
Daily 8am-1am.
tapas
are
excellent
too.
Daily
11am-midnight.
ENTERTAINMENT AND ARTS
After being virtually obliterated by the Khmer Rouge, Cambodia's
artistic and cultural traditions
are gradually seeing
a revival, thanks largely to the few performers and instructors who survived the regime. See the
Phnom Penh Post
and
Friday's
Cambodia Daily
for full details of what's on. The city is also showing interest in cinema - after the years of repression
2010 saw the launch of the first annual
Cambodian International Film Festival
(
W
cambodia-iff.com), with
screenings of 120 films from thirty countries at theatres and outdoor arenas throughout the city. Now in its fourth year (and
held annually in December), the festival is going strong.
Galleries
, meanwhile, hosting changing exhibitions of art and
sculpture, proliferate; check the magazine
Asia Life
to find out what is coming up.
Kickboxing
Reproduced on the bas-reliefs of Angkor Wat,
the ancient tradition of kickboxing is now enjoying a
revival. Bouts start with loud music and much posturing by
the contestants - though watching the animated antics of
the crowd, for whom betting on the fight is the main
attraction, can be as fascinating as the fights. Ask at your
hotel or guesthouse for details of forthcoming bouts, which
are advertised in the Khmer press.
Meta House
German Cultural Centre, 37 Sothearos
Blvd
W
meta-house.com.
Interesting and relevant
Cambodian documentaries (4pm; free) and films (7pm; $2,
ARTS AND CULTURE
Cambodian Living Arts
W
cambodianlivingarts.org.
The CLA aims to revive and encourage the practice of
traditional cultural expression in communities across
Cambodia by hosting living arts classes and supporting
performing arts productions at the National Museum
(7pm; Oct-March).
Chaktomuk Theatre
On the riverfront near the
Cambodiana
T
023 725119.
From time to time this eye-
catching building hosts performances of classical dance
and shadow puppetry.
