6 Best Nightlife in Cambodia

Difficult to find but well worth the effort, this microdistillery-bar, near the Aeon Mall, is one of the trendiest joints in Phnom Penh. Their excellent Samai rum is distilled on-site in 200-year-old copper stills and makes a great base for the Moorish-Asian-inspired cocktails. The downside: it's only open on Thursday nights.

The name somewhat gives it away, but this cool cocktail and whisky bar is one of the places to head when everywhere else is closing down but that said, you don't have to be a late-night owl to enjoy a drink here. The atmospheric lighting and speakeasy vibe are complemented by a surprisingly comprehensive menu.

This cozy Spanish-run bar, distinctive for its barrel-shaped roof and horseshoe bar, draws a crowd of fun, young expats, who often spill out onto the tiled alley outside.

Open until 2 am on weekends, Phnom Penh's largest sports bar is a favorite of expats, locals, and tourists alike, who all want to catch a sports game live on one of many TV screens while enjoying a tipple among the enthusiastic crowd. There's pub grub and a British-style weekend roast.

With the venerable FCC hotel as its backdrop, the colonial-styled Scribe attracts a discerning crowd. There is seating under the trees, on the rooftop, or at the wraparound bar.

It may not have a riverside vista of the Mekong, but this cocktail bar somehow manages to top that with a view of the kaleidoscopic-colored tin roofs of its noisy neighbor, Russian Market. The cool factor continues with the tiki theme, cocktails made with local spirits, craft beer, and a menu of tapas-style Asian fusion.