56 Best Hotels in Cambodia

Ideally located on the riverfront, cooled by the river breezes, and across from the National Museum, the Foreign Correspondents Club or FCC is well known as a hub for expats and visitors who hang out at its lively restaurant-bar on the second and third floors. Accommodations include all the essentials plus chic touches, and some overlook the busy river promenade, offering a feel of the hustle and bustle of the capital. Named after ancient Angkorian temples, the rooms have a colonial aura about them. Try to get a room in the main building.

The jewel in the crown of Siem Reap hotels, Amansara offers exceptional service, atmosphere, and accommodations in surroundings of understated luxury. The tastefully renovated former guesthouse of King Norodom Sihanouk has become a resort that exudes an old-fashioned grace, where guests enjoy the quiet and me-time comfort of being at home while being indulgently pampered in a hundred small ways. Noteworthy cultural initiatives such as performances and movie screenings supporting the disadvantaged local community are organized regularly, and the resort offers exclusive tours to the Angkor temples, where guests can even arrange a personal yoga or meditation class. The Spa offers an exemplary (by international standards) range of therapies for mind, body, and soul, administered by expert professionals, and the two lovely pools are a haven of highly catered relaxation. The simple yet sophisticated restaurant menu changes daily.

Set on two small islands located a 40-minute speedboat trip from Sihanoukville, this multi-award-winning resort epitomizes the concept of barefoot luxury. Following its name—which translates to "sweetheart" in Khmer—this exclusive island resort is Cambodia's most romantic and a popular spot for honeymoons, weddings, and anniversaries. The villas are all beautifully decorated with driftwood and recycled fishing boats, and come with private pools. Dining menus change daily and the exquisite meals can be savored in a variety of spots around the islands. With a world-class spa, daily yoga, and many water activities, you can do as much or as little as you please.

A small paradise set amongst the rice fields in a village just outside Battambang, this tranquil resort has lush tropical gardens where you can relax in a hammock among fruit trees and organically grown herbs, flowers, and vegetables, all used by its restaurant to create healthy Cambodian, Asian, and European dishes. Each room has a terrace overlooking either the garden or the lake, and extra-spacious family rooms feature both king-size and twin beds and two bathrooms. The owners have created lots of unique activities for guests over the years, and were the first to run a fantastic street food tour and a village and river tour on bicycles and a local fishing boat. The onsite restaurant is outstanding.

In a quiet neighborhood, close to the town center and river, this iconic boutique hotel charms with its understated luxury and discrete attention to detail. From the minute you step into the vintage limo sent to pick you up from the airport, you're made to feel welcome and at ease. Refurbished and redecorated in late 2018, the open-plan suites feature teak floors, heavy curtains, marble baths, and all have a private steam room. The main pool and poolside yoga deck in the gardens conjure a calm ambience, and the in-house Heritage Restaurant offers stylish and innovative dining.

At this luxurious seaside resort you can still experience the laissez-faire glamour of Kep in the 1960s and early 1970s. Once a fashionable weekend escape known as Kep-Sur-Mer that attracted Cambodian royalty and international celebrities, the new complex is once again luring Phnom Penh's elites to Kep. Accommodations are in four villas, three of which were built in the 1970s, and a seamlessly integrated fourth, completed in 2012. You can enjoy leisurely hours at the stunning pool overlooking the sea, yoga classes on the lawn, and meals at the resort's new restaurants including the still charming Sailing Club, where water-sports activities and boat rentals are available. Soothing therapies are available at the indulgent spa.

This unique boutique hotel is located in a beautifully restored 1930s colonial villa, with spacious, well-maintained rooms that have an art deco feel. All are elegantly decorated with antique furnishings, objets d'art, and old black-and-white photographs of the area. The glass-roofed restaurant serves delicious Cambodian and European dishes, including a barbecue selection.

This tropical hideaway of rustic wooden bungalows stretches along a sandy crescent beach on the quiet side of Koh Rong Sanloem. The airy rooms are basic but clean, though the real draw here is the beach, brimming with clear waters perfect for snorkeling and swimming. The restaurant serves generous portions of Cambodian and international food, with fresh fish daily, and the breezy, laidback bar is the place to spend your evenings. Contact the hotel in advance and they will meet you at the boat from Sihanoukville to assist with luggage.

Once the home of a Chinese-Khmer timber merchant family, this historic yellow colonial-era villa on the banks of the Mekong has been immaculately restored to its former splendor, with the addition of a stunning pool and a new accommodation wing. The spacious suites are furnished with antiques and have breezy balconies with river views. Chhlong's colorful morning market is close to the hotel. You can also cycle or stroll Chhlong's Mekong riverside path, taking in traditional wooden houses, a Chinese temple, and Buddhist pagodas, or enjoy a spot of fishing.

A lush green oasis in the heart of bustling Phnom Penh, the Pavilion is set in a lovingly restored building dating to the 1920s, with a swimming pool surrounded by shady palms, banana plants, and jackfruit trees. Choose from more elegant, atmospheric suites and rooms in the colonial villa and more minimalist rooms in several adjoining modern buildings, four of which have plunge pools. All suites and rooms have four-poster beds and sitting areas. The poolside restaurant serves delicious Asian dishes and Phnom Penh's main sights are just a short stroll away.

This chic boutique hotel is built around a grand 1930s villa with an open courtyard and a lotus-filled pond. Accommodations are located in the more modern buildings overlooking an enormous palm-shaded swimming pool. The minimalist rooms are furnished with modernist decor and most have balconies. There's an art gallery, the spa is of a high standard and affordable, and the restaurant, La Pergola, serves some of the finest French fusion food in the capital.

This boutique hotel is located on one of Siem Reap's most charming laneways in Wat Damnak neighborhood, home to the historic pagoda with tranquil gardens and great street food eateries. Rambutan has loads of charm, with rooms (most have balconies and outdoor bathtubs) set around a gorgeous saltwater pool lined with sunbeds and tropical plants. The resort has Urban Residencies upstairs—sleek contemporary apartments with industrial-chic touches, kitchens, and dining-living rooms that are ideal for longer stays.

This refurbished 1960s Khmer villa brings a touch of arty chic to Phnom Penh's central suburbs. Three floors of spacious and functional rooms, all with balconies and adorned with striking local contemporary art, face a free-form pool surrounded by comfortable loungers and a covered patio—a perfect spot to enjoy the resort's complimentary breakfast.

Twelve Khmer-style villas, all with their own private verandas and charming open-roofed Balinese baths filled with plants and trees, fan around a large blue-tiled pool set amid peaceful gardens at this seafront resort. There's also a private mangrove hiking path just meters from Asian-fusion restaurant Chankiri, which serves a selection of Western and Khmer favorites. It's an ideal resort for families and romantic types who will love the private man-made beach and lengthy jetty, vantage points for impressive sunset views.

Not only will you sleep and eat in serious style here, your money will also help support community projects bringing clean water, transportation, and jobs to underprivileged communities via the Shinta Mani Foundation. The sumptuous hotel has stunning swimming pools, a great spa, good restaurants, and a cozy bar. Co-owner and star architect Bill Bensley is responsible for the flamboyant design of this property, which features a resort, hotel, and ultra-luxurious pool villas with butler service under the banner of the Bensley Collection.

The Six Senses might be a splurge, but if you're going to go all out, do it on this private island, where the 40 private-pool villas blend into the jungle. At the top of the island is a wellness center that offers the unique spa treatments and massages synonymous with the brand. There's also yoga, cooking classes, kayaking, and more. The food is a real highlight, with both traditional and creative Khmer cuisine, Southeast specialties, and international dishes on offer, cooked with ingredients from the resort's organic garden. There are two restaurants, along with an ice-cream parlor, as well as in-villa dining. 

The layout of these villas, each with a pool or garden view, offers privacy and relaxation in lovingly maintained verdant grounds, and your stay will help the owners' ongoing support for underprivileged locals. The bright, spacious interiors feature modern furnishings made from local wood in a minimalist style, and fresh, colorful splashes with silk cushions and throws. The bathrooms are large, modern, and serene. But Sojourn is a 15-minute drive from central Siem Reap. Its owners also run Beyond Unique Escapes, a socially responsible agency that devises innovative programs for interacting with, and helping the welcoming local community.

Located opposite the palm-lined riverside promenade, the light-filled rooms at Amanjaya come with traditional rosewood furnishings and Khmer silk textiles, while every suite has a balcony with a view of either the Tonle Sap River or Wat Ounalom. The Le Moon Terrace bar on the rooftop has panoramic river views, and is the place to be at sunset. In-room massage services are also available.

If you like the idea of a light-filled contemporary villa with your own private pool, this low-rise boutique resort is for you. Set on the riverbank on Fish Island, just across from Kampot's old French Quarter, the location is handy for visiting the salt flats. The one- and two-bedroom villas feature Khmer mid-century modernist-style furniture and floor-to-ceiling windows with tropical garden views. When you tire of your own pool, there's an infinity pool overlooking the river, and a private beach just upriver. Breakfast is served at the stylish riverside restaurant, but for dinner take the hotel's private boat taxi and venture into town.

This oasis of Khmer-style wooden buildings, lush gardens, and pools filled with lotus blossoms lies along a stone path a couple of blocks from the river in a green neighborhood. Standard rooms are small, while superior rooms are bigger and brighter, overlooking the water and well-tended gardens. All are decorated with traditional Khmer handicrafts such as raw-silk curtains and teak four-poster beds. The open-air restaurant, in the middle of a pond, serves French and Khmer cuisine. The cultural show performed in the hotel's gorgeous theater, designed like a temple, is a must-see. A sister property, Angkor Village Resort, is farther from the city and quieter. Thirty days advance online bookings get a 35% discount.

This resort, between Siem Reap and Angkor Wat, offers guests who value their time and privacy a real sense of retreat from the rest of the world after a busy day of sightseeing. The cottages are laid out among atmospheric, verdant gardens rich with tropical flora, and the pool snakes its way around accommodations so that each guest has a private part of it. The classic Khmer style, with chic modern touches, creates a sense of comfort, enhanced by the service of polite, helpful staff. The resort organizes guided tours and will prepare a picnic hamper for guests exploring Angkor Wat for the day, or an afternoon tea featuring Khmer and international snacks on your return, followed, perhaps, by a restorative spa session.

While not as fancy as some of the other lodgings in the area, this intimate resort offers great value in lush tropical surrounds with sea views. There's a good restaurant and pizzeria, complimentary breakfast of Khmer and French favorites, a gorgeous pool, and a kids' playground.

This stylish boutique hotel has a streamlined modernist Cambodian aesthetic with curvy staircases, raw concrete, and breezy corridors. The centerpiece of the property is a spectacular swimming pool with water falling from a hot tub on an upper floor into the pool below, creating a waterfall effect, and a second pool on another floor that's perfect for swimming laps and sunbathing. In the evening, head upstairs to the Lantern Bar for a drink beneath the stars.

Located a 30-minute drive upriver from the city center on the banks of the Mekong, this sleek, low-rise resort makes for a relaxing escape. The 18 minimalist suites are decorated in mid-century modernist furniture and Cambodian silk soft-furnishings. Overlooking the stunning 30-meter waterside swimming pool, the Riverfront Suites are the pick, with spacious wooden decks and vistas of the Mekong, Koh Dach (Silk Island), and the city skyline in the distance. The restaurant is superb and breakfast is generous.

This welcoming boutique hotel one block from the riverside has two types of lodgings, with some rooms upstairs in the main French colonial-inspired building above reception and others in traditional style Khmer wooden houses. Rooms are huge and beautifully decorated with great attention to detail. There's a big stunning pool, a small shop selling Cambodian-made crafts and kramas, an excellent restaurant, and a poolside lounge-bar that has long drawn expats for its popular happy hour(s). Breakfast is very generous with a wide choice of options and freshly squeezed juices. The restaurant's long menu includes local, Asian, and Western dishes—try the Cambodian spring rolls and curries. The helpful staff can book anything for you, including Battambang's best tuk-tuk drivers.

Ideally set on the banks of Kampong Bay river in a restored colonial building, this centrally located boutique-style hotel offers a handful of clean, spacious, and affordable rooms. Tasteful interiors, lovely river views—and sounds; you can hear fishing boats come and go from some rooms—and a good restaurant add to the charm, as does the very helpful, friendly, and accommodating management and staff. Makaori, the restaurant, serves Asian and international fusion cuisine of great quality at decent prices.

The accommodations are attractive and the rates reliable at this tranquil, small hotel, a couple of blocks east of the river behind La Noria. Khmer handicrafts and antiques fill the rooms, which have high ceilings and tile floors. Each one has a large porch or balcony overlooking a nicely planted yard, which holds a pool and open-air thatched restaurant. Large bathrooms with stone floors have both a shower and the traditional Cambodian bathing option of scooping water out of a giant ceramic urn, which sounds archaic but is thoroughly refreshing after a hot day at the temples.

Guests enjoy a surprisingly high level of service and care at this hotel school, which trains underprivileged young adults for the hospitality industry. Rooms are spacious and spotless, with all the customary amenities. The restaurant offers delicious Cambodian and international dishes, from a Cambodian curry to chicken Milanese. The main drawback is the location—2 km (1 mile) from the beach—but it's easy to grab a tuk-tuk.

Just behind the Royal Residence, this stunning mid-century colonial building was the former French Governor's residence before it was transformed into an inviting riverside boutique hotel. Remodeled and relaunched as an Avani at the start of the pandemic, it now has an on-site gallery with regular exhibition openings. Rooms and suites are in a minimalist contemporary design with gleaming hardwood floors and local art on the walls. There's an additional wing across the road with suites.

The fifth in a local chain, the Frangipani Palace Hotel is currently the only hotel in Phnom Penh with a rooftop pool, from where you can enjoy lovely panoramic views of the capital, especially at sunset. Later on it's a pleasant spot to sip a moonlight cocktail and enjoy a snack at the bar. The hotel's location, standing next to two of the city's most noteworthy landmarks, the Royal Palace and the National Museum, offers further incentive for staying here. Rooms are practical, modern, and comfortable but need better finishing. Ask for a room facing out onto Street 178.