Riverside, north of the city

The Bale Phnom Penh

A private-pool retreat outside the city

In short

The Bale is an all-suite resort on the river north of Phnom Penh, off National Highway 6, where most suites have their own pool. It is a retreat rather than a city hotel - calm, low-rise and designed for staying put - with the capital within reach by car when you want it.

Checked

September 2026 - listed as five-star by public hotel directories

Part of our guide to Luxury hotels in Phnom Penh

At a glance

The short version

Area: Riverside, off National Highway 6, north of the city
Rating: Five-star
Style: All-suite resort, most with private pools
Good for: Couples, a rest day either side of a trip
Rates: Confirmed on enquiry - they change daily

Questions travellers ask

How far is it from the centre?

Around 30 to 40 minutes by car, depending on traffic. Arrange transfers in advance.

Phnom Penh

Other ways to stay here

All of them

Riverfront and BKK1

Luxury hotels in Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh's luxury hotels sit either on the riverfront near the Royal Palace or in BKK1, the leafy district that holds the city's best restaurants. Traffic makes the choice matter: a kilometre in Phnom Penh can take twenty minutes at the wrong hour.

Riverfront: Views over the Tonle Sap and Mekong, walking distance to the Royal Palace and National Museum
BKK1: Quieter, leafier, and where you will eat best
Daun Penh: The old administrative quarter, closest to the main sights

See the detail

Converted villas, mostly in BKK1

Boutique hotels in Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh's boutique hotels are concentrated in BKK1 and the streets around it, many of them converted mid-century villas with a courtyard and a small pool. They put you within walking distance of the city's best restaurants and away from the riverfront traffic.

Where: BKK1 and the surrounding streets, with a few near the river
Typical shape: A converted villa, ten to twenty-five rooms, courtyard and plunge pool
Why BKK1: Tree cover, wide pavements by Phnom Penh standards, and the best eating in Cambodia

See the detail