Boutique hotels in Phnom Penh

At a glance

The short version

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
Getting about: PassApp and Grab tuk-tuks are everywhere and cost very little
What to check: Whether there is a lift, since villa conversions often have none
Best for: Stays of three nights or more, where the neighbourhood starts to matter

The pattern here is a mid-century villa with a courtyard, a plunge pool and a dozen or so rooms, usually in BKK1.

That district is the best part of Phnom Penh to sleep in. It has tree cover, which matters more than it sounds in April, pavements you can mostly walk on, and the densest concentration of good restaurants in the country. The riverfront has the view; BKK1 has the life.

The practical catch

Villa conversions rarely have lifts. Two or three flights of stairs with a large suitcase in the heat is a real consideration, and hotels do not always volunteer it. Ask.

Getting around

App tuk-tuks – PassApp and Grab – are everywhere and cost a dollar or two across town. There is no need to stay near the sights when getting to them is this cheap; stay where the evenings are better.

Questions travellers ask

What is BKK1?

Boeung Keng Kang 1, a central district south of the Royal Palace. It is the leafy, restaurant-heavy part of the city and where most boutique hotels are.

Is it far from the sights?

Ten to fifteen minutes by tuk-tuk to the Royal Palace and the riverfront, longer in the evening rush.

Are there lifts?

Often not. Villa conversions are typically two or three storeys with stairs only, which is worth knowing if you have heavy bags or limited mobility.

Is Phnom Penh worth more than a night?

Yes. Two nights is the minimum for the palace, the museum and the genocide sites; the food is the reason people stay a third.