The best hotels in Cambodia

This hostel sits a short walk from Pub Street and the Old Market, making it easy to explore the city on foot. Private rooms are compact but clean, with decent air conditioning for the price. The common area is social without being overwhelming, and staff are helpful with tuk-tuk arrangements to Angkor Wat. Breakfast is basic but included. A solid base for temple visits without spending much.

Set in a restored colonial villa on Street 19 near the Independence Monument, this small hotel has genuine character. Rooms open onto a lush garden and pool area that feels removed from the city noise. It is not a luxury property but the atmosphere and service punch above the price. The BKK1 location puts cafes, restaurants, and embassies within easy walking distance. Book early as it fills fast.

Sitting directly on the Gulf of Thailand waterfront in the small coastal town of Kep, this design hotel occupies three restored 1960s modernist villas. The architecture alone justifies the trip, and the sunset views from the main terrace are exceptional. Rooms are airy and minimalist with private terraces overlooking the sea. The crab market is a five-minute walk and the hotel kitchen prepares Kep pepper crab on request. It is remote and quiet, which is entirely the point.

This floating lodge on the Mekong River near Kratie offers something genuinely different from the rest of Cambodia. The boat is moored close to the Irrawaddy dolphin habitat at Kampi, and early morning dolphin spotting excursions depart from the deck. Rooms are small but thoughtfully fitted, and the upper deck is a great place to watch river life go by. It attracts travelers who have already done Angkor and want something off the main circuit. Service is attentive and the food is fresh.

On the Kampot River in the old French colonial quarter, this small hotel by the Shinta Mani group combines good design with genuine social purpose through its hospitality training program. Rooms face the river and have a calm, carefully considered feel. The riverfront bar is one of the best places in Kampot for sundowners. Kayak and cycling rentals are easy to arrange through the front desk for trips to the pepper farms and cave temples nearby. Worth every dollar for the atmosphere and the cause.

Located in the quieter Wat Damnak neighborhood about 15 minutes from Angkor Wat, this boutique resort offers two pools and a yoga platform at a very reasonable rate. Rooms are spacious with proper air conditioning and tasteful Khmer design touches. The restaurant on site is genuinely good and skips the tourist-menu format. Staff go out of their way to arrange early morning temple runs. The garden setting makes it feel more expensive than it is.

This modern hotel on Monivong Boulevard is close to the Tonle Bassac restaurant strip and the National Museum of Cambodia. Rooms are well-appointed with good soundproofing for a city-center property. The rooftop pool offers a clear view over the capital. Business amenities are solid, making it popular with NGO workers and traveling professionals. Breakfast spread is one of the better ones in the mid-range category in Phnom Penh.

Positioned in the Sala Kamreuk area along the river road, this French colonial-style property is popular with couples and small groups. Rooms are large with polished wood floors and high ceilings that keep them cool. The pool courtyard is well-maintained and the restaurant serves decent Khmer and French-influenced food. It is within cycling distance of several Angkor temples and staff provide quality bicycle rentals. The colonial aesthetic is done with restraint rather than overkill.

Open since 1929 and sitting on the corner of Monivong and Street 92, this is the landmark hotel of Phnom Penh with a guest history that includes journalists, heads of state, and writers. The colonial architecture has been preserved through careful restoration and the property spans beautiful tropical gardens with two pools. Rooms are large and classically furnished without feeling outdated. The Elephant Bar is an institution in its own right and the spa is among the best in the country. A stay here is a genuine piece of Cambodian history.

Originally built as a royal guesthouse for King Sihanouk, Amansara on Road 6 near Angkor Wat is the most exclusive address in Cambodia. The 24 suites are enormous, each with a private pool, and the minimalist Khmer design is flawlessly executed. Private guided temple access at dawn is a core part of the experience and the difference from a public tour is night and day. The restaurant sources locally and the tasting menus are among the best food you will find in the country. This is one of the great hotel experiences in Southeast Asia.