Phnom Penh stands on the Mekong at its conflux with the Tonle Sap, a view that is sweetly framed from your balcony at Amanjaya Pancam, with bustling Sisowath Quay - La Croisette of Indochina - stretching south before you. It is a lively spot in the middle of a happening town, with the dazzling Royal Palace a short stroll west and a host of good restaurants on your doorstep.
As for Amanjaya Pancam, this small and lively city hotel delivers exactly what you’d want of it: heaps of comfort, an easy style, good food and drink and excellent service. There’s a big restaurant downstairs, a rooftop bar with stunning views and an enticing cocktail menu, and 21 excellent rooms and suites that offer really good value for money. All come with fancy bathrooms, spacious sitting areas, comfortable kingsize beds and French windows that open onto splendid balconies. Wander the streets outside and find bars, markets, museums and temples. A stylish little hotel in the heart of a vibrant city.
Highs
- Fantastic location, within walking distance of many attractions and restaurants
- The grand suites with their sparkling bathrooms are great value for money
- Spectacular views of the Tonle Sap and the Mekong from your balcony, plus some rooms overlook Wat Ounalom
- This is an exciting town, very much in its ascendancy, and there’s lots to do
- The staff go the extra mile
Lows
- Some noise floats up from the street; go for rooms on the upper floors
- Watch out for slippery wood floors when you get out of the bath!
- There isn't a vast choice of Western options for breakfast
- Being so close to the water means mosquitos can sometimes be a problem, but the hotel will provide spray on request
Best time to go
The rainy seasons runs from May to October, with September and October seeing most of the rain. February-June is the hottest time. January and February are the driest months. November to January is the coolest time of year, but temperatures can easily reach 30 degrees.
Our top tips
Take a motorbike tour around town and experience the frenetic pace of life in Phnom Penh. Vast portraits of the royals are everywhere and there's no such thing as a Highway Code - it's pretty exhilarating.
- Boutique Hotel
- 21 rooms
- Restaurant + bar (open daily)
- All ages welcome
- Open all year
- Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car not necessary
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Concierge Service
- Car and driver service
- Massages available
Rooms
The 21 suites offer loads of space to hide the usual accouterments of travel. Excellent bathrooms with separate showers are a real treat, too.
The rooms are split over 3 floors, so if you want to avoid the noise of the street, try to book one higher up the ladder. They are all pretty much identical in design, the only difference being size. There are 3 huge Executive Suites, and 3 Panoramic Suites on the curve of the building with long wraparound balconies, but we stayed in one of the 12 Junior Suites and thought it something of a palace, so don’t feel you need to splash out to get what you want. All rooms, including the 3 small Deluxe Rooms, have balconies with super views of the river.
You get pressed rosewood floors, brilliant white walls, desks, TVs and minibars hidden away in pretty cabinets. There are chunky wooden sofas and armchairs, silky curtains and contemporary oils. Beds are wrapped in crisp white linen and turned down for you at night. Bathrooms are also big. They come with rather fancy Terrazzo baths and separate power showers. Robes and slippers, air con and bowls of fruit are the finishing touches. Excellent.
Features include:
- Bathrobes
- Hairdryer
- Minibar
- WiFi
Eating
Sombok restaurant, located on the ground floor, overlooks the river. Breakfast is served here from a menu of bacon and eggs, or noodle soups if you're willing to try something more traditional. For lunch and dinner, dining is formal and the menu focuses on Khmer cuisine. Dishes are all beautifully presented and might include scallops wrapped in salmon, or Wagyu beef steak.
The hotel’s gem, however, is the rooftop bar - Le Moon. It serves an enticing range of finger food, sharing boards and light dinner dishes, as well as offers an exceptional cocktail menu which is the perfect antidote to a day exploring the city in the heat.
Spin around the city and you'll find some more stylish restaurants serving great Khmer food. Best of the lot is Malis, where you either eat around an extremely pretty ornamental pond or trade the view for air con on the first floor. If you head off to see Wat Phnom (a temple on Phnom Penh’s only hill), drop into Raffles on your way back for a cocktail in the Elephant Bar; live piano music plays at night.
Features include:
- Breakfast
- Restaurant
- Restaurants nearby
- Vegetarian options
Activities
- Visit Wat Ounalom, 50 paces from the front door. One of Buddha’s eyebrows is stored in a stupa here!
- The Royal Palace is a must-see for its tumbling golden roofs and well-kept gardens. It dates to 1866 (and replaced the original of 1434) and highlights include the Throne Room, the Silver Pagoda and a 17th-century emerald Buddha. Visitors must dress conservatively
- Pay your respects at S-21, also known as Tuol Sleng. This erstwhile high school has a bloody past as the prison where the Khmer Rouge tortured many of its inmates before sending those who survived to their death in the Killing Fields. It’s not a happy place, but it is an important one, and it survives pretty much as it was 30 years ago
- Take a tuk-tuk to the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek. Just 14km southwest of the town, this was the final resting place of S-21’s prisoners. 17,000 people died here and you'll see mass graves plus a memorial tower filled with skulls. It's a shocking reminder of Pol-Pot's regime and well worth going to
- Visit the Russian Market. Not a place to pick up an AK-47, but just about everything else you can think of. Hardcore shoppers will love it
- Don't miss the National Museum for its fine collection of Khmer sculpture and friezes and its magnificent terracotta exterior
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Historical sites
- Museums / galleries
- Nightlife
- Shopping / markets
- Traditional cultures
Kids
Children are welcome and will enjoy exploring such a fascinating city and exotic culture. Extra beds and cots are available.
Family friendly accommodation:
The Executive Suites and the Junior Suites have space for an extra bed.
Cots Available, Extra Beds Available
Baby equipment:
Baby cots available on request
Remember baby and child equipment may be limited or need pre-booking
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
Amanjaya Pancam is situated on the Sisowath Quay in the northeast of Phnom Penh. It's a 5-minute walk from the National Musuem and a 10-min walk from the Royal Palace.
By Air:
Most neighbouring countries have direct flights into Phnom Penh (12km) and a few from further afield. Please click on the links below for airline information.
From the Airport
Book an airport transfer. Taxis are not always reliable.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.
More on getting to Cambodia and getting around
Airports:
- Phnom Penh International 12.0 km PNH
Other:
- Beach 230.0 km
- Shops 0.5 km
- Restaurant 1.0 km