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| Photo source: Thecambodiaherald |
There's no fear of alcohol supplies in Phnom Penh dying up any time soon with the capital's streets crammed full of places to quench the thirst. Here, we take a look at how to make the most out of the vast array of bars, which range from the super-cheap to the super-swanky, depending on your budget.
Budget Boozing
If you want to swig a few beers while saving a few bucks then head join the locals at one of the stylish, draught beers of Angkor, Anchor (pronounced an-chaw) and Cambodia Beer go for as little as $0.50 a glass or $2 a jug. Be warned Cambodians love to embark on a lively round of "chul mouys" (that's cheers to you and me) before every single sip, which can make drinking a fun but lengthy - and rowdy - affair.
Another place to bag a booze-fuelled bargain is Street 172. Since the lakeside area of Boeung Kak - a budget traveller hotspot - closed for development, this area has taken over the mantle as a popular backpacker destination. The lively strip is home to a host of bustling bars, all offering cheap beer and other drinks. Make sure you stop off at Sundance Saloon, on the same street. Set in backpackers paradise, it is the perfect spot to start your night. With a spacious wooden-floor bar serving up a range of drinks from all the usual beers and cocktails to spirits, mixers and wine.
The Riverside is also home to several cut-price places, which often sit right next door to their more upmarket cousins. Kandal House is a popular choice, with their all day happy hour draught beer at just $0.75 a glass.
If you dream of sipping cocktails in the sumptuous surroundings of a five-star hotel or chick bar but don't have the wallet to match, then don't worry because Phnom Penh is the land of dreams. Happy hour places the exclusive Elephant Bar at the upscale Raffles Hotel Le Royal on the affordable list, with special deals 4pm and 9pm daily.
indeed the sundown tradition is popular across the capital, with many other venus boasting cut-price cocktails and beers. Street 278 to the south west of Independence Monument is another popular drinking area, boasting a mix of budget place with more mid-range drinking spots. Top Banana is popular backpackers and tourists, as are popular watering holes such as Equinox and Liquid. Both also heavily serve the expat market, with Equinox often playing host to live music in its upstairs room.
Midrange Option
Other mid-range venues where draught beers will cost about $1.50, a glass of wine about $3.50 to $5 and a cocktail $3.50 to $5, include Score sports bar on St 282, where sports fan can catch the match, game or fight on the huge screen that sits to the front the large indoor area. The French run Dodo Rhum House is another fairly priced option, as well as claiming the title of the world's best Rhum bar, serving a selection of flavoured rums, such as passion fruit, chocolate and prune, and its signature Ti punch.
KWest boasts a lively bar scene during the evening with its top riverside location adding to its popularity. The expert bar team is renowned for mixing mixing delicious cocktails and there's varied selection of wines. The atmosphere is casual.
To experience the higher end of ale drinking, state of the art Himawari Microbrewery is the first and only microbrewery launched in a hotel in Cambodia. The beers, which are all crafted onsite, start at $7 for a pint, with Master Brewer Neo Say Wee's ensuring his four different brews with quench the thirst of every customer.
For Wine Lovers
Adding to Phnom Penh's drinking scene is the steadily growing number of venues catering for the more upmarket drinkers. In recent months, the city's well-established wine bars have been joined by a crowd of new operators all clamouring to the cater for lovers of the vine. With glasses starting at around $3.50 and going up to above $20 in some bars, flavours from across the world can now be found right here in Cambodia.
The Red Apron on St 240 is a staple in the market and is planted firmly on the map of Phnom Penh wine lovers. Starting life solely as wine shop in 2004, it quickly grew into a bar and diner, with a comfortable lounge to sit back and enjoy a glass of your favorite wine accompanied by a plate of cheese.
Bouchon on St 246 also boasts a healthy selection of French wines, mostly from Bordeaux, to accompany a menu with French flair. Zino on St 294 has rapidly risen to the top and is often filled with locals, expats and tourists enjoying a glass of fine wine alongside something off the Mediterranean menu.
Fox Wine Bistro has proved a hit with locals and foreigners alike since opening in mid-2013. With a contemporary interior, this chic Sothearos Blvd venue offers a sophisticated setting to enjoy a glass or two with friends.
Cocktail Hour
Phnom Penh isn't short of places to enjoy a cocktail with a view and Eclipse Sky Bar is one of them. Although this can come at a price, with cocktails starting at $5, watching the sun set over the city from the city's tallest building is well worth splashing your cash on.
The Frangipani chain of boutique hotels also offers a delectable duo of rooftop bars, one at it's Royal Palace Hotel on St 178, near the national museum, and the other at its Living Arts Hotel on St 123 near the Russian market.
Other popular places to enjoy a cocktail include Le Moon on the rooftop of Amanjaya Pancam Hotel, which was first open terrace facing riverside life of Phnom Penh. It offers a superb view of the wide Sisowath junction and cross the convergence of the Tonle Sap and Mekong rivers. Neighboring Frangipani on top of Bougainvillier Hotel is another venue to enjoy stiff cocktails while watching boat cruising down the river .
The Riverside is also home to several upscale drinking spots, including the stylish Cafe Metro. Its sister restaurant and bar Rahu, which sits on the same strip, offers a selection of great cocktails and wines by the glass in classy evening lounge atmosphere.
The newly opened Templar Cocktail band Wine bar is likewise located on the Riverside. It boasts an extensive drinks menu, perfect for those with a taste for quality whiskies and cocktails. Nearby, the Riverhouse is a longstanding feature of the riverfront offers an elegant setting in which to enjoy a cold beer, glass of wine or a cocktail while watching the world go by.
Updated: October 2015 Source: POCKETGUIDECAMBODIA
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