Once in Phnom Penh Sisowath Quay is hard to miss as it is the most prominent road bordered by a promenade that runs along the west bank of the Tonle Sap River. The 3 km length of the road is lined with hotels, bars, restaurants, cafes and shops that attract a crowd during most times of the day. The promenade alongside Sisowath Quay is a wide paved palm tree lined walkway which is a good place to take stroll or to relax in at any time of day.
Starting from around the royal palace park, Sisowath Quay goes past Veal Preah Man Park, several temples including Wat Ounalom, restaurants, bars, hotels, guest houses, a night market, art galleries, silk and souvenir shops, massage places, internet cafes and a host of other businesses and landmarks. The National Museum just off Sisowath Quay is a good place to visit to view Khmer art and artefacts. Many buildings along the quay hark back to the country’s colonial past and the Foreign Correspondents Club, a city institution, is located in one of these. It is a favourite of both locals and visitors who go there to sample traditional Khmer and western cuisines and inventive beverages served at its horse shoe shaped bar. Streets 178 and 240 that lead off Sisowath Quay are said to provide some of the best shopping in the city and the Artist Street is the place to visit to buy work by local artists.
The pace picks up on Sisowath Quay when the sun goes down. Crowds gravitate there to enjoy line dancing to rousing music, release caged birds to gain merit or dispel bad luck, get fortunes told and to go to the many night clubs and themed bars to enjoy a meal, dance or to simply people watch.
Stay at the Raffles Hotel Le Royal, a famed Phnom Penh hotel that has been providing the highest standards of hospitality in the city since the 1920s. Enjoy spacious, beautifully appointed contemporary rooms and suites, Royal Cambodian, French, European and Asian cuisines served in its elegant restaurants. Sampling cocktails at the hotel, Elephant Bar is a must for guests. Take advantage of the special packages and offers to enjoy the amenities and facilities of this hotel Phnom Penh.
