Siem Reap wakes up around 7 p.m. near Pub Street. Phnom Penh is brasher, more local, more authentic. Dollar beers, honest cocktails, and a few spots worth hunting down.
Pub Street for the atmosphere, the adjacent streets for the best spots, the night market for street food. Bars with live Khmer music, cocktails worth trying, and spots to avoid.
See the guide →BKK1 for trendy bars, Sisowath Quay for a Mekong vibe, Street 308 for locals. Rooftops, clubs after midnight, and the Kanika sunset cruise before the night begins.
See the guide →Grab (the equivalent of Uber) operates in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap until late. Avoid street-hailing tuk-tuks after midnight, especially if you've been drinking. Agree on the price before getting in.
Snatch-theft (grab-and-go from a motorcycle): do not take out your phone or handbag on the street at night. Keep documents and cash limited on your person.
Drug use is severely punished in Cambodia, including for foreigners. Police checkpoints exist. Never accept substances from strangers — fines and imprisonment are real consequences.
The Kanika sunset cruise on the Mekong in Phnom Penh — the best appetizer before a night out in the city.
