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Where to Eat & Drink in Siem Reap: The Ultimate Food Guide (From Street Food to Fine Dining)

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Siem Reap isn’t just the gateway to Angkor Wat, it’s one of Southeast Asia’s most exciting food scenes right now. From $1 street food and authentic Khmer kitchens to world-class fine dining and aesthetic brunch cafés. Whether you’re a backpacker, foodie, or somewhere in between, you’ll find your new favourite spots right here.

Siem Reap completely surprised me when it comes to food. I expected a few good Khmer spots and some backpacker cafés… but what I found instead was a seriously good food scene. Think beautiful Khmer tasting menus, cozy brunch cafés, street side BBQs, and some of the best value-for-money dining I’ve had anywhere.

Many people come to Siem Reap and have all of their meals along the famous Pub street or close to the Old market, but I’m here to say that that’s a big mistake. Your’e missing out big time. The best places are located a short walk or tuk-tuk ride away from the crowds and often hidden in cute alleyways or more remote streets.

So if you want some proper good food while visiting Siem Reap, this is your go-to guide for the best places to eat in Siem Reap, whether you’re craving authentic Khmer food, aesthetic brunch spots, or a fancy date-night dinner.

Best Local Khmer Restaurants

If you want to experience Cambodia properly, start here. If you haven't yet tried the Cambodian kitchen it’s time to give it a try. I’m pretty sure you’ll find something you truly like. There are so many amazing spots to choose from in Siem Reap, but below are my favourites. Some of the local dishes you might want to look for are fish amok, beef Lok lak and some of their amazing curries.

The Tevy’s place

This place has some truly delicious food. Every time we came here it was packed with people which is saying something. They have a huge variety of local khmer food, but also some other cuisines that are prepared equally well. Prices are very decent and the food delicious. I can't say it’s a specifically charming place in itself, but if you come for good and affordable local food I highly recommend going here. It’s also run by the cutest local lady, so you know you’re supporting local families when eating, which I think is a huge bonus.

Amazing food in Siem Reap
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The Sugar Palm

This place has a mix of Khmer and international influences, and all is done really well. It’s located a bit outside the city centre, but well worth the walk or drive. They serve up delicious local food and my personal favourites are their curries. It’s absolutely delicious!

Activities
Want to try some amazing local food?

I highly recommend this food tour around Siem Reap where you get to try plenty of local dishes.

Sambo Khmer & Thai Restaurant

Absolutely delicious food! They have a variety of local Cambodian food as well as a good selection of Thai specialties. It’s simple, affordable, and consistently good as well as set in a quite charming restaurant. We came back multiple times and were never disappointed!

It’s a family run establishment which is a huge plus in my book. And the family who owns it are genuinely some of the sweetest people. I highly recommend coming here!

Best food in Siem Reap

Khmer Kitchen Restaurant

This is one I actually never made it to. However, I got this place recommended by so many people so I’m still adding it here so you can choose to visit if you want. It’s close to pub street, but still not supposed to be like most of the other restaurants along pub street. I’ve heard they do the local dishes like fish amok and beef lok lak exceptionally well.

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Chanrey Tree

This is a favourite among those who want something local but a bit more polished. However it’s still very affordable. It’s set in a beautiful traditional house that makes it feel like you’re invited into someone's home. The food is delicious and it feels like one of those places where dinner turns into a full evening.

Roadside BBQ Stalls

If you walk up the main road in the evening, you’ll quickly see lots of BBQ stalls popping up everywhere. They have tiny plastic chairs, smoky grills, and menus with pretty much everything you can think to grill. You just order what you want to grill and do it yourself at the table. You’ll see more locals than tourists here which is always good sign. It feels real, unfiltered, and completely different from restaurant dining.

There are many too choose from, but I recommend heading to the one called 7Makara Charcoal BBQ.

Local BBQ in Siem Reap

Best Fine Dining in Siem Reap

Yes, Siem Reap has a seriously impressive fine dining scene. We’re still keeping the cuisine local, but the setting and price tag is a bit more luxurious than the previous options. If you want to eat at any of the spots below, I highly recommend making a dinner reservation in advance.

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Malis Siem Reap

This is Khmer cuisine elevated. Malis takes traditional recipes and turns them into something truly special without losing authenticity.

The setting is beautiful, the menu is classic but elevated, and it’s perfect if you want something a little special without going full fine dining. Think fish amok, but done really well.

Amazing food in Siem Reap

Cuisine Wat Damnak

This restaurant has been recognised as one of the best in Cambodia and even made it onto Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list. So if you want to experience Khmer food at its absolute best, this is the place.

The menu changes regularly, based on local ingredients, and every dish tells a story. It felt thoughtful, creative, but never overcomplicated.

Best food in Siem Reap

Embassy Restaurant

I unfortunately never made it here, but I truly wish I had. This place is run by the famous Kimsan Twins, and is supposed to be refined Khmer dining at its best. They serve a khmer tasting menu and is the kind of place you go when you truly want to treat yourself.

Best Worldwide Cuisine Restaurants

If you’ve bee travelling for a long time and just need a break from Asian cuisine, or if you've tried the local food and it just wasn’t your thing (it’s allowed), then Siem Reap have multiple spots for you too choose from as well.

Elia Greek Kitchen

Elia is a pretty popular spot and I have to admit I was a bit skeptical at first. How good can greek food be in Cambodia? The answer is, really good. They have all kinds of traditional Greek food for reasonable prices and it tastes absolutely amazing. We actually ended up coming back a couple of times when we just wanted a comfort meal that felt a bit more familiar.

Best food in Siem Reap
Best food in Siem Reap
Best food in Siem Reap

Fellini Siem Reap

If you’re craving Italian food, this is the spot. We came here on our last day in Siem Reap and I honestly wish I'd tried it earlier, because I want to go back and have more. They have wood-fired pizzas that honestly taste like they're straight out of Napoli as well as really good pasta. The atmosphere here is also perfect for a relaxed dinner, and they have a huge backyard so it's perfect if you're a bigger group looking for a place to eat together.

Best food in Siem Reap
Best food in Siem Reap
Best food in Siem Reap

Chubby Gonzo’s

This is a cute little spot in between the market stalls behind Pub street. They have a small and easy Mexican menu consisting of only tacos, but some truly good tacos. The prices are very reasonable as well. You can get 3 tacos and a beer for only 7$. If you’re craving some Mexican food this is the best spot in town in my opinion!

Best food in Siem Reap

The Lost City Pizza

This is another spot we kept coming back to. The pizza here is a bit different than most other places we've been, meaning that the assortment of toppings aren't what you usually think of, but still so good. It might be because the owner is originally from Texas and not Italy.

This also means they have a huge Texas BBQ night once a week, which I highly recommend. The atmosphere is really cozy and the drinks very good. It's a place you can come and hang out and just grab a drink without eating as well.

Best food in Siem Reap

WILD

I’ve never actually been to a place like this before. The only thing they have on their menu are spring rolls, and not just ordinary spring rolls. They do spring rolls with local and asian flavours, but also spring rolls with amongst others Mexican and Italian tastes. It was all really good. The vibe of the place is really nice tucked away in a cute garden. They also do some of the best and most creative drinks we had in Siem Reap, so even if you don't want spring rolls, I recommend coming here for a drink at some point.

Best food in Siem Reap

Jungle Burger Sports Bar

I don't often visit sports bars on my trips, but every time I walked past this one it was packed, so I had to try it. People weren't lying, the food was absolutely delicious and there is so much to choose from it was hard to pick. We tried a coupe of different burgers, but they pretty much have all kinds of comfort food you can imagine. So if you're looking for a sports bar with really good food, look no further.

Best food in Siem Reap

Best Breakfast & Lunch Spots

A lot has happened since my first visit to Siem Reap 12 years ago. One of those things is the influx of more digital nomads and with that, some pretty nice brunch spots and cafes. These are some spots we loved for grabbing breakfast on a slow day or taking a nice lunch after temple hopping.

Nomad Eatery

A short drive outside the city centre you’ll find this spot with so many good options for breakfast and lunch. They have everything from omelettes, salads, pitas and sandwiches. A nice thing about it is that you can make your own variant of every dish so you'll definitely find something you like. They also have social activities every evening. I didn’t try any of it, but it's always good to know if you want to have a place to hang out in the evening.

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Sister Srey Café

This is a really cute breakfast or lunch spot in the city centre! It’s western food, but done really well. We came a couple of times for breakfast or a cup of coffee and was never disappointed. Another amazing thing about this place is that all profits go directly to help the APOPO hero rats that search for and clear landmines from the war.

Best food in Siem Reap

The Little Red Fox Espresso

This is another one we kept coming back to. It’s quit small, but we always found a place to sit. It was the perfect spot to come in for lunch after exploring the temples. My favourite became one of the chicken bowls, which was absolutely delicious.

Best food in Siem Reap

Common Grounds Cafe

We came here after temple hopping one day and had such an amazing meal. They have everything from fruit bowls, to sandwiches and pasta. Our group tried a bit of everything and we all loved it. It’s a bit bigger than the two mentioned above, so if you’re a bigger group this place might be easier to get a table at.

Best food in Siem Reap

New York Bagel

I spontaneously stopped her one day I was craving bagels, and it was such a good decision. We tried a couple different ones and they were all really good. They have plenty of options and it's a perfect spot to grab some food on the go, or grab some lunch to bring with you on temple hopping days.

Best food in Siem Reap
Best food in Siem Reap
Best food in Siem Reap

Best Places to Grab a Drink in Siem Reap

In addition to the places I've already mentioned above that have great cocktails, here are some places that we kept coming back to just for a drink or a glass of wine.

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Asana Old Wooden House

This is such a charming spot tucked away in an alley not far from Pub street, but with a completely different vibe. If you just want to relax and grab a drink this is the spot!

It’s a traditional khmer house on stilts which they have turned into a bar. It’s very unique and charming. They have hammocks, or hanging sofas from the roof in addition to normal tables. I loved having one of their really good drinks while relaxing in the hanging sofabed.

Best bars in Siem Reap

Miss Wong

Miss Wong both have a spot in Siem Reap and in Battambang. When we visited Siem Reap they had closed for Khmer New Years celebration, and were closed for a while longer than other places so we never got to try it here. However, we did visit the bar in Battambang and it was everything I hoped it would be. Super cozy with lots of great drinks. So even if I didn't get to try the one in Siem Reap, I assume it's equally good as the one in Battambang.

Miss Wong in Battambang

Silk Garden

Right next to the Asana Wooden House you’ll find another great spot called Silk Garden. When you walk past you’ll probably only notice the bar and the pool table and think it’s quite like most other places, but if you go upstairs you'll find somme really nice sofa beds to relax in. It's a bit more social and lively than the previous one, but you choose if you want the relaxed part upstairs or the more social vibes with pool tables downstairs.

Best bars in Siem Reap

Laundry Bar

If you want a bit more lively vibe this is a great spot. We came her a couple of times and it was always packed with people grabbing a drink and talking to other travellers. If you’re travelling solo this is a great spot to meet new people.

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What are the Best Areas to Stay in Siem Reap?

Here is a quick overview of the best neighbourhoods to consider when deciding where to stay in Siem Reap.

Siem Reap is relatively compact, so you don't necessarily need to stay right beside every attraction. Tuk-tuks make it easy to get around, and most visitors will arrange transport to Angkor Archaeological Park regardless of where their hotel is located. I would choose your area based on how you want your evenings to feel rather than simply looking for the hotel closest to the temples.

Below you’ll see my three favourite hotels that I recommend checking out first. This is my personal favourite, and I highly recommend staying there if you want a peaceful place to stay in Siem Reap.

Viroth's Hotel
Viroth's Hotel

This is the definition of boutique perfection with mid-century design, tropical landscaping and an iconic pool. It feels stylish without trying too hard and somehow every detail just works.

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Zannier Phum Baitang
Zannier Phum Baitang

This hotel offers a different kind of luxury stay, with traditional Khmer-inspired villas set among rice paddies and lush tropical gardens. The property feels more like a peaceful countryside retreat than a conventional city hotel, with a beautiful pool, spa and plenty of space to slow down.

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Khmer House Resort
Khmer House Resort

This is a great option if you want a tropical atmosphere without paying luxury-resort prices. The property has swimming pools, spacious rooms and traditional Khmer-inspired details, creating a relaxed setting away from the busiest parts of town.

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Map of the Best Hotels in Siem Reap

Below you'll find a map where I've pinned my favourite hotels in Siem Reap to make it easier for you to navigate when you're looking for where you want to base yourself.

Plan Your Trip to Siem Reap

Hopefully this guide has given you everything you need to plan where to eat in Siem Reap. To make planning the rest of your trip even easier, I've included all the resources I personally use when I travel.

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Every recommendation is based on tools and services I genuinely use and would recommend to friends and family.

By using these links you help me continue to create free travel guides like this one.

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If you have any questions about travel in Cambodia, or just want to follow along as I travel the world full time, don‘t hesitate to reach out to me on social media.

I would love to connect and help out!

-Ingrid

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