Foodies are in their element in Phnom Penh because the Cambodian capital is packed full of restaurants serving up tastes from across the globe. And its Western offerings rank highly. Here are the 10 best Western restaurants in Phnom Penh.
For more than two decades, Topaz has been serving Phnom Penh with fine French cuisine, giving a creative modern flair. The menu features set lunch and dinner options, as well as a la carte dining. A Sunday brunch is also available, and the restaurant regularly hosts visiting from renowned international chefs to cook up a range of special menus in the kitchen. Encapsulating refined modern dining, Topaz is a top choice for elegant eating.
If you fancy a free-flow breakfast, wine and cheese, feasting on a weekend brunch, high tea or tucking into some fine French dining, then head straight to Khéma Pasteur. There is a second, newer location near to the Post Office. And it also houses a well-stocked wine cellar, with a selection of wines from across the globe.
The Foreign Correspondent Club Cambodia, known affectionately as FCC, is popular with tourists catching happy hour and sunset views from the colonial building’s balcony that overlooks the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers. FCC serves drinks and food throughout the day and night, with a fusion of Asian and Western dishes on the menu.
Following in the very successful footprints of Piccola Italia Da Luigi on Street 308, the owners have opened a second outlet in the form of Luigi’s, near Russian Market. While the authentic thin and crispy Italian pizzas that made Piccola famous are served, this spot also offers undoubtedly the capital’s finest freshly-made pasta and a range of other delicious Italian-inspired dishes.
Catering towards the swelling number of globetrotters that like to inject more healthy foods into their diets, Backyard Cafe offers a range of vegan, vegetarian and raw food options. Think quinoa, pumpkin and hummus salad, and a hearty earth bowl of lentil, roasted cauliflower, brown rice, roasted red peppers, pickled beetroot, guacamole, spinach and activated almonds.
This restaurant boasts a lush, leafy courtyard with a tractor, free range hens running about and potted plants for sale, giving it a farm-like edge and making it a great family escape within the city. As the brainchild of the team behind ARTillery, Farm to Table’s aim is to promote organic food and farming within Cambodia, boasting a range of healthy meals, as well as fruit and vegetable shakes.
This sophisticated setting – a converted colonial villa – is the perfect spot to enjoy a few evening cocktails or glasses of French wine with a meal. The open-air downstairs space is home to a bar and barbecue station, with the upstairs home to an outdoor terrace and indoor air-conditioned space. Meals span tapas dishes to main dishes, with the coq au vin highly recommended.
As the younger sister of Bangkok’s Oskar, Phnom Penh’s offering is a classy affair that welcomes the upper echelons of Khmer society. Boasting an expansive cocktail menu, food and tunes from resident and guest DJs, Oskar is often packed until closing time in the early hours. Its kitchen is open until midnight on weekdays and 1am at weekends.
This hip joint is a relatively recent addition to the capital, serving up a carefully chosen selection of dishes in an intimate but stylish setting. Creative options include eight-hour smoked pork belly, broccolini, smoked potato foam, tamarind sauce and pork crackling, cauliflower couscous and crab and shrimp ravioli.
Located in a stunning Art Deco building, Black Bambu is a restaurant with a heart. Serving as the final step in Cambodian Children’s Fund’s vocational training programme, the restaurant serves up an eclectic selection of creative tapas dishes and main courses. All profits are ploughed back into CCF’s work with underprivileged youth.
