5 Best Restaurants in Cambodia

Cuisine Wat Damnak offers a unique journey for the taste buds with its five- or six-course set menus (changing every fortnight). Beyond the sophisticated indoor sala and romantic garden, the concept here is Cambodian food remodeled into creative modern dishes by French chef Joannes Riviere, whose knowledge of the area allows him to source rare ingredients such as shellfish unique to the Mekong and Tonle Sap lake, fresh lotus seeds, wild lily stems, and edible flowers.

If you're interested in learning more about Riviere's culinary philosophy and techniques, you can buy a copy of his cookbook here.

Built in 1903, Chinese House (home to Tepui) is among the few colonial houses in Phnom Penh that remains in its original state. An impressive painting of a Chinese girl with ruby-red lips is the centerpiece in this sophisticated restaurant serving South American and Asian-fusion dishes, with specialties such as corn empanadas filled with beef picadillo and goat cheese cream, or red tuna tartare with wasabi emulsion. There is a lively bar on the ground floor.

Ideal for a romantic garden dinner, Abacus offers an eclectic choice of French-international fusion cuisine. The restaurant also has a pleasant bar that welcomes guests for an aperitif or an after-dinner digestif.

In the elegant setting of the beautifully restored 1880s Indochina Bank Building, next to the historical main post office, you can dine on exquisite French cuisine. The roof terrace above the restaurant has a swanky cocktail bar-lounge.

The first-class French specialties at this fine restaurant make it a longtime Phnom Penh favorite. Imported cuts of beef from Cape Grim in Tasmania and other highest-quality ingredients cooked to perfection mean that Topaz remains one of the most feted places to dine in the city, a great choice for an intimate meal.