Our guide to Cambodia’s up-and-coming creative hub
Shop – Dorsu
Bringing together elegant design and ethical production at their in-house studio in Kampot, Dorsu’s sustainable supply chain serves as a fierce condemnation of the disposable, consumerist culture that drives Cambodia’s dominant garment industry. Working only with fabric deemed unusable by the brands that rely on the Kingdom’s garment factories to meet their customers’ demands, Dorsu promises exclusively designed collections for travellers hoping to find pieces that endure long after they’ve returned home from their journey.
Visit: dorsu.org
Eat – Café Espresso
An Australian-style café and coffee roaster, Café Espresso offers weary wayfarers a much-needed taste of home – and for those who have made the Friday night trek from the grinding chaos of Phnom Penh, there’s no better way to kick off a weekend getaway. With locally sourced beans freshly ground for each sip of coffee and a range of breakfast stalwarts and lunchtime specials, Café Espresso’s cosy hipster vibe provides the perfect surrounds for a morning whiled away with a laptop, a mug of pour-over and a plate of poached eggs and corn cakes scraped clean.
Visit: espressokampot.blogspot.com
Drink – Greenhouse
Curled on the shores of Kampot’s main river, GreenHouse has quite literally come a long way since its former life as Phnom Penh institution Snowy’s Bar. The popular spot was uprooted from its home on the banks of the Tonle Sap and trucked piece-by-piece to the outskirts of Kampot. A favourite haunt of locals and travellers alike, GreenHouse’s laid-back charm and stunning sunset vista make it an ideal place to kick back with a Kampot pepper cocktail and let the river’s song wash over you.
Visit: greenhousekampot.com
Explore – Bokor Mountain
From late King Norodom Sihanouk’s summer residence to a French colonial hill resort, Bokor Mountain’s charm and tranquillity have enchanted visitors for generations. Although time and the Kingdom’s changing fortunes have robbed Bokor of some of its solitude, the mountain remains a must-see for any traveller keen to visit the haunting remains of the now-deserted Bokor Mountain Hill Station. Visitors bold enough to take a motorbike up the slopes are advised to pay a visit to the towering shrine to local goddess Yeay Mao, who watches over travellers all across Cambodia.
Sleep – Rikitikitavi
Set snugly in the bend of the Teuk Chhu river, this boutique hotel, restaurant and rooftop bar offers an unparalleled view of the serene listlessness of Kampot by night. The intimate rooms break from the hotel’s rustic chic style and are decorated in an unpretentious Asian fashion perfect for travellers craving comfort and simplicity. For those feeling peckish before happy hour, which kicks off at sunset, Rikitikitavi offers a welcome blend of Western and Khmer food rich with Kampot’s signature pepper.
Visit: rikitikitavi-kampot.com
