Best Hotels in Phnom Penh

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Phnom Penh’s hotel scene has grown up considerably in recent years, with genuinely good options at every budget level, particularly along the riverside and in BKK1.

Luxury

International-brand riverside hotels and a handful of design-forward independent luxury properties define the top tier here, running $130-250/night — noticeably cheaper than comparable hotels in Bangkok or Singapore.

Mid-range

Boutique hotels in BKK1 and along the riverside, $30-70/night, are Phnom Penh’s strongest and most competitive tier, similar to Siem Reap’s boutique hotel scene.

Budget

Clean, well-reviewed guesthouses are widely available for $10-22/night, with hostel dorms from $4-9/night.

Choosing based on your priorities

Riverside hotels suit travelers prioritizing walkability to the Royal Palace and sightseeing; BKK1 properties suit those wanting a quieter stay with better cafes and a real cocktail scene nearby. See Where to Stay in Phnom Penh: Choosing Your Area for the fuller area breakdown.

Frequently asked questions

What’s the best hotel area in Phnom Penh?

Riverside for sightseeing convenience, BKK1 for a quieter, more residential stay with a strong food and bar scene.

Are Phnom Penh hotels good value?

Yes, generally — prices run similar to or below Siem Reap’s, with a comparably strong boutique hotel scene.

Should I book a riverside or BKK1 hotel in Phnom Penh?

Riverside if sightseeing convenience matters most; BKK1 if you’d rather have a quieter base with good cafes nearby.

Specific hotels worth booking

Luxury

Raffles Hotel Le Royal is Phnom Penh’s most iconic property, a colonial-era hotel dating to 1929 with a genuine sense of history, elegant rooms, and one of the city’s best pools — a landmark stay rather than just a place to sleep. Rosewood Phnom Penh, occupying the upper floors of the Vattanac Capital Tower, offers striking skyline views and a more contemporary luxury style. Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra, on the riverside, rounds out the top international-brand options with full resort amenities and a strong spa.

Mid-range and boutique

The Plantation – Urban Resort & Spa occupies a restored colonial building around a central pool courtyard, a genuinely peaceful spot given its central location. Pavilion Hotel and Villa Langka both offer similar boutique-in-a-restored-villa experiences at a lower price point, popular for their gardens and quiet courtyards despite being close to the action.

Budget

Onederz Hostel Phnom Penh and Mad Monkey Phnom Penh are the two most established hostel brands in the city, both with private room options, pools, and social common areas. Eighty8 Backpackers is a smaller, quieter alternative for travelers who want hostel pricing without as much of the party atmosphere.

As with any hotel recommendation, check current availability and recent reviews before booking — standards and pricing shift with the seasons.

Amenities worth checking for

Given Phnom Penh’s heat for most of the year, a genuinely good pool matters more here than at destinations with easy beach access nearby — check photos and recent reviews specifically for pool size and shade rather than assuming a small plunge pool will feel adequate after a day of sightseeing. Free breakfast, airport transfer, and late checkout are all common inclusions at the mid-range tier and above, worth factoring into a price comparison between similarly priced properties.

Booking timing

Phnom Penh sees less seasonal price swing than Siem Reap given its smaller reliance on leisure tourism relative to business and NGO travel — booking a week or two ahead is usually sufficient even in the November-February high season, with more flexibility than Angkor-adjacent hotels typically allow.

Related guides

• Best Riverside Hotels in Phnom Penh
• Best Budget Guesthouses in Phnom Penh
• Phnom Penh Hotel Prices: A Cost Guide
• Phnom Penh Nightlife Guide

More named hotels across Phnom Penh’s tiers

Raffles Hotel Le Royal, a historic colonial-era property near the city center, remains the benchmark for old-world luxury in Phnom Penh — its Elephant Bar alone is worth a visit even if you stay elsewhere, and rooms run $150-300+/night. Rosewood Phnom Penh, occupying the upper floors of the city’s tallest tower, offers striking skyline views and a more contemporary luxury feel at $180-350/night. For solid mid-range value, several BKK1 boutique hotels in the $40-70 range offer strong service and design without resort-scale pricing.

Eighty8 Backpackers stands out in the budget category specifically for its pool, a genuinely rare amenity at hostel price points ($5-8 dorms, $15-20 privates) — worth prioritizing over similarly priced options without one if a midday cooldown matters to your trip.

Matching a hotel choice to your itinerary

If Phnom Penh is a short 1-2 night stop en route between Siem Reap and the coast, a well-located riverside or BKK1 mid-range hotel makes the most sense — proximity to the main sights matters more than resort amenities you won’t have time to use. For a longer 3+ night stay, especially one built around relaxation rather than pure sightseeing, the extra cost of a property like Rosewood or Sofitel with real pool and spa facilities becomes easier to justify.

How to weigh brand-name hotels against independent boutique properties

International chain properties like Sofitel and Rosewood offer predictable service standards and loyalty program benefits familiar to frequent travelers, while independent boutique hotels often deliver more distinctive character and personal service at a comparable or lower price point — neither is objectively better, and the choice largely comes down to whether brand consistency or local character matters more for your particular trip.

A note on hotel gyms and fitness facilities

Larger properties like Sofitel and Rosewood maintain proper fitness centers, while smaller boutique hotels typically don’t — worth checking specifically if maintaining a workout routine matters during your stay, since Phnom Penh’s street-level running conditions (heat, uneven sidewalks, heavy traffic) make outdoor exercise less appealing than in many other cities.

How to weigh location against amenities when comparing these hotels

Riverside properties like Sofitel trade a slightly more central location for their premium pricing, while BKK1 boutique alternatives often deliver comparable or better amenities per dollar spent, at the cost of a short tuk-tuk ride to reach the main riverside sights — worth explicitly weighing which matters more for your specific trip rather than defaulting to whichever option ranks highest on a general “best hotels” list.

For a first Phnom Penh visit centered on sightseeing, the convenience of a riverside location often justifies its premium; for a return visit or a longer, more relaxation-focused stay, a BKK1 property’s better amenities-per-dollar frequently wins out.

Across every price tier covered here, Phnom Penh’s hotel scene has matured considerably in recent years, giving visitors genuinely strong options whether the priority is history, design, or straightforward value.