The Cardamom Hotel in Phnom Penh is centrally located near the central markets and opposite the wonderful Romdeng Hotel. The Deluxe double room number 609 (see below) is an excellent at $78 US a night.
It offers a room safe, fridge and tea making facilities. It also generally caters for groups.

A standard room (like 605 below) is $58US.

Breakfast is a buffet, offering a good range of options….

…including a combination of traditions such asFrench baguette, Khmer soup, tropical fruit and sweet sticky rice.

Overall it’s a good business hotel with free wifi and pretty good breakfast, a cafe and a handy location.

Well worth a visit, particularly for the colourful and lively fresh food section (still operating in the late afternoon). More open and airy than the Russian Market.

Upstairs, overlooking the river and across to the Foreign Correspondents Club is Touk Restaurant.

Good for happy hour it usually offers 4:30-7:30 pm 50% off Angkor draught beer and cocktails are $4.50 US per glass.

Not as atmoshpheric as the Foreign Correspondents’ Club and not as good for food as Romdeng, Friends or Mali’s, it is however good value and has a choice of western and Khmer food. It also has a great view at sunset.

Fish Amok $6                                                Fried rice

Duck salad with spicy herbs       Salmon fillet and green mango salad

Vegetarian pizza                                                  Lok Lak

Romdeng restaurant in Phnom Pehn is a perfect spot to try the Cambodian famous deep,fried tarantulas and dipping sauce.
The spicy peppery sauce is wonderful and the spiders are crispy and tasty.
The legs are not tough reminded me of well cooked pork crackling.
The body is soft and creamy and reminded me of smoked tinned oysters.

The Foreign Correspondents Club is a must do in Phnom Penh.

Go for two for one drinks at happy hour $3.40US for two gin and tonics, $4.95 US for two cocktails and watch the sun set over the Mekong while nibbling the complimentary hot roasted peanuts.

The pizzas also looked good if you’d like a little more.

The history and heritage is wonderful to share and the furnishings and views worth a visit in themselves.
Service however, is exceptionally slow, so,it’s good to have plenty of time.

You can also stay here in a standard room for $US 84…

….or a nicer deluxe room with river view balcony for $100US.

Near to the Russian Market is Jars of Clay Restaurant which is only 1 1/2 blocks down from the main gate on…. Clearly marked on lonely planets maps, turn right as you come out on Street 155.

The Lok Lak is exceptional and has a great flavour $4.75 US.

The Kmer chicken and fish curries $4.25 Us, are also good, a little like Penang curry but with pepper.

The Khmer beef stew also good very good. The bakery desserts also looked very good.

Ginger and lime juice.

Spring rolls

Very lovely clean bathrooms and a large roomy space to eat upstairs.

Staff are helpful and offer good service. Connected with an NGO helping disadvantaged women, it’s a good spot for lunch.

The Russian market is a $4 US taxi ride from central hotels, but worth a visit for gifts to take home like inexpensive jewellery, scarves, lacquer wear, and also clothes.
However it’s very hot inside even in November and can easily be hard going for non-shoppers.

Mr Bounnareth at ‘The best iced coffee in Phnom Penh’ is lovely to meet. Larger than life, he enjoys a photo and having fun with customers. He is also honest and caring and advised us against having the ice when we checked. The iced coffee was great and the whole experience a lot of fun, but boy that coffee would have been great with ice.