About
My name is Stephanie, and my story with Phnom Penh is not a recent one. My parents were born in Phnom Penh. They fled the country during the Khmer Rouge period. I grew up with their stories, their memories, their culture... and very early on, during family trips, I developed a deep attachment to my parents' country. Since the early 2000s, I have seen Cambodia—and especially Phnom Penh—transform at an extraordinary pace. Today, I have been living between Paris and Phnom Penh, mainly in the BKK district, for more than five years. Each time I visit, I explore the city like a local: I try out new cafes, restaurants, places to hang out, neighborhoods, markets, and local activities. This site is my personal journal. All the places I recommend here have been tested by me, at different times of the year, in the real everyday life of a resident. You will find my photos, useful tips, preferences, and sometimes even the tables I recommend. Phnom Penh is not just a stopover on the way to the temples of Angkor. It is a fascinating city where tradition and modernity constantly coexist. In the morning, monks walk the streets collecting offerings. In the evening, young people gather in trendy cafes, rooftop bars, and creative restaurants. I experience this unique energy every time I visit. With a mostly young population and rapid growth since the 2000s, Phnom Penh is a fast-changing capital city that never ceases to surprise. But exploring the city without any reference points can be confusing: heat, traffic, unusable sidewalks, neighborhoods that are very different from one another... It's easy to miss the best places. That's exactly why I created this guide. To save you time, avoid tourist traps, and help you find places that are really worth visiting—whether for dining, going out, walking around, or simply soaking up the city's atmosphere. Here you'll find my favorite restaurants and cafés, as well as useful tips for getting the most out of Phnom Penh. And to extend the experience beyond these places, I'm also sharing a selection of Khmer literature to help you better understand the soul of the country. Welcome to my Phnom Penh.