Best Breakfast and Brunch Places in Phnom Penh for a Slow Morning

Intro

If you are looking for the best breakfast and brunch places in Phnom Penh, you will find that the city has quietly become one of Southeast Asia's most exciting morning food scenes. I have spent years wandering the streets of Phnom Penh before the midday heat sets in, chasing strong coffee, fresh baguettes, and the kind of slow, unhurried mornings that this city does better than almost anywhere else. What follows is a personal guide to the spots I keep returning to, the ones that feel like they belong to the neighborhood rather than to some global template. These are places where the owners know your name by the third visit, where the coffee is pulled with care, and where breakfast is not an afterthought but the main event.

Morning Cafes Phnom Penh: The French Quarter Awakens

Phnom Penh's relationship with breakfast is deeply tied to its colonial past, and nowhere is that more evident than along Street 240 and the surrounding streets near the Royal Palace. The French left behind a love of butter, bread, and strong coffee, and the morning cafes Phnom Penh has built around that legacy are some of the best in the city.

Feel Good Coffee and Bakery

Tucked into a small shop house on Street 240, just a short walk from the Independence Monument, Feel Good Coffee and Bakery is the kind of place that makes you want to cancel your morning plans and stay for a second coffee. The space is compact, with a few tables inside and a couple more on the narrow sidewalk, but it fills up fast on weekends. Their croissants are flaky and buttery, baked fresh each morning, and the avocado toast comes piled high with a chili-lime dressing that gives it a distinctly Cambodian twist. I usually order the eggs Benedict on weekends when they have the hollandaise made from scratch, which is richer and tangier than what you will find at most places in town. The best time to go is before 8:30 AM on a weekday, before the expat crowd arrives and the wait stretches past twenty minutes. Most tourists walk right past this place because the signage is small and easy to miss, but it has been a neighborhood staple for years. One thing to know: the Wi-Fi signal drops out near the back corner, so if you are planning to work, grab a seat closer to the front window.

Brown Coffee

Brown Coffee is practically a household name in Cambodia, but the branch on Street 240 has a particular energy in the morning that sets it apart from the others. The space is spread across multiple floors, with a rooftop terrace that catches the early breeze before the city heats up. Their iced latte with condensed milk is the default order for half the city, but I prefer their pour-over single origin, which they rotate seasonally. The breakfast menu is more extensive than you might expect, with a solid eggs Florentine and a banana pancake stack that is genuinely worth the calories. Weekday mornings are quieter, and you can usually snag a table on the second floor without waiting. What most visitors do not realize is that Brown sources a significant portion of its beans from Mondulkiri province in eastern Cambodia, and they occasionally offer cupping sessions if you ask the barista. The rooftop seating gets uncomfortably warm by 10 AM in the dry season, so plan accordingly.

Phnom Penh Brunch Spots: Where East Meets West

The brunch culture in Phnom Penh has exploded in the last decade, driven by a mix of returning diaspora Cambodians, expat entrepreneurs, and a growing local middle class that wants something beyond the traditional num banhchok breakfast. The Phnom Penh brunch spots that have stuck around are the ones that respect both traditions.

Topaz Restaurant

Located on Norodom Boulevard, just south of the Canadian Embassy, Topaz is a fine-dining restaurant that does a weekend brunch that feels like a special occasion without being stuffy. The space is elegant, with high ceilings and a garden terrace that is shaded by mature trees. Their brunch menu blends French technique with Cambodian ingredients, and the smoked salmon eggs royale with a lemongrass-infused hollandaise is something I think about more often than I should. The French toast, made with thick-cut brioche and topped with palm sugar caramel and fresh mango, is another standout. Saturday and Sunday brunch runs from 10 AM to 2 PM, and reservations are strongly recommended, especially during the cooler months from November to February when the terrace is at its most pleasant. A local tip: ask for a table near the garden rather than the main dining room, as the acoustics are better and the atmosphere is more relaxed. The only real drawback is that parking on Norodom Boulevard on weekend mornings can be a nightmare, so consider taking a tuk-tuk or Grab instead.

Mie Cafe

Mie Cafe, located on Street 308 near the BKK neighborhood, has become one of the go-to brunch spots for Phnom Penh's creative class. The interior is all exposed brick, hanging plants, and natural light, and the menu leans heavily into modern Asian fusion. Their kaya toast with soft-boiled eggs and a generous sprinkle of white pepper and soy sauce is a nod to the Southeast Asian breakfast tradition, done with real attention to detail. The shakshuka, spiced with a Cambodian twist using kroeung paste, is another favorite. I usually go on a Sunday morning around 9 AM, which gives me a good hour before the rush. What most tourists do not know is that Mie Cafe occasionally hosts pop-up collaborations with local chefs, and following their social media is the only way to catch these events. Service can slow down badly during the peak brunch window between 10 and 11:30 AM, so patience is required if you arrive at the wrong time.

Weekend Brunch Phnom Penh: The Riverside Scene

The area along the Tonle Sap riverfront, particularly around Sisowath Quay, has long been a gathering place for morning walkers and cyclists, and the weekend brunch Phnom Penh offers along this stretch is some of the most atmospheric in the city.

Le Moon

Le Moon sits on Street 178, just a block from the river, and it occupies a beautifully restored colonial building with a courtyard that feels like stepping into another era. The weekend brunch menu is French-leaning, with a croque monsieur that is honestly one of the best I have had outside of Paris, and a quiche Lorraine that is creamy and perfectly set. Their fresh-squeezed juices, particularly the watermelon and lime, are refreshing in the morning heat. The best time to visit is on a Saturday morning before 10 AM, when the courtyard is still shaded and the river breeze is at its strongest. Le Moon has been part of Phnom Penh's dining scene for over a decade, and it has survived the city's rapid changes by staying consistent and true to its identity. A detail most visitors miss: the building was originally a French administrative office in the 1930s, and the original tile work in the bathroom is still intact. The outdoor seating area can get uncomfortably warm by mid-morning in April and May, so the dry season months from December through February are ideal.

Farm to Table

Farm to Table, located on Street 306 near the Russian Market area, is a small, community-focused cafe that has built a loyal following among health-conscious locals and expat families. The space is simple and bright, with a small herb garden out back that supplies many of the ingredients used in the kitchen. Their açaí bowl is the most popular item, topped with granola made in-house and seasonal fruit, but I am partial to their sourdough toast with house-made cashew butter and a drizzle of local honey. The smoothie menu is extensive, and the turmeric-ginger blend is a personal favorite for mornings when I need something warming. Weekday mornings are the best time to visit, as the weekend crowd can make the small space feel cramped. What most tourists do not know is that Farm to Table runs a small weekend market on their premises once a month, featuring local artisans and food producers, though the dates are irregular and announced only on their Facebook page. The parking situation on Street 306 is tight on weekends, so walking or cycling is recommended.

The Old Market Area: Breakfast with History

Psar Thmei, the iconic art deco central market, is surrounded by some of the oldest breakfast spots in the city, places that have been serving the same dishes for decades. This is where Phnom Penh's morning ritual feels most authentic.

The Shop Cafe

The Shop Cafe, located on Street 136 just a short walk from the Central Market, is a small, no-frills cafe that has been a favorite of market vendors and office workers for years. The menu is simple but done well, with a strong iced coffee that rivals anything on the riverside, and a rice porridge with pork and fried garlic that is the kind of breakfast that keeps you going through a long morning. The space is basic, with plastic chairs and fluorescent lighting, but there is a warmth to it that more polished places lack. The best time to go is early, around 7 AM, when the market vendors are finishing their first shift and the coffee is freshly brewed. Most tourists never find this place because it is not on any food blog, but it has been a neighborhood institution for over fifteen years. A local tip: the owner makes a special chili sauce that is not on the menu, but if you ask, she will bring it out, and it transforms the rice porridge entirely.

Yi Sang

Yi Sang, located on Street 172 near the Central Market, is a Chinese-Khmer restaurant that has been serving breakfast to the local community for generations. The menu is a mix of Cantonese dim sum and Khmer breakfast dishes, and the har gow and siu mai are made fresh each morning. The congee with century egg and pork is another staple, rich and comforting in a way that feels like a warm blanket. The space is old-school, with ceiling fans and tiled floors, and it has the kind of lived-in character that you cannot manufacture. Weekday mornings are the best time to visit, as the weekend dim sum service can get crowded and chaotic. What most visitors do not know is that Yi Sang has been in the same family for three generations, and the recipes have not changed since the original owner opened the shop in the 1960s. The restaurant closes at 2 PM every day, so do not plan on a late lunch.

The BKK Neighborhood: Modern Mornings

The Boeung Keng Kang area, commonly called BKK, has become the heart of Phnom Penh's modern cafe culture, and the morning scene here is a mix of sleek new spaces and established favorites.

Brown Coffee BKK Branch

The BKK branch of Brown Coffee, located on Street 323, is larger and more modern than the Street 240 location, with a dedicated co-working space on the upper floor that fills up with freelancers and remote workers by mid-morning. The breakfast menu is the same as other branches, but the space here is better suited for a longer stay, with reliable Wi-Fi and plenty of power outlets. Their cold brew is smooth and well-balanced, and the breakfast burrito is a solid option if you need something more substantial. The best time to go is on a weekday morning before 9 AM, when the co-working space is still quiet and you can grab a good seat. A local tip: the BKK branch occasionally offers a loyalty program that is not advertised at other locations, and signing up can save you a decent amount over time. The air conditioning can be aggressive, so bring a light jacket if you plan to stay for more than an hour.

Joma Bakery Cafe

Joma Bakery Cafe, located on Street 294 in the heart of BKK, is a bakery-cafe that has built a reputation for its bread and pastries. The space is bright and airy, with a large display case full of croissants, danishes, and sourdough loaves. Their almond croissant is the standout, flaky and filled with a rich frangipane, and the pain au chocolat is equally good. The breakfast menu includes a solid eggs on toast and a yogurt parfait with house-made granola. The best time to visit is on a weekday morning, as the weekend line can stretch out the door. What most tourists do not know is that Joma supplies bread to several of the city's top restaurants, and you can buy their loaves to take home if you ask at the counter. The outdoor seating area is pleasant in the cooler months but gets uncomfortably warm in peak summer, so indoor seating is recommended from March through May.

When to Go and What to Know

The best time for breakfast and brunch in Phnom Penh is during the cooler, drier months from November through February, when morning temperatures hover around 24 to 27 degrees Celsius and the humidity is manageable. During the hot season, from March to May, the heat can be oppressive by mid-morning, so arriving early is essential. Most cafes and restaurants open between 6:30 and 7:30 AM, and the morning rush typically peaks between 8:30 and 10 AM on weekdays, and between 9 and 11 AM on weekends. Tipping is not traditionally expected in Cambodia, but rounding up or leaving 10 percent at Western-style cafes is appreciated and increasingly common. Cash is still king at many of the older, more traditional spots, so always carry some Cambodian riel or US dollars. Finally, do not be afraid to wander off the main streets. Some of the best morning meals I have had in Phnom Penh were in places with no English signage, no Instagram presence, and no tourists in sight. That is where the city still feels most like itself.