Best Pubs in Siem Reap: Where Locals Actually Drink
Words by
Maly Chan
The best pubs in Siem Reap are not the ones with the neon signs on Pub Street. They are the places where tuk-tuk drivers park their rides after midnight, where expats who have lived here for a decade still argue about football, and where the first cold beer of the evening costs less than a bottle of water at the airport. I have spent the better part of six years drinking my way through this city, and what I have learned is that the top bars Siem Reap has to offer are defined not by their decor or their Instagram appeal, but by the people who fill them night after night. This is not a guide for tourists looking for bucket cocktails. This is where the city actually goes to drink.
The Old Market Area: Where Siem Reap's Pub Culture Began
The streets surrounding Psar Chas, the Old Market, are where Siem Reap's drinking scene first took shape. Long before Pub Street became a backpacker circus, the local pubs Siem Reap offered were small, family-run affairs where a cold Angkor Beer cost 500 riel and the owner knew your name by your second visit. That spirit still survives in pockets around this neighborhood, even as the city has exploded with craft cocktail bars and rooftop lounges. If you want to understand where to drink in Siem Reap with any authenticity, you start here.
1. The Angkor What? Bar
Location: Street 08, just off the Old Market roundabout
I walked in on a Tuesday evening last week and the same three men were sitting at the same plastic table they have occupied every Tuesday for as long as I can remember. The Angkor What? Bar is one of the original local pubs Siem Reap regulars have relied on for years. It is a narrow, open-fronted bar with a corrugated tin roof, a single television mounted on the wall showing whatever football match is on, and a cooler full of Angkor and Tiger beers. The owner, a woman everyone calls Bong Srey, has been running this spot for over a decade. She pours a mean gin and tonic for 1,500 riel, which is roughly 37 cents, and she never forgets a face.
The best time to go is between 5 and 7 PM, before the after-work crowd packs the place. On weekends, the energy shifts and younger Cambodians from the surrounding streets come in for cheap draught beer and grilled squid from the vendor who sets up right outside. Most tourists walk past this place without a second glance because there is no English menu and no cocktail list. That is exactly the point.
Local Insider Tip: "Sit at the table closest to the cooler if you want Bong Srey to serve you directly. The staff sometimes ignore the back tables during busy hours. And if you see the grilled corn vendor outside, get one with the salty fish sauce. It is the best snack in this whole neighborhood."
The one thing I will warn you about is the bathroom situation. There is a single squat toilet in the back that has seen better days, and there is no sink with running water, just a bucket. It is not glamorous, but it is real, and that is what makes this place one of the best pubs in Siem Reap for anyone who wants to see the city as it actually is.
2. X Bar
Location: Sivutha Boulevard, near the junction with Street 11
X Bar sits on one of the busiest corners in the city, and it has been a fixture of Siem Reap's nightlife since the early 2000s. It is an open-air rooftop bar that looks out over the traffic chaos of Sivutha Boulevard, and it has a reputation for being a bit rough around the edges. That reputation is not entirely unfair. The furniture is worn, the sound system is loud, and the crowd skews toward a mix of older expats, local businessmen, and the occasional tourist who wandered too far from Pub Street. But there is something magnetic about this place. The rooftop catches the evening breeze in a way that most bars in the city center do not, and the sunset views over the rooftops are genuinely beautiful if you can tune out the honking below.
I went on a Friday night about two weeks ago and the place was packed by 9 PM. A live band was playing Khmer rock covers, and the dance floor, which is really just a cleared section of concrete, was full. A large Angkor Beer costs $2.50, which is standard for this tier of bar, and the mixed drinks are strong and cheap. The best time to arrive is around 7 PM if you want a good seat on the rooftop edge. After 10 PM, you will be lucky to find standing room.
Local Insider Tip: "Do not wear sandals on the rooftop. The floor gets slippery from spilled drinks, and I have seen more than one person take a bad fall near the railing. Also, the security guard at the bottom of the stairs will sometimes try to charge tourists a $1 cover. Locals never pay it. Just wave and walk past."
X Bar connects to Siem Reap's history in a way that most visitors never consider. This was one of the first bars in the city to cater to the influx of international aid workers and journalists who arrived in the late 1990s and early 2000s, as the city was opening up after decades of conflict. The building itself has been renovated several times, but the spirit of that era, a city full of outsiders trying to make sense of a place that was still finding its footing, lingers in the walls.
Wat Bo Road: The Quiet Stretch That Locals Prefer
If the Old Market area is where Siem Reap's drinking culture started, Wat Bo Road is where it matured. This stretch along the river, south of the main tourist drag, is lined with guesthouses, yoga studios, and a handful of bars that cater to a more settled crowd. The energy here is slower, more conversational. You will not find dance floors or bucket cocktails. What you will find are places where people actually talk to each other, where the music is background noise rather than the main event, and where a $4 cocktail feels like a fair price rather than a scam.
3. The Yellow Submarine
Location: Wat Bo Road, between the Golden Temple Residence and the Angkor Village Hotel
The Yellow Submarine is one of those bars that has been around long enough to become a landmark without anyone really trying. It is a two-story building painted, predictably, in bright yellow, with a Beatles-themed interior that walks the line between nostalgic and kitschy. The ground floor is a proper pub with wooden booths, a long bar, and a menu of Western comfort food that is better than it has any right to be. The upstairs terrace is where the magic happens. It overlooks the river, and on a clear evening, you can watch the light fade over the water while nursing a cold pint.
I stopped by on a Wednesday evening and the place was about half full, mostly with a mix of long-term expats and a few Cambodian couples on dates. The burger, which costs around $6, is one of the better ones in the city, and the fish and chips are solid. But the real draw is the atmosphere. There is a warmth to this place that you cannot manufacture. The staff have been there for years, and they treat regulars like family. A gin and tonic runs about $3.50, and draught beer is $2 for a half liter.
Local Insider Tip: "Ask for the 'Submarine Special' even though it is not on the menu. It is a rum punch that the bartender has been making for years, and it is stronger and cheaper than anything listed. Also, the upstairs terrace closes at 11 PM on weeknights, so get there by 9 if you want a good spot by the railing."
The one complaint I have is that the sound system on the ground floor can be overwhelming when a big football match is on. The TV is positioned in a way that makes it hard to avoid if you are sitting at the bar, and the volume is always cranked up. If you want a quieter experience, head upstairs or ask for a booth in the back corner.
4. Barrio
Location: Wat Bo Road, a few doors down from the Yellow Submarine
Barrio is a newer addition to the Wat Bo scene, and it has quickly become one of the top bars Siem Reap has for anyone who appreciates a well-made cocktail. The interior is dim and moody, with exposed brick walls, low lighting, and a small but carefully curated spirits collection behind the bar. The owner, a French-Cambodian man named Sokha, spent years working in Phnom Penh's bar scene before opening this place, and it shows. The cocktail menu changes seasonally, but the house specialty is a lemongrass-infused gin sour that is one of the best drinks I have had in this city.
I visited on a Saturday night about a month ago, and the place was buzzing but not overcrowded. A jazz playlist was running through hidden speakers, and the crowd was a mix of well-dressed Cambodians and older tourists who had clearly been told about this place by someone in the know. Cocktails range from $4 to $6, which is reasonable by Siem Reap standards, and the wine list is small but thoughtful. The best time to go is between 6 and 8 PM, when the light through the front windows turns golden and the bar is at its most relaxed.
Local Insider Tip: "Tell Sokha what flavors you like and he will make you something off-menu that is better than anything on the list. He does not advertise this, but he loves the challenge. Also, the small table in the back left corner is the best seat in the house. It is tucked away from the door, so you avoid the draft and the noise from the street."
Barrio represents a shift in Siem Reap's drinking culture. For years, the city's bar scene was defined by two extremes: dirt-cheap backpacker bars and overpriced hotel lounges. Places like Barrio are carving out a middle ground, proving that you can charge fair prices for quality drinks and still build a loyal local following.
The Pub Street Fringe: Beyond the Tourist Chaos
Pub Street itself is a place I avoid with the same dedication I avoid airport food courts. But the streets that branch off it, particularly to the east and south, contain some genuinely good drinking spots that most visitors never find because they are too busy being herded toward the next $0.50 beer sign. These are the places where the line between local and tourist blurs in the best possible way.
5. The Irish Pub (formerly Funky Munky's)
Location: Street 11, just off the southern end of Pub Street
Do not let the name fool you. The Irish Pub on Street 11 is not some themed import from Dublin. It is a Siem Reap institution that has been serving cold beer and pub food to a mixed crowd of locals and visitors for well over a decade. The interior is dark wood and sports memorabilia, with multiple TV screens showing football, rugby, and the occasional cricket match. The food menu is heavy on the Western pub classics, burgers, nachos, fish and chips, and it is all executed at a level that is consistently above average for this part of town.
I went on a Sunday afternoon to watch a Premier League match, and the place was packed with a crowd that was maybe 60% Cambodian and 40% foreign. That ratio alone tells you something about the quality of the place. A pint of Guinness costs $4.50, which is not cheap by local standards, but the pour is proper and the glass is cold. The best time to visit is during a big match, when the energy in the room is electric and strangers become instant friends. On weekday evenings, it is quieter and more suitable for a relaxed meal.
Local Insider Tip: "The kitchen closes at 10 PM, but the bar staff will sometimes let you order from the pub next door and eat it here if you ask nicely. Also, the corner booth on the right as you walk in is reserved for regulars during big matches, so do not sit there unless you want a polite but firm request to move."
The parking situation outside is genuinely terrible on weekend evenings. The street is narrow, and the combination of tuk-tuks, motorcycles, and the occasional car creates a bottleneck that can take ten minutes to navigate. If you are on a motorbike, park at the lot on the next block and walk.
6. YOLO Bar
Location: Street 09, between Pub Street and the Old Market
YOLO Bar is one of those places that sounds like it should be terrible based on the name alone, but it has quietly become one of the more reliable local pubs Siem Reap offers. It is a small, two-room bar with a pool table, a decent sound system, and a crowd that skews younger and more local than most places in the tourist zone. The drinks are cheap, a large beer is $1.50, and the staff are friendly without being pushy. There is no cover charge, no minimum spend, and no dress code. You walk in, you order a drink, you sit down.
I stopped by on a Thursday night about three weeks ago and found a group of Cambodian university students playing pool while a Khmer pop playlist blasted from a speaker behind the bar. The energy was loose and joyful, the kind of atmosphere that reminds you that Siem Reap is a real city with real young people who just want to have a good time. The best time to go is between 8 and 10 PM on weeknights, when the crowd is local and the tourist presence is minimal. On weekends, it gets louder and more mixed, which some people prefer.
Local Insider Tip: "The pool table is free on weeknights if you buy at least two drinks. On weekends, they charge $1 per game. Also, the bathroom is through the back door and down a short alley. It is not well lit, so use your phone flashlight."
YOLO Bar is a reminder that not every good drinking spot in Siem Reap needs to be polished or curated. Sometimes the best pubs in Siem Reap are the ones that are just rooms with cold beer and good company.
The Riverside South: Where Expats and Long-Timers Gather
South of the Old Market, along the Siem Reap River, there is a stretch of bars and restaurants that caters to the city's expat community and long-term visitors. These are not places you stumble upon. They are places you are told about by someone who has been here long enough to know the difference between a tourist trap and the real thing.
7. The Twizt Bar and Lounge
Location: Wat Damnak area, off Salakanseng Road
The Twizt is a place I have been going to for years, and it remains one of the top bars Siem Reap has for a relaxed evening out. It is a two-story venue with a ground-floor bar and lounge area and an upstairs terrace that catches the river breeze. The interior is modern without being sterile, with clean lines, comfortable seating, and a cocktail menu that leans toward classics done well rather than experimental concoctions. The mojito is excellent, the old fashioned is properly made, and the wine list includes a few decent New World options that are hard to find elsewhere in the city.
I visited on a Friday evening last month and the crowd was a mix of NGO workers, long-term expats, and a few Cambodian professionals. The music was low enough to talk over, and the service was attentive without being intrusive. A cocktail costs between $4 and $5.50, and a glass of wine is around $5. The best time to go is between 6 and 9 PM, when the terrace is open and the heat of the day has started to break. After 10 PM, the upstairs closes and the ground floor can feel a bit cramped.
Local Insider Tip: "Ask for a seat on the upstairs terrace near the river side, not the street side. The river side gets the breeze and the noise from the road is blocked by the building. Also, if you are ordering wine, ask what was opened that morning. They sometimes have an open bottle of red that is half the listed price and perfectly fine."
The Wi-Fi at The Twizt is reliable near the bar but drops out completely near the back tables and the upstairs terrace. If you are planning to work or make calls, sit near the front. This is a common issue in this part of the city, where the infrastructure has not quite kept pace with the number of venues offering free internet.
8. Gekko Bar
Location: Wat Damnak area, on the small street behind the Angkor National Museum
Gekko Bar is the kind of place that does not advertise, does not have a website, and does not need one. It is a small, open-fronted bar run by a Cambodian-Australian couple who have lived in Siem Reap for over fifteen years. The bar is attached to a guesthouse, and the clientele is a mix of guests, neighbors, and people who have been coming here since before most of the current bars in the city existed. The drink selection is simple, beer, wine, and a handful of spirits, but everything is cold, everything is cheap, and everything is served with a genuine smile.
I went on a Monday evening, which is the quietest night of the week, and I was one of only four people in the place. That is part of the appeal. Gekko Bar is where you go when you do not want to be around crowds, when you want to have a conversation without shouting, when you want to feel like you are sitting in someone's living room rather than a commercial establishment. A large beer is $1.50, a glass of wine is $2, and a mixed drink is $2.50. The best time to go is any weeknight between 5 and 9 PM. On weekends, it can get busier, but it never reaches the chaos levels of the tourist zone.
Local Insider Tip: "Bring cash. They do not accept cards, and the nearest ATM is a five-minute walk away. Also, if you are here on a Monday, ask about the potluck dinner. It is not advertised, but regulars bring food and everyone shares. It is the best meal you will have in Siem Reap all week."
Gekko Bar is a living connection to an older version of Siem Reap, the one that existed before the luxury hotels and the Instagram influencers. It is a place where the city's expat community comes to feel at home, and it is one of the best pubs in Siem Reap for anyone who values authenticity over spectacle.
When to Go and What to Know
Siem Reap's drinking scene operates on a rhythm that is different from most cities. The weeknights, Monday through Thursday, are when the local pubs Siem Reap offers are at their most authentic. The crowds are smaller, the prices are sometimes lower, and the people you meet are more likely to be residents rather than visitors. Friday and Saturday nights bring a bigger, more mixed crowd, and the energy shifts toward something louder and more chaotic. If you want to see the city as locals experience it, go on a Tuesday.
The legal drinking age in Cambodia is technically 18, but enforcement is rare. Tipping is not mandatory but is appreciated, especially at smaller establishments where the staff rely on it. A dollar or two per round is standard. Most bars close by midnight, though some in the tourist zone stay open later. The riverfront bars tend to close earliest, around 11 PM on weeknights.
Transportation is straightforward. Tuk-tuks are everywhere and cost between $1 and $3 for most trips within the city center. If you are drinking, do not drive a motorcycle. The police occasionally set up checkpoints, and the consequences are not worth the risk. A tuk-tuk ride home is cheap and always available.
Frequently Asked Questions
How easy is it to find pure vegetarian, vegan, or plant-based dining options in Siem Reap?
Vegetarian and vegan options are widely available in Siem Reap, with many restaurants clearly labeling plant-based dishes on their menus. Dedicated vegetarian restaurants exist in the Old Market area and along Wat Bo Road, and most Khmer cuisine includes naturally vegan dishes such as stir-fried vegetables, rice-based meals, and soups made with coconut milk. Prices for vegetarian mains at local restaurants range from $2 to $5.
Is Siem Reap expensive to visit? Give a realistic daily budget breakdown for mid-tier travelers?
A mid-tier traveler in Siem Reap can expect to spend between $40 and $70 per day, including accommodation ($15 to $30 for a decent guesthouse or budget hotel), meals ($10 to $20 across three meals at local and mid-range restaurants), transport ($3 to $5 for tuk-tuk rides), and drinks ($5 to $10 at local bars). Temple entrance to Angkor Archaeological Park is $37 for a one-day pass, which is a significant additional cost if sightseeing.
Are there any specific dress codes or cultural etiquettes to keep in mind when visiting local spots in Siem Reap?
When visiting temples, shoulders and knees must be covered, and shoes must be removed before entering any temple building. At local bars and restaurants, casual dress is acceptable, but overly revealing clothing is frowned upon, especially in non-tourist areas. It is considered respectful to greet shopkeepers and bar staff with a slight bow and a "Chum reap suor" (hello). Pointing your feet at people or touching someone's head is considered rude.
What is the one must-try local specialty food or drink that Siem Reap is famous for?
Prahok, a fermented fish paste, is the quintessential Cambodian ingredient and is used in countless dishes throughout Siem Reap. For drinks, palm wine, known as "tuk tnaot," is a traditional local beverage tapped from sugar palm trees and sold at roadside stalls across the region. It is mildly sweet, slightly sour, and has a low alcohol content when fresh, though it strengthens as it ferments throughout the day.
Is the tap water in Siem Reap safe to drink, or should travelers strictly rely on filtered water options?
Tap water in Siem Reap is not safe to drink. It is not treated to international standards and may contain bacteria and parasites that cause gastrointestinal illness. Travelers should drink only bottled or filtered water, which is available at every shop, restaurant, and guesthouse in the city for $0.25 to $0.50 per liter. Most reputable restaurants and bars use filtered water for cooking and ice, but it is always worth asking if you have concerns.
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