Best Rooftop Cafes in Siem Reap With Views Worth the Climb

I have been drinking coffee on rooftops in Siem Reap for the better part of a decade now, and I can tell you that the city's elevated drinking spots have changed almost as much as the skyline itself. The best rooftop cafes in Siem Reap are not just about getting a caffeine fix above the traffic. They are about watching the sun melt behind the rice paddies on the city's edge, spotting the spires of old French colonial buildings from angles you never see at street level, and feeling the evening breeze carry the smell of grilled corn and frangipani blossoms. This is a city that rewards anyone willing to climb a few extra flights of stairs.

The Old Market Area: Where Siem Reap Cafes With Views First Took Off

The neighborhood around Psar Chas, the Old Market, is where Siem Reap first started building upward. For years, the area was all ground floor shops and ground level noodle stalls. Then a handful of business owners realized that the rooftops above their shophouses offered something the street never could, a clear line of sight to the river and the old market's tin roof canopy. That realization changed the way both locals and visitors experienced this part of town.

1. The Glasshouse (Psar Chas Area, Street 09)

The Glasshouse sits on a narrow shophouse on Street 09, just a two minute walk from the Old Market's southern entrance. You climb a tight staircase past the ground floor restaurant and emerge onto a rooftop that feels like someone's private terrace rather than a commercial space. The views sweep across the patchwork of corrugated roofs and temple style guesthouses that define this part of Siem Reap. What makes it worth the climb is the combination of the city panorama and the surprisingly good food menu, which goes well beyond the usual tourist fare.

What to Order: The avocado toast with a fried egg on sourdough is reliable, but the real reason to come is the iced Cambodian coffee served in a tall glass with a thick layer of condensed milk at the bottom. Stir it yourself and watch the colors blend.

Best Time: Arrive around 4:00 PM. The light turns golden over the market rooftops, and the heat of the day has started to break just enough to make sitting outside comfortable.

The Vibe: Quiet and unhurried during the week. On weekends it fills up with a mix of expats and well dressed Khmer couples, and the single waiter can get stretched thin. Service slows noticeably after 5:30 PM on Saturdays.

Local Tip: Ask for the table in the far left corner. It is slightly wobbly, but it gives you an unobstructed view of the river bend that most people never notice. The owner told me that corner was originally just a storage area until a regular customer in 2017 suggested they put a table there.

Insider Detail: The building itself dates to the 1960s and was originally a tailor's shop. You can still see the old Singer sewing machine logo faintly painted on the stairwell wall if you look carefully on your way up.

Wat Bo Road: Outdoor Cafes Siem Reap Locators Swear By

Wat Bo Road runs along the river and has become one of the most concentrated strips for elevated drinking in the city. The buildings here are a mix of old Khmer family homes converted into guesthouses and newer concrete structures built after the tourism boom of the early 2010s. The rooftops along this road tend to face west, which means sunset is the main event every single evening.

2. The Little Red Fox Espresso (Wat Bo Road, near the Riverside)

The Little Red Fox Espresso is easy to miss from the street because the entrance is a narrow doorway between a laundry shop and a motorbike rental place. Once you climb to the top, though, the space opens up into a proper rooftop with wooden decking, potted plants, and a direct view of the river. This is one of the outdoor cafes Siem Reap regulars recommend when they want somewhere that feels more local than the big hotel bars.

What to Drink: The long black is pulled on a manual La Marzocca machine, and it is one of the better espressos you will find outside the specialty coffee shops on the newer side of town. The house made lemonade with lemongrass is also worth ordering on a hot afternoon.

Best Time: Early morning, between 7:00 and 8:30 AM, before the humidity builds. The river is usually still at that hour, and you can watch the long tail boats being loaded for the first trips to Tonle Sap.

The Vibe: Small and intimate, with maybe eight tables total. It fills up fast on weekday mornings with a handful of NGO workers and long term travelers who have been coming here for years. The Wi Fi signal is strong near the bar but drops off completely at the back tables closest to the river.

Local Tip: If the rooftop is full, ask the staff if the ground floor has seats. They sometimes keep a couple of tables reserved down there for regulars, and you can always head up later when a spot opens.

Insider Detail: The owner is Australian Khmer, born in Melbourne but raised partly in Siem Reap. She sources her beans from a small farm in Mondulkiri province and roasts them herself in a rented space near the airport road.

3. Peace Cafe (Wat Bo Road, near the Old Bridge)

Peace Cafe has been on Wat Bo Road for so long that most people assume it is just another ground level restaurant. The rooftop seating, added around 2015, is accessed through a back staircase that most first time visitors walk right past. Up top, the view takes in the Old Bridge and the slow curve of the river as it heads north toward the floating villages. It is not the most polished space in town, but it has a lived in quality that the newer sky cafes Siem Reap has gained in recent years cannot replicate.

What to Order: The banana pancakes are the signature item, fluffy and served with a drizzle of palm sugar syrup. For something savory, the fish amok wrap is a creative twist on the traditional steamed curry.

Best Time: Late afternoon into early evening, around 5:00 to 6:30 PM. The Old Bridge lights up at dusk, and the reflection on the river makes for the best photo opportunity from this rooftop.

The Vibe: Relaxed and a little rough around the edges. The plastic chairs are not glamorous, but nobody seems to mind. Families with kids tend to occupy the lower level, so the rooftop skews toward solo travelers and couples.

Local Tip: Bring a small flashlight or use your phone light for the staircase after dark. The lighting on the stairs is dim, and the steps are uneven in two places near the top.

Insider Detail: The building was originally a family home belonging to a Khmer teacher who lived through the Khmer Rouge era. His granddaughter now helps run the cafe and has kept several of the original interior walls intact on the ground floor.

The Pub Street Corridor: Sky Cafes Siem Reap Party Goers Overlook

Everyone knows Pub Street for its bars and neon, but the rooftops above the chaos tell a different story. A few venues in this corridor have figured out that some people want the energy of the party district without being in the middle of it. These sky cafes Siem Reap visitors often skip in favor of the ground level action below, which is exactly why they stay relatively calm.

4. The Rooftop at Phnom Kulen (Pub Street Area)

Phnom Kulen restaurant sits on a multi story building just off the main Pub Street drag, and its rooftop is one of the best kept secrets in the tourist quarter. The name references the sacred mountain northeast of Siem Reap, and the decor leans into that theme with carved wooden panels and a few reproductions of Angkorian motifs. From the top, you can see the full sprawl of the Pub Street area, the lights of the night market, and on a clear day, the faint outline of Phnom Bok in the distance.

What to Drink: The Angkor beer on tap is cold and cheap, but the real standout is the house cocktail called the Kulen Sunrise, a mix of rum, passion fruit, and lime that is stronger than it tastes.

Best Time: After 7:00 PM, when the street below is in full swing and the rooftop gives you a front row seat to the spectacle without the noise and crowds at ground level.

The Vibe: Social and lively but not overwhelming. The music is a curated playlist rather than a DJ, and the volume stays at a level where you can actually hold a conversation. The downside is that the rooftop only has one narrow staircase for access, so leaving during peak hours means squeezing past people coming up.

Local Tip: If you are planning to eat dinner here, order before 8:00 PM. The kitchen gets backed up once the dinner rush hits, and waits of 45 minutes for food are not uncommon on busy nights.

Insider Detail: The building was originally constructed in the late 1990s as one of the first guesthouses to cater specifically to the post UNTAC tourism wave. The rooftop was just a water tank platform until 2012, when the current owner converted it into a dining area.

5. X Bar (Sivutha Boulevard, near Pub Street)

X Bar is technically more of a bar than a cafe, but its rooftop deck is one of the most photographed elevated spaces in Siem Reap. Perched above Sivutha Boulevard, the deck wraps around the building's edge and offers a 270 degree view that takes in the Royal Independence Gardens, the river, and the cluster of hotels along the road. It is the kind of place where you go for a drink and end up staying for three.

What to Drink: The mojitos are the house specialty, made with fresh mint that the bar grows in a small planter box on the rooftop itself. The gin and tonic with local lemongrass is a close second.

Best Time: Sunset, without question. Arrive by 5:15 PM to claim a spot along the railing. The sun sets slightly earlier in the dry season (November through February), so adjust accordingly.

The Vibe: Energetic and tourist heavy, but in a fun way. The crowd is a mix of backpackers, couples, and the occasional group of Khmer friends celebrating something. The music shifts from chill electronic during the day to something more upbeat after dark.

Local Tip: There is a small cover charge on weekend nights, usually around $2, which includes a token for one drink. It is worth it for the view alone, but know that the price can go up during special events or holidays.

Insider Detail: The bar was one of the first in Siem Reap to install a proper sound system on a rooftop, back in 2010. The original speakers are still in use, mounted on custom welded brackets that the owner designed himself.

The Wat Damnak and Artist Quarter: A Different Side of Siem Reap Cafes With Views

South of the Old Market, the neighborhood around Wat Damnak temple has quietly become one of the most interesting parts of Siem Reap for anyone who wants to see the city beyond the tourist circuit. The rooftops here tend to be lower and more intimate, and the views are less about sweeping panoramas and more about the texture of daily Khmer life, laundry hanging between buildings, monks walking barefoot in the early morning, the golden spire of the temple catching the last light.

6. The Little Red Fox Espresso Sister Location (Wat Damnak Area)

There is a second, smaller location of The Little Red Fox in the Wat Damnak neighborhood, above a quiet street lined with art supply shops and a few silk weaving workshops. The rooftop here is more compact than the Wat Bo original, but the trade off is a sense of calm that the riverside location sometimes lacks. You can hear the temple bells from Wat Damnak in the late afternoon, and the view across the low rooftops feels like looking into the real Siem Reap.

What to Drink: The same Mondulkiri beans are used here, but the barista at this location tends to pull slightly shorter shots, which gives the espresso a more concentrated flavor. The iced coconut latte is also unique to this branch.

Best Time: Mid morning, around 9:30 to 11:00 AM, when the art supply shops below are open and the street has a gentle buzz of activity without the midday crush.

The Vibe: Quiet and contemplative. This is where I come when I need to write or read without distraction. The tables are small, though, and if you have a large laptop and a notebook spread out, space gets tight quickly.

Local Tip: Walk two doors south to the silk weaving workshop. The weaver, a woman named Sokha, has been working on this street for over 20 years and will show you her loom if she is not in the middle of a piece. It is not a tourist show. It is just her life's work.

Insider Detail: The building was originally a rice merchant's office during the French colonial period. The thick walls and high ceilings, typical of that era's commercial architecture, are what make the interior stay so cool even without aggressive air conditioning.

7. Footprint Cafes (Wat Damnak Area, near the Printing Shop)

Footprint Cafes is part of a small social enterprise network that supports education projects in rural Cambodia. The Wat Damnak branch has a modest rooftop that most people walk past without noticing, marked only by a small sign at the top of the stairs. The view is not dramatic, but it is honest, a flat expanse of neighborhood rooftops with the temple spire rising in the middle distance. What makes this place worth visiting is the sense that your money is going somewhere meaningful.

What to Order: The Cambodian curry with rice is the best value meal on the menu at around $4.50, and it is genuinely good, rich with kaffir lime and lemongrass. The fresh fruit smoothies are also excellent, especially the mango and the dragon fruit.

Best Time: Lunch hour, between 12:00 and 1:30 PM. The rooftop is shaded by a canvas awning during this window, and the breeze off the temple grounds makes it the most comfortable time to sit outside.

The Vibe: Purposeful and low key. The staff are a mix of young Khmer workers and international volunteers, and the atmosphere reflects that blend. It is not a place for loud conversations or big groups.

Local Tip: Check the chalkboard near the entrance for information about local events, workshops, and volunteer opportunities. The staff here are deeply connected to the community and often know about things that never make it to the tourist Facebook groups.

Insider Detail: The printing shop next door has been operating since the early 2000s and still uses a combination of digital and offset printing. If you need anything printed, from business cards to posters, they can usually turn it around in a few hours at a fraction of what the tourist area shops charge.

The Newer Developments: Siem Reap's Expanding Skyline

In the last five years, Siem Reap has seen a wave of new construction, particularly along National Road 6 and in the areas east of the river. Some of these newer buildings have rooftop spaces that are more polished and design forward than anything the older parts of town can offer. They represent a different vision of what a rooftop cafe can be in this city, sleeker, more Instagram ready, but sometimes lacking the character of the older spots.

8. The Hive Siem Reap (Sala Lodge Area, near Wat Damnak)

The Hive is a co working space and cafe that opened in a converted building near the Sala Lodge hotel. The rooftop is a recent addition, built during a renovation in 2022, and it has quickly become one of the most popular outdoor cafes Siem Reap digital nomads and remote workers frequent. The space is clean and modern, with power outlets at every table and Wi Fi that actually works at full speed. The view stretches across the newer part of the city, with construction cranes and half finished buildings sharing the skyline with the older temple style structures.

What to Drink: The specialty lattes rotate seasonally, but the pandan latte has been a consistent favorite since the rooftop opened. It is subtly sweet and has a natural green color that photographs well.

Best Time: Weekday mornings, from 8:00 to 11:00 AM, when the co working space below is active and the rooftop has a productive energy. Weekends are quieter but also less interesting, as many of the regulars are not around.

The Vibe: Professional and focused, with a side of social. People come here to work, but there is a communal table where conversations happen naturally. The music is kept low and instrumental. The one drawback is that the rooftop has limited shade, and by noon in the hot season, the direct sun makes it nearly unusable without a hat and sunscreen.

Local Tip: If you are planning to work for more than two hours, buy a day pass for the co working space downstairs. It includes unlimited coffee refills and access to a printer, which is more cost effective than ordering individual drinks all day.

Insider Detail: The building was originally a garment factory in the early 2010s, part of the brief wave of light manufacturing that came to Siem Reap before the industry shifted to Phnom Penh. The original factory floor is now the ground level co working area, and you can still see the faded safety markings on the concrete floor if you look closely.

When to Go and What to Know About Rooftop Cafes in Siem Reap

The dry season, from November through March, is the best time to visit rooftop cafes in Siem Reap. The skies are clearer, the humidity is lower, and the sunsets tend to be more vivid. During the wet season, from May through October, afternoon rain showers can roll in quickly and without warning, so always check the sky before committing to a rooftop seat. Most places have some form of cover, but a heavy downpour can make even a covered rooftop uncomfortable.

Bring cash in small denominations. While some of the newer rooftop spots accept cards or mobile payments, many of the older ones are cash only, and breaking a $20 bill for a $3 coffee can be a problem. US dollars are widely accepted in Siem Reap, but you will often receive change in Cambodian riel, so familiarize yourself with the exchange rate before you go.

Dress respectfully, especially if your rooftop is near a temple or in a residential neighborhood. Siem Reap is more relaxed than many Southeast Asian cities, but walking through a local area in beachwear on your way to a rooftop cafe is a quick way to make people uncomfortable. A light shirt and long shorts are usually sufficient.

Finally, be patient with the stairs. Many of the best rooftop spaces in this city are in older buildings that were not designed with accessibility in mind. The staircases can be steep, narrow, and poorly lit. Wear shoes you are comfortable climbing in, and do not be afraid to ask staff for help if you are carrying a heavy bag or traveling with someone who has mobility challenges.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the standard tipping etiquette or service charge policy at restaurants in Siem Reap?

Tipping is not traditionally part of Khmer culture, but it has become common in the tourism sector. Most mid range and upscale restaurants add a 10 percent service charge to the bill. If no service charge is included, rounding up or leaving 5 to 10 percent is appreciated but not expected. Street food vendors and small local eateries do not expect tips at all.

What is the average cost of a specialty coffee or local tea in Siem Reap?

A standard iced Cambodian coffee with condensed milk costs between $1.50 and $2.50 at most local cafes. Specialty espresso drinks, such as lattes and cappuccinos at third wave coffee shops, range from $3.00 to $5.00. Local teas, including lemongrass and iced green tea, are usually priced between $1.00 and $2.00. Prices at hotel rooftop bars can be two to three times higher.

Is Siem Reap expensive to visit? Give a realistic daily budget breakdown for mid-tier travelers.

A mid-tier traveler can expect to spend between $50 and $80 per day. This includes $15 to $25 for a guesthouse or boutique hotel, $15 to $25 for meals at local and mid range restaurants, $5 to $10 for transport (primarily tuk tuk), and $10 to $20 for activities, coffee, and incidentals. Angkor Wat park entry is a separate cost, with a one day pass at $37 and a three day pass at $62.

Are credit cards widely accepted across Siem Reap, or is it necessary to carry cash for daily expenses?

Credit cards are accepted at upscale hotels, larger restaurants, and some supermarkets, but cash remains essential for daily expenses. Most local markets, street food stalls, small cafes, tuk tuk drivers, and rural vendors operate on a cash only basis. US dollars are accepted almost everywhere, and ATMs dispensing both US dollars and Cambodian riel are widely available in the city center.

What is the most reliable neighborhood in Siem Reap for digital nomads and remote workers?

The Wat Damnak and Sala Lodge area has become the most reliable neighborhood for digital nomads. It offers a concentration of co working spaces, cafes with strong Wi Fi, affordable accommodation, and a quieter atmosphere compared to the Pub Street and Old Market areas. Internet speeds in this neighborhood typically range from 15 to 30 Mbps on fiber connections, and several cafes offer backup mobile data options during outages.