In northwest Cambodia, Siem Reap is the gateway to Angkor’s epic UNESCO World Heritage ancient temples. This religious complex and the 12th-century Angkor Thom royal city are considered the main reasons to visit Siem Reap. Read below for our pick of the best boutique hotels in Siem Reap.
It’s best to visit in the dry season from November to April, though the equinoxes in March and September are popular with photographers. The shortest flights from London to Siem Reap are with Thai Airways, take a little over 13 hours, and go via Bangkok, but there are many other options, and flights also go via Vietnam and China if you are planning a multi-location holiday.
1. Jaya House River Park
Stay at the beautiful and secluded boutique hotel of Jaya House River Park (pictured above) and be perfectly situated between Angkor and the town of Siem Reap.
The hotel can be found nestled along the Siem Reap River, surrounded by trees and stunning tropical gardens. You are a 6-minute tuk-tuk journey from Siem Reap city center and 5 minutes from Angkor. A complimentary tuk-tuk ride from the airport will whisk you to the hotel in just 15 minutes. The hotel’s complimentary tuk-tuk service is brilliant for exploring locally. After you’re dropped off, you’re given a phone to call for your return journey.
Siem Reap, the resort town known as the gateway to Angkor, is a chic haven packed with fine dining restaurants, excellent shopping, and a fabulous creative cultural scene. The hotel runs several excursions to the incredible ancient Angkorian Temples, Siem Reap, and to several other delightful local villages.
The resort itself feels like a luxurious hideaway. A wonderful sense of calm and tranquillity envelopes you as you arrive. Its secluded location means you find yourself in a stunning tropical oasis. Inside, the décor is contemporary and elegant, with a scattering of vintage items and local artwork, making the place very Instagrammable!
There are two swimming pools; relax under the soothing waterfalls in one, while the other offers a stunning futuristic lap pool lined with sparkling silver tiles. By day, the tiles glisten in the sun, and at night, the pool is so beautifully lit, it creates almost a mirror image of the stars above. Visit the Riverpark Spa to indulge in a massage with hand-crafted aromatic oils before relaxing in the steam room.
The local staff are exceptional; they are meticulous, always present when you need them, and genuinely happy to be here. The hotel values its ethical and eco-credentials. This is one luxury hotel you need not feel guilty about staying in, as it’s a shining example of responsible tourism. They aim to be plastic-free, participate in a local tree planting initiative, and donate a percentage of their profits to local charities, among their many impressive schemes and projects.
There are 36 rooms in this intimate boutique hotel. They all benefit from either a balcony or direct access to the garden and pool. The beds are extra-comfy, you have a proper coffee machine in your room, or you can brew handmade and home-grown tea. The minibar is complimentary; for your tech needs, there’s Bluetooth connectivity and complimentary Wi-Fi. Pick from a Deluxe Room, Junior Suite, or Junior Pool Suite. The Suites have living areas, and some also include outdoor showers. But if budget allows, the four Junior Pool Suites boast their own private plunge pools, which are totally divine.
An example of Jaya House River Park’s plastic-free ethos can be found in their rooms with their own in-house bathroom amenities and mosquito spray. Jaya Organics creates Khmer jobs, and products are delivered in fully reusable glass bottles.
All-day-dining with a mixture of local and international cuisine is served in the unique TrurKuon restaurant that is literally part of the environment as it’s built around a tree. The tree trunk is inside while the branches cleverly shade the bar above. As the sun sets, make your way to the rooftop Sky Bar. The swinging day beds are surely the most comfortable spot to enjoy your evening drinks.
Jaya House River Park is a member of our Near Far Collection which means that when you book a room via our luxury travel concierge you get brilliant extra benefits at no extra cost.
2. Park Hyatt Siem Reap
For a refined, contemporary hotel in graceful garden settings, look no further than the boutique Park Hyatt Siem Reap. Located right in the heart of the town at a prestigious address, you are within walking distance of excellent bars, restaurants, and boutique shops and just 15 minutes from Angkor Wat.
This hotel is larger than the other hotels in our listing, with one hundred four rooms and suites that are beautifully furnished in a modern take on Khmer style. The bathrooms are divine, set in Italian marble, with separate rain showers and bathtubs. For an extra bit of room, opt for one of their very fine suites and enjoy a private garden or a private plunge pool.
To restore your zen after some extreme sightseeing, book into The Spa, their therapy techniques have been inspired by the fluidity and grace of Apsara legends. There’s also a 24-hour Fitness Centre and two luxurious pools. One of the pools is a lap pool, and the other, a heavenly free-form infinity pool surrounded by lush gardens, is the most inviting place to relax with a cocktail!
3. Navutu Dreams
Relax in the lush green grounds of of Navutu Dreams boutique hotel, located just outside Siem Reap. Amid these tropical gardens are three stunning pool areas, including an 18-meter sports pool for when you are feeling energetic and a saltwater Lounge Pool for relaxing after a busy day sightseeing at nearby Angkor.
There are 28 spacious guest rooms and suites spread across five separate pavilions. We’d definitely recommend the Grand Tour rooms, which benefit from private lap pools and have access to the roof terrace, the perfect spot for a sunset dinner for two.
The resort is a luxury wellness retreat with a tropical spa, daily yoga classes, mediation classes, acupuncture, massages, and Traditional Chinese Medicine to ensure you leave re-balanced and rejuvenated.
Fine dining is served at Niam Niam Restaurant, which incorporates the best Southern Cambodian flavors, authentic Italian recipes, contemporary international cuisine, and vegetarian dishes; you can even take cooking classes so you can recreate your favorite Cambodian dishes back at home.
4. Shinta Mani Angkor
Shinta Mani Angkor boutique hotel is located in the heart of Siem Reap but is in the tranquil and leafy French Quarter so serves as a wonderful oasis when visiting the region. You are a 10-minute stroll from the Old Market area and just a 15-minute taxi (or preferably tuk-tuk, more authentic and much more fun) ride to the entrance to Angkor.
The interior is achingly stylish; modern-Cambodian with lots of arty touches. Acclaimed architect Bill Bensley created the property, and artwork is displayed throughout the hotel showcasing images of Angkor.
After a hot day exploring, the hotel is a delightful haven of relaxation. You can enjoy a cool swim in the large and beautiful pool, savor an aromatherapy massage at the luxe Shinta Mani Spa leaving refreshed and restored, or relax on a sofa at the sophisticated pool bar with a signature Icy Green Ginger cocktail.
Choose from 39 contemporary, Khmer-inspired rooms; you can either stay poolside where it’s just a short stroll to the swimming pool, or can stay higher up and have a pool or garden view. All the rooms have either a balcony or a large veranda. The
5. Sabara Angkor Resort & Spa
Sabara Angkor Resort & Spa is 15 minutes from the Angkor Complex and just 8 minutes from Siem Reap International Airport. The hotel is located in a calm and tranquil area of Siem Reap, just near enough to the bustling downtown area for it to be accessible and far away enough to escape and find some peace. The hotel lays on a complimentary tuk-tuk service when you want to head downtown.
The architecture and interior design carefully balance the traditional Khmer style with a contemporary minimalist feel.
When you return from a day of exploring Siem Reap, head to the beautiful saltwater swimming pool, admire the views of the gardens, and, even better, relax at the fabulous poolside bar. There’s a separate pool area for children and a jacuzzi too.
To indulge those aching muscles after all that walking, book a treatment at the Haemon Spa and let a Cambodian treatment restore your body’s balance and harmony. The hotel hosts various guest activities and experiences, including cookery classes, pottery making, archery, jeep tours, and horse riding.
There are 30 well-appointed guest rooms and suites; each has its own balcony and extra-comfy beds! The Deluxe Twin and Deluxe King rooms are stunning, warm rooms with lovely views across the swimming pool and gardens. Book a stay in the very spacious Sabara Suite or Grand Suite for the ultimate in luxury. Perfectly suitable for discerning travelers, the Grand Suite is located steps from the swimming pool, and the Sabara Suite comes with its own private plunge pool, total uninhibited bliss.
6. Belmond La Résidence d’Angkor
At the pricier end of our listing is Belmond La Résidence d’Angkor. One of the first luxury hotels to open in Siem Reap, and with just 59 suites, it boasts an enviable position on the river, moments away from the mystifying temple complexes. Traditionally-designed suites spread out among lush flora. Retreat to the salt-water pool, or indulge at Kong Kea Spa.
7. Zannier Hotels Phum Baitang
Zannier Hotels Phum Baitang has 45 rooms and is set in eight acres of paddy fields and lush jungle. The hotel is a tuk-tuk ride away from the temples of Angkor and hides in the more sleepy side of Siem Reap. The resort’s stilted villas, built of thatch, rattan, and clay tiles, are stunning. There’s also a 50-meter pool, and the hotel’s restaurants and bars, and the spa are carved out in stone, making you feel like you are stepping back in time.
8. Anantara Angkor Resort
Anantara Angkor Resort is an all-suite (39 in total) boutique hotel in Siem Reap, and the closest to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Angkor Wat. Only 15 minutes away, it offers a great base to explore the temples by tuk-tuk, Vespa, or helicopter.
Find remote ruins with your Temple Guru. Sample the best street foods and boutiques with the Streetwise Guru. Relax in comfort after the day’s adventures, with Siem Reap’s largest suites ideal for romantic hideaways and interconnecting suites for families.
9. Sala Lodges
Sala Lodges is more than a hotel, offering guests a unique, authentic experience. Eleven traditional wooden houses on stilts in this “idyllic village” situated 8 km from the architectural site of Angkor contribute to the preservation of an architectural heritage, which is threatened with extinction. By choosing existing Khmer houses to conserve their aged luster, the founders of Sala Lodges allow you to delve into a genuine Cambodian world.
10. Maison Polanka
Maison Polanka is a collection of 3 unique and beautiful Cambodian wooden villas, offering luxury services in a spacious tropical garden setting. The design and style of each villa reflect the owners’ life, intricately linked to Asian and Cambodian crafts for the past 20 years. Their private collection of paintings and photographs from Khmer, Asian and European artists and the Art Deco and 1950s furniture and objects sourced since 1992 are everywhere. Maison Polanka connects you to the essence of Cambodia through its cuisine, true hospitality, involvement in community projects, a private art collection, and knowledge of crafts.
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