Highlights
- Visit the night market and buy your souvenirs
- While enjoying delicious street food
- Interact with local vendors and artisans
- Assist in an Apsara show
- Relax and chat in one of the many cafes in town
The nights in Siem Reap are full of life: the many tourists visiting the temples during the day seek relief in the lower night temperatures, going out and having a drink while walking through the night markets, enjoying an Apsara show or chatting in one the numerous cafes around the town.
We have chosen some of the best things to do at night in Siem Reap. You can visit the night markets looking for souvenirs to bring home: every night market hosts hundreds of vendors selling locally-made souvenirs such as silk cloth, paintings, and spices, while being an ideal place for enjoying some Khmer street food and live music.
Or a chance to watch an Apsara Show, a traditional dancing show depicting an epic story from the Khmer culture.
Angkor village organizes a traditional Apsara show in Siem Reap.
The Apsara show (1 hour long) depicts a traditional Khmer story: in the 9th century, Indra (the god of thunder in Hinduism) descended to earth to speak with Jayavarman II and present him the Kingdom of Cambodia, the attributes of kingship, and the beautiful apsaras, female spirits of the clouds and waters.
The dance movements are complicated and require years of training: every gesture matters. Dancers dance to live music played by an orchestra formed of about twenty elements and called pinpeat: it is the same kind of orchestra used in many Khmer celebrations throughout the year.
The ticket includes dinner served before the show. The usual menu will include: spring rolls, tempura, chicken soup with lemongrass, papaya salad with mango, Saraman pork with red spices and much more, with a set of different cuisines and dishes.
Angkor village is full of comfort, including air-conditioning and guides who will help understand the dance, its symbols and its story.
The location is intimate: only 30-50 people per show. This way, you can sit close to the stage and enjoy every little detail of the dance. You won't miss any of the complex movements of the fingers or of the fine ornaments on the beautiful clothes.
Location: Wat Bo Road, Siem Reap
The night markets are the perfect place for a slow walk around hundreds of little vendors, observing the many souvenirs they sell and the vibrant and the joyful nightlife.
The most famous night market is Angkor, consisting of more than 200 vendors, each with its own little bamboo shed, selling many different handicrafts and clothing made by locals and NGOs. The market was founded in 2007 with the intent of preserving traditional Khmer handicrafts.
Here you will find some of the most peculiar Cambodian souvenirs, such as the beautiful kramas (silk cloths), multi-tasking scarves symbolic of Cambodian culture; along with shadow puppets, bags, silk paintings, statues, clothes, and much, much more!
The market is located downtown, inside a luxurious garden. This is also the right place if you are looking for live music and delicious street food. It's an ideal spot for a walk with your children.
Location: Angkor Market Street
Opening hours: 17:00-00:00 hrs
Between the Angkor Night Market and Sivutha Boulevard, you can find the Noon Night Market. This market is smaller than the Angkor Market, but still has a lot to offer, from spices to paintings and clothes, etc.
The market's streets are filled with silk lamps and fans, and among the many vendors are bars, restaurants and massage parlors. The peculiarity of this market is that 10% of its profits are donated to an orphanage.
Location: between Sivutha Blvd and Angkor Night Market
Opening hours: 12:00-00:00 hrs
Cambodia still shows signs of a strong French legacy. One of these signs is the plethora of cafes all round the city. They are the perfect place for enjoying a good cup of coffee, eating some pastries, having a chat and relaxing.
Common Grounds is maybe the most popular cafe among locals, and a pleasant surprise for any tourist. Its excellent coffee is famous in town, and for good reason. The ambience is elegant and cozy, and the coffee beans used come from Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.
There is both western and local food, and all the pastries are self-produced. There is a bakery in the cafe.
The cafe's mission is to fund and help sustain humanitarian projects organized by "People for Care" and "Learning in Cambodia", two active NGOs operating in Cambodia that aim to give disadvantaged people a better future. To do so, they donate most of their profit to these organizations.
Opening hours: 07:30-20:00 hrs (closed on Sunday)
Location: #719-721, Street 14, Mundol 1, Khum Svay Dangkum, Siem Reap
One of the most popular cafes in town is Sister Srey cafe, run by two Australian sisters. It is just a minute away from the Old Market, inside a nice colonial building. There are two floors: the first is an open-air area, while the second floor hosts seating perfect for relaxing and enjoying a chat.
The Sister Srey cafe offers strong coffee and delicious food like muffins and granola, which makes it a popular spot for tourist and locals alike. It is especially crowded during the weekend brunch.
The cafe's products are freshly made every day and everything used is organic. They only use ingredients from suppliers who choose to support the local communities. Finally, they support their own staff by helping them with their studies.
Opening hours: 07:00-18:00 hrs
Location: 200 Pokambor Street, Siem Reap
Near the Old Market there is a good place to enjoy a coffee while listening to live music or buying a book.
The New Leaf Book cafe has much to offer: excellent coffee, a library, and live music. The cafe is also famous for its food: you can order some delicious Khmer dishes, like fish amok (steamed catfish with curry), vegetable curry, and much more!
The coffee is made with beans grown in the west of the country. The coffee farmers all come from indigenous tribes. The cafe gets its coffee beans from a producer in Phnom Penh committed to the development of the Cambodia coffee industry.
Each month, the cafe donates 30% of its profits to a charity project, while 20% is shared among the staff, composed mostly of locals.
Opening hours: 08:00-21:30 hrs
Location: Group 10, Phum Mondul 1, Svay Dungkum, 306 Street 9, Siem Reap
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