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Four-star Restaurants in Siem Reap |
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Siem Reap, we have selected seven as worthy of the highest rating of four stars, on the basis
of very rigorous judgments on taste, value, and ambiance. As for dishes that are offered, Aha is full of dainty dishes that can be augmented with a large selection of wine. Bopha Angkor is a large restaurant with nice outdoor seating amid plethora of potted flowers, a pond, and trees, while L'Escale des Arts et des Sens makes incredibly delicious fusion cooking and Asian dishes, and Le Bistrot de Paris offers purely French dishes and a large selection of French wines. Molly Malone's is the only Irish pub in town, which is nicely decorated and has a comfortable atmosphere in which to drink and eat. In comparing Red Piano and Shadow of Angkor, we have experienced similar taste, particularly in Khmer dishes. While Red Piano has such dishes at slightly lower prices (about 50 cents) than Shadow of Angkor, the former gives regular portions, while the latter offers larger quantities. As regards pizzas, Shadow of Angkor is the only restaurant having on the menu all sorts of pizzas that are of four-star quality. Each image on this page is linked to the Website of the restaurant and its associated hotel. Please click an image if you wish to visit the site of the restaurant the image represents. Aha****:
This refined new restaurant is based on a
very interesting concept; namely, it offers all kinds of tapas
(Spanish-type snacks) that are well prepared and delicious. In addition,
they create original dishes using a wok, which are very tasty,
particularly frog legs and eels, if you like such things.
Because it is considered a wine bar, people can sit and enjoy small snacks as they sip wine in the beautifully decorated dining area. We like almost all the tapas they offer, though we have not tried the green mango and dried snake salad. In addition, they have an art gallery next to the restaurant, which sells very fine art works. The place offers free wireless Internet access, which works very well, but we have not seen power outlets readily available. Bopha Angkor
Restaurant****:
This
very elegant restaurant has two sections: one inside the building with
well-designed tablecloth and solid wooden tables; and the other situated in a
beautifully manicured garden with lots of potted plants, a pond and a
fountain. It is indeed a very romantic setting, and one can enjoy high
quality Khmer dishes, although these dishes are very heavy with the use
of lots of cream an We think that when Khmer food is really elevated, it merges with French food in that lots of western ingredients are used. This is quite understandable because the French occupied this country for such a long time and the French would probably not have enjoyed Khmer dishes unless they tasted a little like their accustomed food in France. Nevertheless, this garden restaurant would be a perfect place if one wishes to splurge, although the prices are reasonable in that the Khmer dishes are $5 to $7 and a bottle of Angkor beer $3.50. L'Escale des Arts et des Sens****: This rather large restaurant, which is situated next to the Day Inn Hotel and Resort and owned by it, is very quiet and well decorated. Because it caters a great deal to tour groups, it has many set menus, but it can accommodate groups and yet you are not crowded in because of its huge size. Their daily special consisting of a soup or salad, a fish or meat dish, and a dessert at the price of $8.50 (plus 10% tax) is a very good deal, though the portion is rather small. There is every indication that the restaurant offers well presented dishes that are delicious, with the servers competent and ambiance great. It is a type of place you can go for a quaint lunch or a romantic dinner. In addition, they offer a free WiFi Internet access with a strong and fast signal. And there are plenty of power outlets for your notebook computers in case you wish to stay beyond your battery life. Le Bistrot de Paris****: Guarded in front by a miniature Eiffel Tower, this bistro is a charming place with a bar inside and tables outside. It is an upmarket restaurant with many French specialties, like croque monsieur, steaks with blue cheese dressing, various types of cheese, and charcuterie. Although the prices tend to be fairly high, the French owner must supervise closely to make sure all the dishes served are tasty. Inside the restaurant there is a bar with a wooden counter where one can sit comfortably and enjoy a conversation with friends while drinking wine, beer, or cocktails. One nice touch they have is that when you order a bottle of beer, they bring it in a ice-filled bucket like a bottle of white wine; it is certainly worth all of $3.00. Alas! There is no "Happy Hour." Maybe they don't have it in France. Molly Malone's****:
This is a very nicely
decorated Irish pub and restaurant. The food is tasty, although prices
are slightly above ave The dishes you get are well prepared and very tasty, with lots of imaginative offerings, such as a variety of potato dishes as well as ones that are not found often in other restaurants such as chicken Kiev, chili con carne, and lamb stew, all of which are very good. There is a WiFi free access available with plenty of power outlets. All in all, this establishment
has great food, and we highly recommend this establishment for prolonged
drinking and eating sessions.
VISA/MasterCard Red Piano****: This rather large restaurant consists of a cozy patio with large wicker chairs, tables with stiff chairs in the bar area and in the second floor. Like almost all other eateries in Siem Reap, this restaurant serves Khmer as well as Western dishes. The prices are reasonable and food tasty, with the serving portions fairly large. Khmer dishes start from $3.00, while Western dishes are around $5.00. One pleasant surprise during the low season (?) is that they have the "Happy Hour" offering of a free draft beer or a soft drink with your meal. Shadow of Angkor****: We believe this is one of the three most attractive restaurants in terms of value, taste, and ambiance in Siem Reap. Most Western dishes, like Chicken Mexicana, domestic beef steaks, and pork chops, are less than $6.00, while Khmer dishes, such as lok lak with beef or chicken, smoked eggplant with pork, and Cambodian curry with coconut milk, are less than $4.00. The serving portions of these dishes tend to be rather large. In addition, the restaurant serves a large assortment of delicious pizzas that cost between $3.50 to $7.00 depending on size. Particularly good are the vegetarian pizza for vegetarians and the spicy beef pizza for meat lovers. One other point of interest at this eatery is that between 5 and 9 PM, the special "Happy Hour" prices are given. For example, a glass of Angkor draft beer is 75 cents, while large bottles of Angkor and Lao beer are $1.75 each. This is quite a bargain when you think that most other establishments nowadays charge up to about $4.00 for a bottle of domestic and Lao beer and $1.50 for a draft beer. So, in the evening, one can sit in a whicker chair and have beer or a rather inexpensive cocktail, in an old colonial building, with plenty of pot plants and a view of the river. The only warning we should give you is that even if one feels like garlic bread, do not order it here, as it is one of the most pathetic food items in all of Siem Reap. On the other hand, their bruschetta is excellent. At the end of your meal, this restaurant offers you, free of charge, a dish of fresh fruits, which is a very friendly gesture not found in other places near the Old Market.
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