I’ve chosen to stay at the Rambutan Resort on my three visits to Phnom Penh over the past two years, the latest of which was January 2016. Overall, all three experiences were exceptional.
The Rambutan Resort is a gem in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Phnom Penh. It is slightly outside the city center which means it is less noisy and quainter but still a 10 minute tok-tok ride to the center. The property consists of a city villa in a 1960’s Khmer style with a newly built modern wing – reminded me of the quintessential art deco style of Miami. Overall, the property is gorgeous and sports a beautiful pool to relax and enjoy the sun after a long day of tours in the city. The architecture is adorned with locally crafted furniture, Asian art, Cambodia crafted silks, alfresco private stone bathtubs and a salt-water pool all set within a lush tropical garden.
The service at the hotel is top notch and the staff is incredibly friendly, knowledgeable and speak English. On all occasions, the staff helped booked tours, booked transportation to other cities in Cambodia and provided advice on restaurants and things to do in town.
The food at the hotel was excellent on all my visits. There is enough variety on the menu between Khmer and Western food and the ingredient are fresh, delicious and very consistent. I wouldn’t miss breakfast before you head out for the day and make sure to try the pastas and the seafood fried rice for lunch and/or dinner.
The highlight of the hotel are the rooms. I stayed in both the Deluxe pool view room in the new wing overlooking the pool as well as the top floor Penthouse Suite which overlooks the city. For those staying in Phnom Penh for more than 3 nights and are willing to shelve out more funds per night, I highly recommend the Penthouse Suite. The suite is very spacious (70 m2), secluded, quiet and has its own private rooftop with a Jacuzzi – in my opinion, it is a significantly better option than the standard Deluxe pool view rooms which could feel a bit small taking in consideration bulky luggage and bags.
I have not stayed at any other hotel in Phnom Penh but as an avid traveler, I can assure you that the Rambutan Resort is by far one of the best south-east Asian hotel brands. Overall, I highly recommend staying at the hotel and recommend spending time on the property. The property is ideal for single travelers, couples, groups of friends and even families with younger children
