One of Cambodia’s oldest and most iconic hotels
Opened in 1932, the Raffles Grand Hotel D’Angkor is a French Art Deco classic, with a beautiful Accidentally Wes Anderson whitewashed exterior, framed with swaying palm trees. The hotel underwent a full refurbishment in 2019 yet retains its rich historical heritage. From the vintage timber elevator and authentic rotary telephones to the photographs of renowned guests like Charlie Chaplin and Jackie Kennedy, every element of the hotel is geared towards a sense of golden age nostalgia.
The 119 cosy rooms and suites blend French colonial features, such as wood-panelled walls and western antique furniture, with local touches like custom-made Cambodian silks and traditional pitched ceilings. Polished hardwood floors, patterned rugs, swish ensuite bathrooms, and private balconies overlooking landscaped gardens complete the look.
Beyond its aesthetic appeal and luxurious rooms, Raffles Grand Hotel D’Angkor also has a fantastic spa offering excellent massages (try the traditional Khmer massage), beauty treatments, a hot tub, sauna, and steam room. Then there’s the huge 35-metre outdoor pool, which is a welcome sight when you come back from a hot day going around the Angkor Wat temple park as we did.



As tempting as it might be to spend a whole day in the hotel, you will of course be staying here for its proximity to Angkor Wat, which is just a 10-minute drive up the road. As you’d expect from Raffles, they offer a huge range of guided tours, or if you want to go it alone, the very helpful concierge team can arrange bicycle hire. Bikes will be delivered to the hotel for whenever you like and when you’re done, the team will take care of returning them too. Very slick.
Raffles has a great food and drink offering too, from the epic spread of local Cambodian and Western dishes at Cafe D’Angkor for breakfast to the classic cocktails at the Elephant Bar and the refined tasting menus at the signature 1932 restaurant. The tasting menus are inspired by decades from the hotel’s past, including the1930s (“The Reign of King Sisowath Norodom” );1950s (“The Grand Renaissance”); 1960s (“The Golden Age”); and 1990s (“The Raffles Grand Legacy”).
Highlights from our excellent dinner included the super fresh Cambodian plum fruit salad with pork belly and dried shrimp; the deep fried noodle salad with tofu, local herbs and lime; and the standout Tonle Sap fish with noni leaves, Kroeung, coconut milk, mushroom and organic rice.



If you’re planning a trip to Angkor Wat, Raffles is a seriously good option to consider. It’s a beautiful property in a prime location and its sense of history really makes the place feel special. The service is top-notch, and it’s very nice to have such a peaceful place to come back to after exploring the temples, which can be pretty overwhelming on your first visit! Highly recommended.
Rooms from $360 per night including breakfast
1 Vithei Charles de Gaulle, Khum Svay Dangkum, 17252 Siem Reap
raffles.com