The small yet rapidly growing Phnom Penh craft beer scene in Cambodia’s capital is what everyone in the West reminisces about. Passionate brewers setting up shop in their garage (or as close to a garage as you can have in Phnom Penh,) tinkering with local ingredients and brewing batches big enough to share at one or two bars. The result is some of the best beer you can find in Asia…and drinking it in some of the most intimate hidden gems that you’ll find anywhere.
So where you can grab a pint (or few) in the city? The first place is on our Phnom Penh evening food tour by tuktuk, which offers unlimited beer and a stop at a great rooftop bar! Then you can check out our list of Phnom Penh’s best craft beer bars below…
If you like a lot of selection, check out Embargo. Whereas all the brewers only serve their own beers in their taprooms the founders of Embargo started their bar to serve all these beers under the same roof. At Embargo you can find 8 taps with beers from Cambodian craft breweries like Riel, Cerevisia, and Himawari. They also have a bottle selection with almost 40 different beers from Cambodia and around SE Asia. Tucked down a quaint alley in BKK1 this hidden gem is sure to please any craft beer enthusiast.
Google Map: Click Here
One of our favorite places in the city to grab a pint, the co-founder here also runs Cambodia’s only craft beer association, and their mantra of transforming high-quality ingredients into full-bodied beers is enough to keep drinking until the last call. The taproom’s lush, outdoor oasis surrounded by greenery (and taps) doesn’t hurt either. They also have a weekly pub quiz, a decent food menu, and live music on weekends. It’s also a few blocks away from Bassac Lane, Cambodia’s coolest bar street, making this brewery a perfect place to start the evening.
Web: https://www.cerevisiacraftbrewery.com
Google Map: Click Here
Think two chill guys hauling a bunch of equipment into their living room and brewing some of the best beer in the country. Though they’re pretty laid back, ask them anything about their beer and you’ll just scratch the surface of their knowledge and interest in the craft. They’re quick to pull up their monitors, show you a beer at different stages of production, and pull out the raw ingredients to compare. Full-on brew-nerds here reside.
The “underground” beer spread by word of mouth to the point where said living room is now being converted into a Macgyver-style taproom! Literally. Tanks in the garage, taps drilled through the wall, a bedroom converted into a walk-in freezer- it’s a micro-brewery at it’s most authentic form. Their hours vary, but you can visit – and meet the guys – on our Phnom Penh Hidden Bar Tour. If you’re into beer, you don’t want to miss this place.
By far the most popular place in town to grab a German-inspired beer, Hops Craft Beer Garden’s sprawling property offers three distinct beer halls plus a large outdoor beer garden. They do not deviate from the German purity laws, so they only use water, barley, hops, and yeast to create their lager, wheat beer, IPA, and red stout. Top it all off with German sausages and some live music and you’ve got yourself a fun night.
This is also the only air-conditioned venue, which also has nice pool tables and darts inside.
Web: http://hops-brewery.com/
Google Map: Click Here
Alfresco drinking on a green space along the river as the sun sets is something that everyone should do at least once in Phnom Penh, and Himawari is a great place to do it. Situated on the first floor of this riverside hotel with the same name, they have four signature beers plus some rotating seasonal brews. Try their Gem & Jade Golden Ale for a session-able happy hour, or their CentenniALE IPA to pack a punch…and if you’re lucky enough you can stumble upstairs to your room.
Web: https://www.facebook.com/HimawariHotelMicrobrewery/
Google Map: Click Here
Admittedly more for the experience than the beer, Kingdom Brewery is the largest craft brewery in SE Asia. For a reasonable fee, you can enjoy a tour of their brewery which includes some taste testing and a free-flow bar at the end. Their standard beers include a Pilsner, IPA, Belgian White, and a Mango IPA. For beer enthusiasts who like to learn about the process behind the drinks, Kingdom Breweries is a fun afternoon. They offer brewery tours and host a TGIF session at the first Friday of every month, at an extremely reasonable price, at $15 USD for unlimited burgers, fries, and beers from 6-11 PM.
Facebook:
Web: http://www.kingdombreweries.com/
Google Map: Click Here
The Box Office doesn’t brew their own beer, but they do offer one of the city’s largest selections of locally brewed beers and ciders. This cozy bar also hosts regular open mic nights, comedy nights and quiz nights. Their Sunday roast dinners are also something to write home about.
Web: https://www.facebook.com/Theboxofficephnompenh/
Google Map: Click Here
Cambodia’s rainy season, which spans from May to October, often raises concerns among travelers who worry about constant downpours disrupting their plans. But reality is quite different! Known as the “green season,” this period transforms Cambodia’s landscapes into lush, vibrant scenes that are truly breathtaking.
We love the cafe vibe in Cambodia, and throughout Phnom Penh’s bustling concrete jungle it’s quite easy to find a place to chill at one of the city’s coffee shops or cafes. Coffee has become a way of life for Cambodians, and it took us a long time to narrow down our list of favorites. The cafes here focus on espresso drinks, which leaves our coffee-snob Portland team sometimes wanting more, but make up for it with great vibes and endless menus full of fresh fruit smoothies and brunch.
The small yet rapidly growing micro-brew scene in Cambodia’s capital is what everyone in the West reminisces about. Passionate brewers setting up shop in their garage (or as close to a garage as you can have in Phnom Penh,) tinkering with local ingredients and brewing batches big enough to share at one or two bars. The result is some of the best beer you can find in Asia…and drinking it in some of the most intimate hidden gems that you’ll find anywhere.
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