WHERE TO STAY
DESIGNER HOTELS PAY TRIBUTE TO THEIR SURROUNDINGS IN CAMBODIA’S SECOND CITY
Shinta Mani Angkor and Bensley Collection Pool Villas
Siem Reap’s hotel scene has moved on from the backpacker hostels of decades past, with plenty of oasis-like options to retreat to after a day’s exploring in the Cambodian heat. Chief among them is the local outpost of the Shinta Mani collection. Set in the leafy French Quarter, it’s ideally located: close enough to the city centre to be walking distance, far enough to be serenaded by chirping cicadas.
Though the location is tranquil, this boutique property is an exciting one. Architect and designer Bill Bensley has created a space that’s sophisticated yet whimsical: the black-and-white palette is punctuated by splashes of vivid colour, and there’s quirky, Cambodianinspired art around every corner. The Shinta Mani’s suites are spread across three sister properties, all with the Bensley touch, which share facilities — including a gym and spa — and flank a quiet road. On the north side is the Shinta Mani Angkor; on the south sit the Bayon rooms, which overlook a courtyard pool; and there are 10 private Bensley Collection Pool Villas.
There’s variety, too, when it comes to culinary options, with three bars and two restaurants. Kroya by Chef Chanrith — the hotel’s signature dining experience — serves an elevated take on Khmer food, from buttercatfish soup to sautéed scallops with minced pork. Enjoy your dinner on a cushioned ‘swing table’ over a koi fish pool — and, if you’re left suitably inspired, learn the secrets of Cambodian cuisine at the restaurant’s Khmer cooking classes. From US$
