Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s bustling capital, often plays second fiddle to the fabled, glimmering temples of Siem Reap. And finally, someone is doing something about it. This year, the city has gotten a major glow-up with the opening of a brand new, state-of-the-art airport, meant to boost its tourism scene. From there, it’s an hour’s drive into the heart of town, where lively markets, mouth-watering street food and storied monuments await. And perched dramatically on the uppermost floors of Vattanac Capital Tower, Phnom Penh’s first true skyscraper, is Rosewood Phnom Penh, the city’s most spectacular hotel.
Since opening in 2018, Rosewood Phnom Penh has become something of a cultural landmark. The hotel occupies the top 14 floors of the 188-metre tower, gazing over the intersection of the Mekong, Tonlé Sap and Bassac rivers. From the ground, it resembles a dragon facing towards the East – a symbol of prosperity. And Sora, the hotel’s award-winning rooftop bar with a cantilevered terrace protruding from the building, is the dragon’s back.
Yet, for all its scale and splendour, Rosewood Phnom Penh isn’t at all cold nor impersonal. Step into the living room-style lobby on the 35th floor to find out why. The space feels warm, tactile and lived in, like a curator’s home, with artworks and craft pieces filling every corner. There’s even an in-house gallery which rotates exhibitions every few months to showcase the works of Cambodian artists. So yes, it’s luxurious, but not without soul.
Why stay at Rosewood Phnom Penh?
With plenty of accommodation options around the area, it can be tough to justify the need to stay somewhere as lavish as the Rosewood. Except that this most coveted address in the city is more than just a hotel. Rosewood Phnom Penh is an amalgamation of Phnom Penh’s best, all in one cohesive space, from the pinnacle of dining, to art and design, top-notch service and wellness experiences.
From the moment you step out of the airport into your hotel transfer, you’re greeted with a cool towel with Rosewood Phnom Penh’s signature scent, which is a relaxing blend of jasmine and 20 other notes, crafted by master perfumer Christophe Laudamiel. You’ll also find art at every corner, even in your room, each piece intentionally placed and meant to be slowly admired. And then there’s the view, where almost every turn offers an unparalleled vista of the Mekong running through the city.
Convenience is not a shortfall of the hotel either. Rosewood Phnom Penh offers complimentary remork (tuk tuk) rides within a 2km radius of the property, complete with bottled water. Otherwise, the location itself is well-placed for exploring the city, with main attractions just a short 10-minute ride away by tuk tuk.
What are the rooms like at Rosewood Phnom Penh?
There are 175 rooms, including 37 suites in the hotel, ranging from mid-tier suites to family rooms and signature suites. The rooms are eclectic in style, dotted with sculptural pieces and paintings, yet infused with subtle Khmer motifs and dark wooden accents that add a cosy, rustic feel. The elegant, entry-level Executive Rooms (50 square metres) come with city views and average at around USD $400 per night, while the palatial Norodom House is the biggest suite that hosts VIPs, boasting 225 square metres of living space and river views.
We stayed in the Premier River Room, a step up from the Executive Room, thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Mekong. The 50-square-metre space is fitted with a long sofa for lounging, a wooden dining table, a Nespresso coffee machine and other thoughtful amenities.
The smart control panel by the bed adds a nice touch, allowing you to choose between filtered or blackout drapes. But the wide, open-concept marble bathroom is our favourite part of the room, featuring a bathtub, double sinks and shower products also by Christophe Laudamiel. Nightly rates for this category start at around USD $450, though if you’re impartial to the view, we recommend staying in the Executive Room, which guarantees a city view from at least 25 floors up anyway.
What are the food and drink options at Rosewood Phnom Penh?
Rosewood Phnom Penh has eight F&B concepts, including two bars and a dessert boutique, taking you from day to night. Brasserie Louis is the hotel’s de facto all-day dining venue, and also where we enjoyed an impressive Continental breakfast buffet, alongside traditional Cambodian dishes that are made to order. Between fine cheeses, fresh juices, buttery pastries and comforting bowls of kway teow and porridge, this is one brekkie spread that you’ll want to wake up early for.
If you have to pick two other dining destinations in the hotel to check out during your stay, don’t miss Cuts and Sora. The former is Rosewood Phnom Penh’s signature steakhouse on the 50 Best Discovery list, and the only place in the country where the famed ‘chocolate’ beef is served. For the unfamiliar, Mayura beef is a type of full-blood Australian wagyu, its nickname derived from the cows’ unique diet consisting of cacao nibs.
And then there’s cocktail bar Sora, 65th on the Asia’s 50 Best 51 to 100 list for 2025, and also the winner of the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award 2025. Step out to the sky deck, which has arguably the best view of Phnom Penh, making it the perfect spot for sundowners. Come for the views and evening breeze, and stay for the signature cocktails, which use ingredients from the hotel’s hydroponic garden on Level 9. The bar is currently running its Alchemy of Anime cocktail menu, inspired by the world of Japanese animation and manga.
And since you’re in Southeast Asia, your best bet is to hit up the nearby markets for a taste of local delicacies like fish amok (steamed fish and egg curry) or nom banh chok (green fish curry noodles). But if you’re in the mood to stay in or reset from the hubbub of the city, Rosewood Phnom Penh offers dining options like modern Japanese grill Iza, as well as Chinese restaurant Zhan Liang in the connected Vattanac Capital Mall.
For lighter bites or afternoon tea, the Living Room is the hotel’s social hub, serving pastries and coffee by day and cocktails by night. Meanwhile, Butterfly Pâtisserie, an artisanal dessert atelier from Hong Kong and Paris, is where to get your sweet treat craving sorted. And for whisky lovers, the Whisky Library and cigar lounge houses the largest collection of single malt whisky in the country, with a recently relaunched Nikka Whisky range.
What is the service like at Rosewood Phnom Penh?
Expect the service to be highly personalised, earnest and enthusiastic, if a little over-zealous at times. Like many five-star hotels, you might find your cables tidied up with velcro ties, microfibre cloths lying around your laptop or sunnies, or your toiletries rearranged. This might not be everyone’s preference, but it’s nothing a quick note with the front desk won’t fix.
Housekeeping visits twice daily, and sometimes a bit early (around 9am), so it’s worth turning on the “Do Not Disturb” button if you intend to sleep in. Even so, a card will be slipped under your door just in case you’ve hit it by mistake. The turn-down service is a dream, with small touches like having the duvets pulled back, drapes closed and water by the bed, making your daily bedtime routine a breeze.
What facilities are there at Rosewood Phnom Penh?
The Rosewood brand is known for its wellness programmes, and Rosewood Phnom Penh is no exception. Sense, A Rosewood Spa has seven spacious rooms, including couple rooms overlooking the city, with treatment packages inspired by ancient Khmer healing practices. Try the Ancient Angkor Massage or the Khmer Herbal Poultice, which uses indigenous ingredients and botanicals. There’s also a nail studio by Bastien Gonzalez, a renowned French pedicure-podiatrist, offering mani and pedi services.
A 24-hour fitness centre faces the city, and is bright and well-equipped, with personal trainers available on request. And while there’s no infinity pool, the 22-metre indoor lap pool feels pleasantly private – like a pool in your own home – complete with white daybeds by the side for lounging around.
What's the area like around Rosewood Phnom Penh?
Despite being located in the central business district and surrounded by embassies and official buildings, the hotel is surprisingly well-connected. The attached mall offers high-end shopping, while the nearby walking street comes alive after 4.30pm on weekends, selling everything from souvenirs to street food.
Within a 2.7km radius of the hotel, you have access to iconic landmarks like the Central Market, Wat Phnom, National Museum, Royal Palace and Independence Monument. The Central Market in particular is a must-visit for its French Art Deco-style architecture, while the National Museum is great for history buffs, with a peaceful courtyard garden in the middle. Further afield, you’ll find the Russian Market, brimming with more shopping and cheap eats.
No trip to Phnom Penh would be complete without acknowledging the city’s efforts to heal from its bruised past and its time under the Khmer Rouge. The Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, a school-turned-prison, is about 20 minutes from the hotel, while the infamous Choeung Ek Killing Fields are about half an hour away. Sobering and important as they are, these sites can also be confronting and disturbing for some. We recommend taking a break between visits, given their emotional weight.
For a taste of the city’s creative side, visit Street 240, a 200-metre shopping lane lined with independent stores selling everything from handmade bags and homeware to jewellery and clothes. Lanka Lane offers a similar experience, except for food. Here’s where the Gen Z crowd hangs out, in cafés serving everything from Mediterranean fare to burgers, or speakeasies like Battbong, which are hidden behind doors shaped like a Coca-Cola fridge.
And while you’re in Phnom Penh, make sure to explore the city’s sorely underrated distillery scene. Local legends Samai, Seekers and Mawsim are pioneering the use of Cambodian ingredients like the famous Kampot pepper to create unique variations of gin, rum and other spirits. These distilleries also double up as cocktail bars on selected days of the week – Thursdays for Samai and weekends for Seekers.
Should you book a stay at Rosewood Phnom Penh?
For the regular traveller, a stay at the Rosewood Phnom Penh can be rather aspirational. But the hotel’s excellent service, world-class dining and amenities, coupled with its tasteful interiors, make a compelling case for why you shouldn’t go budget when visiting the city. If you prefer being closer to the ground – literally and figuratively – then this hotel might not be for you. But if you want to experience Phnom Penh at its most refined, then Rosewood Phnom Penh might just be worth bookmarking for your next trip.
Rosewood Phnom Penh
Address: Vattanac Capital Tower, 66 Monivong Boulevard, Sangkat Wat Phnom, Khan Daun Penh, 120211, Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia
Price per night: From ~USD $400
Find out more about Rosewood Phnom Penh and make your booking here.
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