If you’re looking for a hotel that’s in the heart of Phnom Penh, but doesn’t come with the crowds and loud noise, The Pavilion Hotel is your perfect spot. Nestled just off a friendly street, this hotel exudes French colonial charm and an incredibly welcoming environment. The staff are wonderful, the value for money is exceptional, and the atmosphere is a whole is hard to beat. Overall, The Pavilion Hotel Phnom Penh was the perfect place for me to start my holidays in Cambodia; I couldn’t have asked for a better experience.

First Impressions of The Pavilion Hotel Phnom Penh

Don’t expect a big sign with “The Pavilion Hotel Phnom Penh” written on it when you arrive. Instead, there’s a small door just to the right of their little storefront. The moment I stepped through the door, it was as if I had entered a new world; from the busy, dusty, and noisy city streets to a private, quiet oasis. Filled with greenery, the lush open front boasts a beautiful pool and a handful of surrounding private lounge areas. The service is exceptional and a welcome lime drink, sticky dessert rice, and a cold towel was served upon arrival. Every guest also received a complimentary 25-minute massage, which you should definitely take advantage of.

My Room

I stayed near the front of the hotel in a suite that housed a common area with a sofa, a very large balcony with a small table, chairs, and a sofa lounge, and a quaint room with a TV and desk. In the bedroom, the bed was done up with lovely flower petals all on it, and there was some fruit and two complimentary bottles of water on the desk. The bathroom was fairly standard and came equipped with basic toiletries (shower gel, shampoo, and soap). Overall, I was more than happy with the room.

Facilities

As mentioned, The Pavilion Hotel has a main pool at the front of the hotel where the restaurant and bar are, with a handful of private lounge areas (each one fits two lounge cushions) to the one side of the pool. If you head to the back of the hotel, you’ll find another pool with surrounding lounge chairs and a small bar where you can order food and drinks. The hotel has a lovely French colonial lobby area and a spa if you’re wanting to treat yourself. Be sure to catch the sun slowly setting by the pool with a drink in hand; it’s the perfect way to wind-down at the end of a long day exploring the city (or a day of being lazy by the pool).

Breakfast

It’s always a bonus when the hotel you’re staying at offers a decent complimentary breakfast, and The Pavilion Hotel Phnom Penh is no exception. Breakfast is served from 7:00 – 10:00 am and it literally says on the menu, “order anything, as many times as you like”, which just about won my food-loving heart over. My favourites from breakfast were the fresh passion fruit juice, and the muesli with banana, honey, and homemade yogurt.

Overall Thoughts on The Pavilion Hotel Phnom Penh

If it wasn’t already obvious, I loved my time at The Pavilion Hotel Phnom Penh (so much so, that I literally didn’t leave the hotel grounds while I was there!). The hotel offers guests a unique experience that other larger hotels just can’t. From the beautiful French colonial design and humble rooms, to the friendly service and well-rounded facilities, The Pavilion Hotel Phnom Penh made for the perfect stay in Cambodia.

Note: The Pavilion Hotel only allows adults 16 and above to stay there (three cheers for no children running and screaming around the pool!).

The Pavilion  
227, Street 19
Phnom Penh 
Cambodia 

My stay at The Pavilion Phnom Penh was on a complimentary basis thanks to the hotel, but rest assured, all views and opinions are sincerely my own.