Name: Siem Reap Bar Street Nights
Location: Siem Reap, Cambodia

Siem Reap Bar Street Nights

Pub Street's kilometre of open-air bars, cheap cocktails, and live music runs every night in a city where the temples are two kilometres away and the nightlife runs until sunrise.

DatesYear-round (coolest and busiest: November–February)

LocationSiem Reap

Attendance

EntryFree entry; cocktails from $1.50–$4

What Is Siem Reap Bar Street Nights?

Pub Street, officially Street 8, runs for one uninterrupted kilometre through central Siem Reap and is closed to traffic from dusk. The bars are open-fronted, the music competes at volume between venues, and the drinks are among the cheapest in Southeast Asia: a Angkor beer runs $1, a cocktail bucket $3–$4. The crowd is overwhelmingly backpacker and tourist, with a handful of local venues on the adjacent side streets where Khmer pop and karaoke are the norm. Happy hour across Pub Street runs from roughly 5pm to 8pm, when most bars offer buy-one-get-one beers.

The Temple Club and Miss Wong cocktail bar are the two venues most recommended by repeat visitors — Miss Wong, on Lane 2 off Pub Street, is in a 1920s Shanghai-styled shophouse and is quieter and more consistent on cocktail quality than the main strip. Temple Club on Pub Street has a roof terrace, regular live music, and runs until 5am. Most hostels in Siem Reap are within a 10-minute tuk-tuk ride of Pub Street; tuk-tuks charge $2–$3 per trip at night.

Information verified

What to Expect

Day-by-day breakdown

Evening

Pub Street happy hour and lane bars

Arrive before 7pm for happy hour pricing across the strip. The lane bars running off the main street — particularly Lane 2 with Miss Wong and a handful of quieter cocktail spots — are calmer and better for meeting people. The Angkor What? bar has been running since 1998 and has a decent outdoor ground floor. Most people eat before the serious drinking: Fish and chips at a Pub Street restaurant is around $5–$7, a bowl of Khmer noodles from a lane restaurant is $2–$3.

Late Night

Temple Club, rooftop bars, and street food

Temple Club's roof terrace is the main late-night gathering point from around 11pm. The dancefloor fills with commercial pop and hip-hop. Street food vendors set up along the lanes from midnight: fried noodles, skewers, and fruit shakes are all under $2. Last tuk-tuks back to hostels are available until 3am; agree the price before you get in.

Practical Tips

Dollar economy means no currency conversion needed

Siem Reap operates almost entirely in US dollars. Riel is used for change on amounts under $1. Withdraw USD from ATMs in town; the rate is better than exchanging foreign currency. ATM fees are $4–$5 per withdrawal regardless of amount, so withdraw larger sums less frequently.

Tuk-tuks are the standard transport at night

Tuk-tuks charge $2–$3 for most trips within central Siem Reap at night. Agree the fare before boarding. Most tuk-tuk drivers outside hostels are reliable and familiar with Pub Street. Grab operates in Siem Reap and is a useful backup with fixed pricing.

Pre-dawn Angkor Wat and the night before

Angkor Wat sunrise entry starts at 5am and is one of the specific experiences that earns Siem Reap its place on the itinerary. If you plan to do it, do not go to Pub Street the night before. The choice is real; most people who regret Siem Reap regret getting this wrong.

Hostel beds are exceptionally cheap

Dorm beds in Siem Reap start at $5–$8 per night at well-reviewed hostels. Mad Monkey on Pub Street is the most prominent social hostel and runs its own events. Onederz and various smaller guesthouses offer similar quality at $5–$7. Book ahead for November–February, when occupancy runs high.

Petty theft increases on Pub Street after midnight

Phone snatching from tables and bags lifted from chairs are the most common incidents on Pub Street after midnight. Keep your phone in a pocket, not on the bar. Do not leave bags unattended. The incidents are low-level and infrequent but predictable in a high-density tourist drinking area.

Drink responsibly given the heat

Siem Reap's evening temperature runs 25–30°C year-round. Dehydration accelerates alcohol absorption. Drink a glass of water for every two beers, particularly if you have been walking temples in the afternoon heat. A hangover at Angkor Wat in 35°C heat is a specific misery.

Airport Transfers to Siem Reap

Pre-booked private transfers and shared shuttles for your arrival.