If you’ve spent more than five minutes researching things to do in Siem Reap, you’ve probably stumbled across the words “Pub Street.” And yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like – a street full of pubs (well, not really, but kind of). Pub Street is the nightlife hub of Siem Reap, the backpacker watering hole, the neon lit heartbeat of Siem Reap after dark, the- well, you get the gist of it.
Whilst you’re definitely only in town to soak in the culture and visit the historical temples of Angkor Wat and not to drink a bucket of vodka and party all night with awesome new people, read on to find out everything you need to know about Pub Street – just in case you accidentally find yourself there.
What is Pub Street, Exactly?
Conveniently located right next to a hospital in the centre of Siem Reap, Pub Street (officially known as Street 8) is a road packed with bars, restaurants, clubs, street vendors, and souvenir shops. During the day, it’s a pretty chill place with not a lot going on, but when the sun goes down? The whole street transforms into a wild party with cheap drinks and great food options.
Once a simple residential street, over the past couple of decades Street 8 has evolved and expanded into a nightlife hub and something of an attraction for visitors to Siem Reap. Pub Street is no longer really just a singular street, and more of a way to describe an area, with Pub Street itself being the main strip within that area.
Even as recent as the early 2010’s when we first partied there, Pub Street has changed in some pretty incredible ways and heavy investment from the businesses in the area have turned it into a modern party zone which has become the (symbolic) centre of Siem Reap, and even a waypoint for giving directions. It’s not even uncommon for places in town to be described by locals in their relative location to Pub Street.
Although Pub Street is certainly the pinnacle of touristy night life, it’s actually incredibly popular among locals, and a quick glance into the ground floor of Temple Club will tell you just how many younger Cambodians love to visit this one of a kind street. There are many areas of Siem Reap with a less intense nightlife, and some pretty cool and unique bars around town, but if you’re visiting Siem Reap we highly recommend visiting Pub Street – even if it’s just the once.
It shouldn’t be too hard to find at night time, you can usually hear the music pumping from quite a distance (Pub Street gets LOUD at night). Whether you’re after a wild night out or just a place to have a beer and do some very entertaining people-watching, Pub Street is probably where you want to be.
When to Visit Pub Street Siem Reap
If you arrive too early in the day, a walk through Pub Street will usually just entail watching the street cleaners at work, ice delivery services getting the bars stocked up for the evening, or restaurant workers setting up tables, but there are several restaurants open for lunch where you can get a good meal. Many of the restaurants, including El Toro – one of our favourites – open up at around 11am to start serving lunch to weary travellers taking a break from temple hopping. During the day is when the best deals are on too – 50 cent draft beers and buy one get one free beer bottles await!
Pub Street really comes alive in the evening, typically from around 6 PM onwards, when the sun goes down and the volume goes up. During this time, many of the restaurants will be pretty busy, with their outdoor seating areas full of people enjoying their meals and watching the crowds of people pass through the street. This is about the time when the street vendors are in full swing selling food, souvenirs and yes – the fried tarantulas and scorpions on a stick! If you’re feeling brave, you can enjoy some of these unique bug-based snacks and grab some funny photos for your instagram account.
As the night goes on, and the beers get tastier, the restaurants become less busy in favour of the bars and nightclubs. From 9-10pm (ish) the clubs start to get busier as people head here from smaller bars and from their hostels or hotels to start drinking and dancing the night away.
Despite being pretty tourist-centric, where monday to friday workweeks are non-existent, weekends on Pub Street are usually the liveliest, but you’ll find a pretty decent crowd most nights of the week. During the Cambodian high season, the area can be pretty packed every day, with tourists from all over the world coming to check out Siem Reap’s most famous nightlife spot.
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What to Do on Pub Street
1. Eat Like a King (or a Villager – up to you)
Pub Street has everything from Khmer cuisine to burgers, pizzas, Mexican tacos, Indian curries, and sushi. If you’re feeling brave, try some fried tarantulas or crickets from the street food vendors! The crickets, known locally as ចង្រិត (pronounced Chang-rit) are actually really tasty, and if you close your eyes it’s like popcorn with legs.
As with any other tourist-oriented areas around the world, you won’t find the cheapest restaurants here, but you will find some great food and we’re sure it’s still cheaper than what you’re used to! Whilst many cheaper options can be found elsewhere in town, they won’t come with the atmosphere that makes Pub Street so famous.
Some of the most popular restaurants on Pub Street include:
– The Red Piano : A long-running and well established restaurant and bar on the main strip itself, with the added claim to fame of hosting Angelina Jolie during her time in Cambodia for the filming of Tomb Raider. Amongst people who live in Siem Reap, The Red Piano is pretty well known for how good the ribs are. Because it lays on the intersection of Pub Street and Street 11, where a lot of the souvenir shops and street vendors are, it’s a great place to sit and watch the crowds with a cocktail after your meal.
– Elia Greek Kitchen : One of the relatively newer restaurants in the area which has very quickly become recognised for their great quality and authentic Greek food. Elia Greek Kitchen is located just around the corner of the northern end of Pub Street, technically on Street 9. It’s a modern looking restaurant with a really pleasant atmosphere and great staff, which is also reflected in their Phnom Penh branch near Bassac Lane.
– El Toro Grill : Definitely a fan favourite restaurant in Siem Reap. Usually, a restaurant that has multiple different cuisines on the menu is a red flag, but in the case of El Toro it’s the complete opposite. All of the food we’ve tried there has been absolutely excellent and we hear the same from everyone we talk to. El Toro is located right in the heart of Pub Street itself, so we recommend sitting outside or on the balcony to get a great view of the street.
They serve large meat platters, burgers and steaks whilst also offering Mexican and of course local Khmer food. The menu is incredibly varied but the quality is consistent, and the staff are great. They also do some really great italian dishes and pizza – which are perfect for enjoying whilst spectating the goings on outside.
2. Drink and Dance the Night Away
This is the part of ‘Pub Street’ where ‘Pub’ comes in, though it’s maybe more nightclubs than pubs (we’ll chalk that up to a language issue!). Although not as cheap as some places in town, drinks are inexpensive and like we mentioned before, you’re not just paying for the drink. You’re also paying for the atmosphere and the experience that comes with partying in the nightlife centre of town.
Outside of happy hour, expect to pay around $1.25 (USD) for a draft beer or can of local beer, and around $3 for a house spirit and mixer. This can of course vary from place to place and you should expect to pay a bit of a premium in the larger nightclubs with live DJ’s and plenty of facilities.
The main venues on Pub Street itself that you’ll likely find yourself heading to are;
– Temple Club : Temple Club is the biggest nightclub on Pub Street. They actually have several venues in the area, though their biggest and most popular is the main Temple Club, right in the centre of Pub Street itself. Spread over 3 floors, the rooftop bar is where you’ll find the biggest mix of locals and tourists looking to party to western music played by local and international DJs.
The ground floor is more Khmer-oriented with Khmer music, beers by the case, and a decibel level high enough to give your eardrums nightmares. Still, it can be a fun place to head to with locals, and recently they even had a live performance from rising Cambodian rap star Vannda. I think this is a good opportunity to remind you that Pub Street in general is LOUD, so just be aware of this – nobody will judge you for having earplugs in!
The middle floor is a mix of the two, though most people will opt to head straight to the rooftop. Up at the rooftop you’ll find pool tables, beer pong, a great view of the street below, and of course plenty of people to party with. Temple club peaks around 11pm-2am, and is generally open until around 5am. Considering it’s Siem Reap’s busiest nightlcub, drinks are reasonably priced at Temple Club and you’ll have a great time here, especially if you’ve already has some quiet pre-drinks elsewhere.
The smaller Temple-owned venues aren’t as busy, but they do have cheaper drinks, and the venue opposite 7-11 on the ground floor of the Southern end of Pub Street is still a standout option. They have 2 pool tables, live DJs, lots of seating and some great drinks specials that you can enjoy whilst watching the chaos unfold. Plus, if you have too many drinks, it’s a very short walk to 7-11 for a cheese and ham toastie!
– X-Bar : X Bar is probably one of our favourite bars in Siem Reap and is the perfect mix of bar and nightclub. Located at the end of Pub Street, directly above 7-11, it’s a rooftop bar split over 3 levels with the best view directly down the Pub Street main strip. Drinks here are on the cheaper end of Pub Street prices and they always have really good drinks specials. They have both Khmer and international DJs and the music varies from night to night, but it’s played at a less ear-damaging volume than the main clubs on Pub Street so you can still have a conversation if you want.
There’s also plenty of things to do here inbetween dancing or flirting with that girl from your hostel – they have pool tables, foosball, darts, shuffleboard, and even a full sized skate ramp on the roof! This famous skate ramp has been skated by Tony Hawk himself, and is open for anyone to use, with skateboards available to borrow if you want to show off your skills (Disclaimer: we do not advocate for drunken skateboarding).
X bar is the best rooftop bar on Pub Street if you’re looking for an early evening drink and boogie somewhere you can still hear each other talk, and later on in the night moves more into rowdy nightclub territory so you can get your groove on.
👉 To find out more about X Bar Siem Reap – Check out our full article by CLICKING HERE
– Goaaal Bar (or just Goal Sports) – Goal Sports Bar Siem Reap is where you want to head if you’re on Pub Street and looking for somewhere to watch your favourite team play. They have lots of TV’s to play all the biggest sports games, and can usually accomodate requests if they aren’t too busy – so if your 2nd division football club is playing, you might even be able to watch that here too! Goaaal Bar is located on Pub Street itself, just about opposite the Red Piano restaurant.
Other Bars in the Pub Street Area
And there are also a few Pub Street-adjacent bars that deserve a mention too, because as we spoke about earlier, over the years Pub Street has gradually expanded into more of an area than a single street. Some that are worth checking out include;
– Beatnik Speakeasy : Beatnik bar is on Street 11, just around the corner from Pub Street. It’s a fantastic place for a few drinks in the early evening and people-watching on the streets. They have plenty of outdoor seating and the drinks are reasonably priced. They’re open during the day if you fancy a cold drink after wandering around the market, and they don’t shut until around midnight. After Beatnik, it’s a 2 second walk to the Pub Street nightlife.
– Picasso Bar : Picasso Bar is probably one of our favourite bars in Siem Reap. This intimate, air conditioned venue is located on Alley West, one of the little alleyways that work their way through the area, and only a 30 second walk from the main Pub Street. Head to Picasso Bar if you’re looking for good cocktails, great conversation, and a nice air conditioned break before heading into the belly of the beast.
– Silk Garden Bar : Silk Garden is an outdoorsy vibe bar in another one of the alleyways behind Pub Street, but this time on the other side. You can find it by heading through the alleyways behind Temple Club towards Street 7. They have cheap drinks, a pool table and a really nice atmosphere for a quieter drink, despite being such a short distance from the craziness.
And then, if you’re still out post-midnight and wanting to try something a little different, this is where we give a special mention to the tuktuk bars. These unique bars-on-wheels pull up just around the corner from Pub Street as the night goes on, and can be a great place for a few drinks and a laugh. They’re essentially just tuktuks or small vans converted into bars, and when they arrive they open up their shutters and put some seats out for the punters. Most of them have laptops connected to speakers, so you can pull up a chair and play your own music while enjoying your drink and chatting to some random strangers.
They generally park up at the end of Alley West, right next to the war elephant statue outside of Zando clothing shop. If they’ve got customers they’ll happily stay open until the early hours when the sun comes up. If it’s raining, they might be pretty quiet, as they’re open to the elements, but some of them will stick it out and let you sit under the pull-out roof or under a makeshift plastic tarp!
3. Shop and Stroll
Whilst Pub Street itself is mainly populated by bars and restaurants, the area has plenty of good shopping options. You can find lots of shops and stalls selling souvenirs, clothing, jewellery, and Cambodian snacks or handicrafts. Pub Street is also located only one street away from Phsar Cha (Old Market), so if you’re visiting during the day then don’t forget to walk around the market and see what’s on offer.
There are also some really nice boutique shops in the area. One of our favourites, Blush Boutique (who also have a branch in the Made in Cambodia Market), is an independent clothing brand who create all of their own designs and focus on fair fashion. Blush Boutique can be found on Alley West, not far from Picasso Bar. They primarily do women’s clothing (in western sizes!) but they also have mens clothing, including some really jazzy shirts!
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4. Get a Massage
Like most of Siem Reap, Pub Street has lots of massage parlours that offer a relaxing way to spend a hour at bargain prices. After a day exploring Angkor Wat, a $5 foot massage and an ice cold beer might be one of the best combos ever. If you don’t want to take your chances with the more local style venues, Bodia Spa is just around the corner from Pub Street and is one of the best places in Siem Reap for a massage or Spa therapy. They’re open until 11pm so you can get yourself in there for a post-dinner treatment.
Check out the Bodia Spa website by CLICKING HERE for more information or to book a treatment in advance!
5. Enjoy a Fish Spa, if you’re not too ticklish!
Yes, the infamous fish spas are still around. Dip your feet into a tank of water and let little fish nibble away your dead skin. It’s ticklish, weirdly relaxing, and very Southeast Asia. These little fish spas can be found dotted about in the Pub Street area and many of them also serve beers if you want to get your night started.
Is Pub Street Family Friendly?
Believe it or not, yes – at least it is if you visit in the early evening. Families often visit for dinner or an early stroll through Pub Street before things get too rowdy and a bit too loud for those younger ears. All of the restaurants welcome kids, and there’s plenty of food options for picky eaters. There’s lots of souvenir shops in the area for you to browse, street vendors selling kids toys and we’re sure your kids will have fun daring each other to eat a grilled scorpion!
That said, things do get loud and party-centric later at night. If you’re with little ones, we recommend you aim to visit in the early evening before it starts getting more party-oriented around 9pm (ish).
Safety and Top Tips for Visiting Pub Street
1 – Stay aware of your belongings. Like anywhere touristy, pickpocketing can happen on Pub Street, especially when it’s crowded or you’ve had a few drinks. This is not Siem Reap specific and happens all over the world. In general, crime rates are very low in Siem Reap, even petty theft, and although it’s unlikely this will happen to you we still think it’s important to take care of your valuables. Nothing ruins your holiday faster than realising you don’t have your phone and the 18,000 photos you took of various noodle dishes and temples you don’t remember the name of.
If you do have any worries whilst on Pub Street, or are just wanting some reassurance, there is a police box just at the end of the road, right by the provincial hospital. The officers here are friendly and can help you if anything happens, so rest assured you don’t need to worry about safety!
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2 – Bring Cash! In recent years, some of the larger clubs and restaurants have started accepting credit cards. However, we still recommend carrying cash as paying with card won’t be an option everywhere. Plus, it’s handy to have some on you in case your card gets declined or you desperately want to buy yourself a late night snack. X Bar and Temple club both accept credit card, but things go wrong and it’s best to have some cash with you.
That being said, don’t bring too much cash. A night out on Pub Street can be cheap and carrying a lot of cash whilst drinking alcohol is a great way to lose it! Whether that’s through drunkenly dropping it from your pocket, or just offering to buy a drink for every stranger in the bar.
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3 – Avoid overindulging. Drinks are strong and cheap – which can sometimes be a dangerous combo! A standard spirit measure in Cambodia is generally 40ml of alcohol, which is considerably higher than many countries. In the UK at least, a standard spirit measure in a Pub would be 25ml, so if you’re drinking $2 vodka cokes in Cambodia without pacing yourself, things could get out of hand easily! Some places don’t even use measures and will free pour, so definitely just assume your drink is strong.
Drink plenty of water and pace yourself. If you’re drinking buckets – well, you know what you signed up for. Just make sure you’re with friends and have a solid plan to get home safely. For those who aren’t familiar with Southeast Asia, a bucket is exactly what it sounds like – a bucket of alcohol and mixer instead of a glass.
4 – Use a tuktuk app like Grab or PassApp to get home safely and avoid haggling late at night. Tuktuk drivers are some of the most friendly people in Cambodia and a backbone of the Khmer community. However, unsavoury characters might hang around the Pub Street area late at night as an opportunity to take advantage of overly intoxicated tourists and overcharge for their services. Using one of the rideshare apps available remove the potential for this scenario, and also just make things easier in general as you won’t have to negotiate and will be given a clear price for your ride home.
5 – HAVE FUN. Seriously, don’t overthink it. Pub Street isn’t a checklist; it’s a place to go and let loose. So whether you end up dancing on a table at Temple Club, getting your feet nibbled by fish while holding a beer, or deep in conversation with a tuktuk driver about the meaning of life at 2am… just go with it. Say yes to the weird snacks, the sometimes interesting cocktails, and the spontaneous karaoke. This is Siem Reap’s party street, not a school exam, and you’re on holiday. Embrace the chaos and make it a night to half-remember and fully laugh about later. Don’t message your ex at 4am though, we don’t recommend that.
Nightlife in Siem Reap Away from Pub Street
In our opinion, the nightlife scene in Siem Reap is highly underrated. There are lots of cool bars around town that you might not encounter if you’re just checking out the usual Siem Reap guides. If quiet, chilled out cocktail bars are more your scene – Siem Reap has it. Whilst Pub Street is the most famous nightlife area, there are also other parts of town that are suitable for other types of night out.
The Wat Damnak and Wat Bo areas have lots of smaller – but more unique – bars, such as Miss Wong’s cocktail bar, Laundry Bar, and Spin Bar, all of which are popular with both locals and tourists. If you’re looking for craft beers, Embargo and Dialogue have you covered. If you’re looking for cheap 24 hour bars, Sok San Road is your place. If you’re looking to meet backpackers and other travellers, most of the party hostels have open bar areas where anyone is welcome to go and drink. If you’re looking to drink with locals – well, we think you get the idea, there’s something for everyone.
Don’t forget to check out the “DRINK” section of our site, as we’ll try and cover as many of these bars and nightlife options as we can. We’ll be frequently adding new reviews and informative guides to Siem Reap nightlife so make sure to check back regularly.
Should you visit Pub Street when in Siem Reap?
Pub Street might not be everyone’s cup of iced jasmine tea, but it’s definitely a memorable part of town and one of those attractions in Siem Reap that we think you should at least visit once, even if you have a look and decide to check out some of the other Siem Reap nightlife instead. Whether you’re sipping a cocktail after a long temple hopping day, trying deep fried bugs for the first time, or dancing till the early hours with a bunch of strangers who’s names you’ve forgotten, Pub Street promises a night to remember (or forget).
If you’re visiting Pub Street during any national event or holiday, such as Khmer New Year, Western New Year or the Bon Om Touk Water Festival, expect it to be insanely busy!
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