Entertainment in Cambodia
The country’s entertainment industry was destroyed by the Khmer Rouge. However, since the late 1970s, Cambodia has steadily begun to bounce back with a new generation of contemporary artists and a Thai-Chinese influenced pop music scene. Cinema is also making a steady, if slower, return to form. More traditional arts, such as the apsara dance closely linked to the artistic zenith of Angkor, are being heavily promoted. Contemporary and traditional music can be heard across the capital and smaller cities, while Cambodia’s top new wave of musicians often perform at restaurants situated across the Japanese Bridge in Phnom Penh.
INFORMATION AND BOOKING TICKETS
The city guides published by Canby Publications provide up-to-date information on the best bars, clubs, musical and theatrical events taking place in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Sihanoukville. These guides are also free of charge.
The daily English-language newspaper The Phnom Penh Post is a useful city guide. Bayon Pearnik, a free monthly magazine, also contains listings for local events and places to eat. Booking tickets
in advance is not common in Cambodia, but most tour agents and hotels can easily do this for you.
TRADITIONAL DANCE, THEATER, AND FILM
Cambodia’s traditional music and dance has seen a poignant return to form. The Sovanna Phum Arts Association stages traditional dancing and puppet theater every Friday and Saturday at 7:30pm. Traditional and folk dances can also be seen at the Apsara Arts Association every Saturday at 7:30pm. Films are screened at Cinema Lux and Centre
Culturel Français.
CONTEMPORARY MUSIC, NIGHTCLUBS, AND BARS
The capital has a wide range of bars, cafés, and nightclubs.
Live music enthusiasts have a couple of options, including the Art Café with its blues nights and classical Khmer music, and Miles, a rooftop jazz café. Performances of Khmer pop music take place
in a number of the large, new hotels in Phnom Penh. Green Vespa is a down-to-earth, Irish-owned bar with a friendly atmosphere. Visitors seeking contemporary chic can head to the Fly Lounge, which has a cocktail lounge and a boutique pool. On the other hand, the Foreign Correspondents'
Club has a friendly, yet sophisticated Colonial ambience. Sharky’s Bar is one of the city’s older sports bars with pool tables and a great bar. Siem Reap also has a range of bars and elegant watering holes.
Molly Malone’s is a typical Irish bar selling Guinness for thirsty visitors while Miss Wong trades on the nostalgia of 1920s Shanghai. Angkor What? has loud music to match its effusive atmosphere.
The Elephant Bar at Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor is the epitome of style and elegance.
DIRECTORY
TRADITIONAL
DANCE, THEATER AND FILM
Apsara Arts Association 71, St 598, Phnom Penh.
Tel (023)-990-621.
www.apsara-art.org
Cinema Lux
44 Norodom Blvd, Phnom
Penh. City Map E2.
Tel (012)-343-498.
Centre Culturel
Français
218, St 184, Phnom Penh.
City Map D3. Tel (023)-
213-124. www.ccf-cambodge.org
Sovanna Phum Arts
Association
111, St 360, Chamkarmon, Phnom Penh. Tel (023)-987-564.
CONTEMPORARY
MUSIC,
NIGHTCLUBS, AND BARS
Angkor What?
Pub St, Siem Reap.
Tel (012)-490-755.
Art Café
84, St 108, Phnom Penh.
City Map D1.
Tel (012)-834-517.
The Elephant Bar
Raffles Grand Hotel
d’Angkor, Siem Reap.
Fly Lounge
St 148, Phnom Penh.
City Map E2.
Foreign
Correspondents'
Club
363 Sisowath Quay,
Phnom Penh.
City Map E2.
Tel (023)-210-142.
Green Vespa
95 Sisowath Quay, Phnom
Penh. City Map E1.
Miles
310, St 113, Phnom
Penh. City Map C4.
Tel (011)-698-470.
Miss Wong
Passage (behind Pub St),
Siem Reap. Tel (092)-428-332.
Molly Malone’s
Pub St, Siem Reap.
Tel (063)-963-533.
Sharky's Bar
126, St 130, Phnom Penh.
City Map E1. Tel (012)-228-045.
