Raffles Hotel Le Royal: My Charming Home in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
The Raffles Hotel Le Royal was our elegant and luxurious home for three nights during my workshop in Phnom Penh, Cambodia (Read: Creative and Healthy Cooking With U.S. Pulses). Raffles has always been my favorite hotel brand, which is why you can always spot me in Raffles Makati (Read: Birthday Staycation at the Raffles Presidential Suite). When I found out that I was booked at Raffles Phnom Penh, I was really excited to feel the old world charm and ambiance that you can experience in any Raffles property in the world.Â
Raffles Phnom Penh originally opened in 1929 and was later refurbished with its Art Deco and French Colonial style in 1997 as the Raffles Hotel Le Royal. Upon our arrival at the airport, we were shuttled to the hotel where I immediately fell in love with its classic and charming setting. The lobby feels timeless and I could just imagine how it looked all those decades ago when the hotel first opened its doors.
Raffles is very much part of the history of Phnom Penh. It has stood for 90 years and its walls reflect many of the times it has witnessed. Yet, while it honors its past, the hotel embraces the city’s dynamic future, continuing to be a focal point of the capital’s business and social scene.
To protect this piece of Cambodia’s heritage, local artisans were commissioned to recreate painted ceilings, decorative beaten copper crests and outdoor sculptures for the hotel’s refurbishment. All the wooden furnitures and designs truly gives it that old world look and feel.
Experiencing Raffles’ legendary rooms was always part of my travel bucket list. For three nights, I got to stay in their 33-square meter State Room which offers a blend of colonial charm and modern comfort.Â
My room had its own balcony overlooking the gardens and swimming pool. It also comes with a workstation and a flat-screen television plus free wifi throughout the hotel. The decors are actually not that extravagant, but there is that feeling of being part of history whenever you stay in a Raffles property.
More impressive was the luxurious toilet which has its own separate bathtub and shower. Look at those wooden seats!
We arrived at the hotel pretty late on our first day. There wasn’t much time to explore the rest of the hotel, so I just decided to have a warm bubble bath to get ready for our workshop the following day.Â
The next morning, it was so refreshing to wake up to this view at the balcony. I had some hot chocolate to go along with the scenery.
Our workshop at the Academy of Culinary Arts Cambodia won’t start until the afternoon, so I still had the whole morning to explore and enjoy the facilities around the hotel. I decided to take a quick dip at the swimming pool.
Raffles Hotel Le Royal is built around a central private courtyard, with two swimming pools fringed by Frangipani-lined tropical gardens. There wasn’t any other guest this early in the day, so I had the entire pool all to myself.
I found a few exotic dishes that I was not so familiar with, but everything was quite good. I did not really have much time during this trip to visit other local food destinations and activities, but dining at Raffles Hotel Le Royal already gave me an understanding of local Cambodian cuisine.
The best part about the daily breakfast buffet is that it comes with unlimited mimosa! I have never encountered a breakfast buffet that offers cocktails, so this is a welcome addition to my morning routine.
The hotel also has some small boutique shops selling various items and accessories. I had my eye on this ring at the jewellery shop during the entire trip. Doesn’t it look lovely?
The other areas around the property are all very pretty and Instagrammable as well. I wished that I could just stay at the hotel for the entire day, but duty calls and I had to get ready for our technical workshop in the afternoon.
When we got back to the hotel later that evening, I decided to have a nightcap at the famous Elephant Bar with my friend Ruth dela Cruz who also happens to be one of the delegates from the the Philippines.
The Elephant Bar in Raffles Hotel Le Royal is an institution in the city. This is also where the famous Raffles afternoon tea is served. The bar has a full range of wines, beers and spirits including one of Asia’s largest selection of gin with over 110 different options.
We were introduced to the Femme Fatale, the signature drink created for Jacqueline Kennedy when she visited Cambodia in 1967 to fulfill a lifelong dream of seeing Angkor Wat. This champagne cocktail is so good, I had three glasses for myself before calling it a night.
But I actually didn’t want to go back to my room yet so I somehow ended up on stage and belted out a couple of songs with the help of the pianist who also happens to be a Filipino. I can’t really remember how I did or what songs I performed, but I only stopped when the bar was already closing, haha. That’s how good the Femme Fatale is.
Our trip to Cambodia was definitely made more memorable with our stay at the Raffles Hotel Le Royal. Despite not having that much time to explore the city, the hotel gave us a glimpse into the not-so-distant past and let us experience the city’s storied history. Fo those visiting Phnom Penh, I highly advise choosing Raffles Hotel Le Royal as your elegant and exquisite home.
Raffles Hotel Le Royal
92 Rukhak Vithei Daun Penh, Sangkat Wat Phnom, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
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