Young and Wild in Cambodia: Best Party Destinations for Backpackers

Cambodia is undoubtedly an attractive destination for many travelers who want to witness the majestic beauty of the Angkor Complex, sacred temples, old palaces, museums, and other places. Are you searching for places to party at night in Cambodia? If so, here are some great spots for those who enjoy nightlife.

Best Party Destinations for Backpackers. (Source: Shutterstock)

Best spots to party for backpackers in Cambodia

Siem Reap

Siem Reap usually stands for the gateway to the magnificent ruins of Angkor. Although it is a real historical treasure, this place is considered the heart of lively nightlife with different kinds of bars to suit every taste.

As mentioned in one of the previous posts, the heart of Siem Reap's nightlife is concentrated on the famous Pub Street.

Best bars in Siem Reap. (Source: Unsplash)

One block from the very vibrant Old Market, Pub Street has become synonymous with nightlife and partying in Siem Reap. This animated address is fully packed with a sensational mixture of bars, clubs, restaurants, and street food stalls that turn this address into a very lively place, alive with festivities.

After a night full of dancing and gallivanting, one would think it quite easy to give in to the cravings of 2 am. Fortunately, one need not look very far for them either: a sea of food stalls and eateries lines the street to make sure that a wealth of different delicacies is on offer.

From the local delicacies to satisfying night snacks, Pub Street can boast a load of delicious variants to keep one going anew with fresh energies for another night of adventures in Siem Reap.

Read more: Discover Cambodia's Chic Night Spots

Those are the top 5 recommended bars in Siem Reap:

1. The Angkor What? Bar – The bar that started it all off! If you love your pub crawls, this is the place for you.

Best bars in Siem Reap. (Source: Unsplash)

2. X-Bar – This super cool bar with a skate ramp on the roof, a live DJ, and fire shows every night. This is one of Siem Reap’s coolest bars.
3. YOLO – The perfect spot to meet backpackers and enjoy loud music and cheap drinks!
4. Picasso Bar – A little bit on the boujee side compared to the rest of the bars on this list, Picasso Bar has a great selection of cocktails and wines. It’s worth the visit if you’re looking for a change of scenery.
5. Soul Train Reggae Bar – The only reggae bar in Siem Reap, Soul Train is a chilled place that will give a chance to relax and socialize rather than chug buckets and dance around to EDM.

Phnom Penh

The capital city of Phnom Penh is a vibrant gem that has long been known as the 'Paris of the East,' filled with a tapestry of rich history and culture, inviting visitors to drink in so many of its enchanting sites and attractions.

To us, however, it's mainly about the pulsating nightlife - the bars.

From seedy bars to high-class clubs, Phnom Penh is a treasure for nightlife lovers, suiting many tastes and preferences of the big crowd. Among the hip places to hang out in town, Bassac Lane stands out, thick with trendy bars and oozing energetic vibes.

Best party spots in Phnom Penh. (Source: Freepik)

Be it a lounge for a laid-back appeal or an upbeat club, Phnom Penh has everything a night owl will need to be fascinated by.

1. Club Love – Okay so Club Love is technically not a bar, but it is the perfect place to visit as a backpacker. The club is a relatively cheap night out, has happy hours, and is a great place to party with music ranging from hip-hop to house and pop to alternative.
2. Red Bar – An upmarket dive bar (if you can imagine such a thing exists), Red Bar is a great spot to spend an evening. With $1 beers, frozen margaritas, and live music, you’d be wrong to not visit it!
3. Garage Bar – At Garage Bar you get the best of both worlds as it’s a bar with a restaurant on-site, and it’s famous for its burgers! Not only that, but it has well-priced drinks, and they even take music requests. Win-Win!

Sihanoukville

On the Cambodian coastline, the loud party city Sihanoukville has just clicked the right buttons with the backpacker and traveler community.

Busy nights out here have run the gamut from a raucous beach party to a chilled-out spot where one could sip on a drink and watch the sky turn pink and orange in the beautiful sunset.

Best bar spots in Sihanoukville. (Source: Istock)

Furthermore, it is also a very good starting point for exciting tours to be made around the magnificent islands of Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem. The sister paradises boast virgin sandy shores and crystal-clear waters, serving just perfectly for a getaway to the feeling of tropical serenity.

Also, watch out for energetic promoters giving out flyers along lively Serendipity Beach - you'll find some of them quite good to supplement your time here in this bustling enclave.

1. Jack and Daniels Bar - The best bar in town! Located in Serendipity, Jack and Daniels are the ultimate late-night backpacker bar and a great place to socialize with people. It has a great atmosphere, and everyone who parties here has a great time!
2. JJ’s Playground - Just like Jack and Daniels, JJ’s is a great place to party until very late, and if you’re looking for a wild night, then this truly is your playground. Seeing as their tagline is ‘Let's Get Wasted,’ you know that you’re in for a great night out!
3. Otres Corner – For those looking for a Koh Phangan-style beach party, this is for you. Hosting techno and trance nights, Otres Corner is an awesome bar and yet another bar that is open until very, very late!

Best bar spots in Sihanoukville. (Source: Istock)

Tips for the best nights in Cambodia

1. Respect the Local Norms: Nightlife in this vibrant region is surely something to relate to, but it also shows respect for the local traditions and codes. It would be very worthy to know about customs that control what one should wear and where while shifting from culturally important places to wildly active party places.
2. Planning Ahead: Bars and clubs get full quite fast, especially on nighttime hotspots such as Pub Street in Siem Reap or, perennially popular, Bassac Lane in Phnom Penh. To enjoy your night out and find reasonably good seats, it's best to get here relatively early, so you appreciate the whole atmosphere with less waiting in queues and crowds.
3. Keep Yourself Hydrated: The hot tropical weather and parties might be very exciting, but you easily get dehydrated. Keep a water bottle by your side and drink fluids that keep you cool while dancing all night or having fun outside the city.
4. Keep Cash Handy: While some spots might allow for credit and debit card transactions, most of the small bars and street food stalls are still cash-based. Moving around with small bills could make it easy to enjoy snacks and drinks during your night.

Tips for the best nights in Cambodia. (Source: Unsplash)

5. Watch Your Belongings: At any crowded place, pay a lot of attention to your belongings. Let your wallet, phone, and other valuables be within your eyesight because this kind of surroundings is a perfect place for any pickpocket to ensure a catch amid a large number of unknown people.
6. Take Tuk Tuks: If you want a fun, easy way to travel between nightlife spots, consider taking a tuk-tuk. These cute, open vehicles are super cheap but give you a unique feel of the city. Just make sure to agree on the price before you start your ride, so you won't be surprised when you get to your destination.

Conclusion

Whether you’re looking for a quiet night and just a few drinks with friends or a big party full of dancing, drinking games, and celebration, Cambodia has it all. We hope you’ve enjoyed our Cambodia Nightlife Guide. Enjoy your night, stay safe, have fun, and don’t forget to book tickets with Asia King Travel!

Read more: Cambodia Tours 7 Days