The best cafes in Phnom Penh
Specialty coffee, neighbourhood spots, and Khmer drip — the places worth returning to in the morning, the afternoon, and the hours in between. No paid placement.
Phnom Penh's coffee scene has matured faster than most visitors expect. Five years ago, the city outside hotel lobbies was still largely instant coffee and street-stall Khmer drip. Today there is a functioning specialty roasting scene, properly trained baristas, and a cluster of independent cafes — concentrated in BKK1 and the Toul Tom Poung area — that can sit alongside equivalents in Bangkok or Saigon.
What makes Phnom Penh interesting for coffee is that you can drink Cambodian-grown single-origin beans alongside traditional Khmer-drip in the same neighbourhood. The two traditions are not competing — they coexist, and both are worth your time.
For specialty coffee
Krama Coffee
The local standard-bearer for specialty coffee in Phnom Penh. Krama Coffee uses single-origin Cambodian beans — grown in the northeast highlands and the Cardamom Mountains — with preparation to match. The BKK1 location is the flagship; a second branch operates near the Tuol Sleng area. The argument for Krama is simple: it is the most consistent specialty coffee in the city, made with beans grown in-country, which you will not find many places in the world willing to stake their menu on.
By neighbourhood
BKK1 — Street 240 cluster — The densest concentration of independent cafes in Phnom Penh. The Street 240 corridor and the surrounding streets hold Krama Coffee alongside a range of smaller independent cafes, from espresso bars with working-hour atmospheres to more minimal specialty-pour spaces. Walkable and compact — worth exploring on foot rather than committing to a single address.
Toul Tom Poung (Russian Market area) — A more neighbourhood-character alternative to BKK1. The streets around Street 155 and the market have a growing mix of Khmer-drip street counters and small independent cafes. Less international than BKK1, more residential, and worth visiting for a different texture of the city's coffee culture.
Daun Penh and Riverside — Traditional Khmer-drip stalls along Sisowath Quay and in the streets near Central Market. These are not specialty coffee destinations — they are the everyday, where the drip sock has been in use for decades and the condensed milk is non-negotiable. Drink it over ice.
Khmer drip: the other tradition
Traditional Khmer coffee uses a cloth sock filter — a cotton bag suspended over a glass — with strong robusta beans brewed into a thick concentrate. Served hot or over ice, usually with sweetened condensed milk (café tuk doh ko) or black (café daam). It costs almost nothing, takes two minutes, and produces a cup that is almost nothing like specialty espresso. The best versions are found at morning-market stalls and established street counters that have been running for years. The Sisowath Quay stalls and the market streets around Orussey are where to look.
What to expect from Phnom Penh cafes
Most independent cafes in BKK1 have reliable Wi-Fi and are work-friendly — this is where the city's remote-working and expat community spends its mornings. The pace is unhurried. You will not be turned over. Air conditioning is common in the BKK1 independents; the Toul Tom Poung and street-stall options are typically open-air or fan-cooled.
The gap between the specialty cafes and the Khmer-drip counters is price and atmosphere. Specialty espresso in BKK1 will run $3–5. Khmer-drip on the street is $0.50–1. Both are worth experiencing; they are different things serving different moments.
Frequently Asked
What is the best coffee in Phnom Penh?
For specialty coffee, Krama Coffee is the standard-bearer — BKK1 and Tuol Sleng locations, single-origin Cambodian beans, properly prepared. For the broadest range, the independent cafe cluster on and around Street 240 in BKK1 is the most concentrated destination. For a more traditional experience, find a Khmer-drip stall on Riverside or near any morning market — an entirely different and equally worth-it cup.
What is Khmer coffee?
Traditional Cambodian coffee brewed through a cloth sock filter into a thick, intense concentrate. Served hot or over ice, typically with sweetened condensed milk. Uses strong robusta beans, not the arabica common in specialty cafes. Costs almost nothing at street stalls and market counters — a completely different experience from specialty espresso, and a genuine Phnom Penh ritual worth doing.
Where should I get coffee in BKK1?
Krama Coffee for the strongest single-venue specialty option. The Street 240 corridor holds a cluster of independent cafes worth walking through — the right pick depends on whether you want espresso-bar focus, pour-over, or a more cafe-culture atmosphere to sit in for a few hours. All are within a ten-minute walk of each other.
Are there good cafes in Toul Tom Poung?
Yes. The Toul Tom Poung area — centred on the Russian Market — has a growing cluster of independent neighbourhood cafes. More residential in character than BKK1, with a mix of Khmer-drip counters and small specialty spots. The streets around Street 155 and the market are worth exploring on foot.
Does Cambodia grow its own coffee?
Yes — primarily in the northeast highlands (Mondulkiri, Ratanakiri) and the Cardamom Mountains. Mostly robusta, with specialty arabica production emerging. Krama Coffee sources and roasts Cambodian single-origin beans; drinking them in-country is one of the more genuine arguments for the Phnom Penh specialty scene.
How are these cafes chosen?
Han Recommended is an editorial directory, not a paid-listing platform. Cafes are selected based on personal visits and editorial judgment by Han Khim, founder of Han Studios. No paid placement. Businesses can separately verify their details, but verification does not influence whether a venue appears.