Phnom Penh's Best Coffee Shops and Where to Buy Coffee Souvenirs
Phnom Penh has developed a serious coffee culture over the past decade. The city's café scene ranges from traditional Khmer coffee shops to sleek third-wave roasters, and the retail options for quality Cambodian coffee have grown accordingly. Here's where to drink, where to buy, and what to bring home.
Phnom Penh has developed a serious coffee culture over the past decade. The city's café scene ranges from traditional Khmer coffee shops to sleek third-wave roasters, and the retail options for quality Cambodian coffee have grown accordingly. Here's where to drink, where to buy, and what to bring home.
**The Phnom Penh Coffee Scene in Brief**
Phnom Penh's café culture reflects the city's dual nature: a fast-modernizing capital with deep traditional roots. Traditional Cambodian coffee (drip-strained, sweet, strong) exists alongside the growing specialty scene.
**Where to Drink**
*Third-wave and specialty:*
* Brown Coffee: Cambodia's largest homegrown specialty chain; reliable, well-sourced, good introduction to Cambodian coffee culture
* Kape Korsang: Social enterprise café in the riverside area, training marginalized youth as baristas
* Eclipse Sky Bar: Elevated setting, specialty options, views over the city
*Traditional experience:*
* Morning markets (Phsar Thmey, Phsar Tuol Tom Poung): The real-deal local coffee experience. Iced, sweet, and fast.
**Where to Buy Retail Coffee Gifts**
* **Russian Market (Toul Tom Poung):** The premium choice for authentic retail hunting. OCC and other specialty brands have retail presence here.
* **Central Market:** More accessible location but less curated selection
* **Airport Departure Lounge:** Last-chance retail option; carries selected premium brands including OCC
* **Online pre-order (recommended for larger quantities):** Order directly from OCC before your trip to secure gift sets
**What to Buy**
For the traveler wanting to take home the best of Phnom Penh's coffee culture: OCC's single-origin gift sets represent the highest-quality, most giftable option in the market. The highland Robusta story plays particularly well for recipients outside Southeast Asia who've never encountered specialty Cambodian coffee.
*→ Phnom Penh's coffee scene is one of its best-kept secrets. Don't keep it secret — bring it home.*
Topics
Origin Coffee Cambodia
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