Pub Street

Overview and Location

Pub Street sits in the heart of Siem Reap, directly next to the Old Market (Psar Chas). Officially designated as Street 8, it runs roughly from the Red Piano restaurant at one end to the Night Market area at the other. The strip converts to a pedestrian-only zone each evening around 7 PM, when barriers go up and vehicles are blocked from entering.

This is a tourist street, and it makes no effort to pretend otherwise. Neon signs, $0.50 beer promotions, and bar staff calling out to passersby define the atmosphere after dark. The crowd is a mix of backpackers, tour groups who've spent the day at Angkor Wat, couples on holiday, and a scattering of expats. It's loud, cheap, and social. Nobody comes to Siem Reap specifically for the nightlife, but most visitors end up here at least once.

The surrounding blocks, sometimes called the "Pub Street area," include side streets with quieter bars, the Angkor Night Market, and the Old Market itself with its street food vendors and souvenir stalls.

Legal Status

Cambodia's 2008 Law on Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation makes prostitution illegal. In Siem Reap, enforcement follows the same inconsistent pattern seen elsewhere in the country. The government focuses its efforts on trafficking and exploitation rather than on the entertainment industry at street level.

Pub Street itself is primarily a drinking and dining strip, not an adult entertainment area in the way that Phnom Penh's Street 136 is. The bars here are conventional nightlife venues. Some freelance activity occurs in and around the late-night clubs, but Pub Street is fundamentally a party strip for tourists rather than a red-light district.

The city's dependence on temple tourism means authorities generally keep nightlife running smoothly. Periodic crackdowns tend to target drug activity rather than the entertainment scene itself. Legal risks for visitors who stay away from drugs and anything involving minors are minimal.

Costs and Pricing

Siem Reap is one of the cheapest nightlife destinations in Southeast Asia. Prices on Pub Street are quoted in US dollars, which is the standard currency for tourist transactions. Riel is given as change for sub-dollar amounts at roughly 4,100 riel to the dollar.

Drink Prices

Draft beer is the signature deal on Pub Street. Angkor Draft goes for $0.50 during happy hour at many venues, rising to $0.75-1.50 at regular prices. Imported bottles cost $2-3. Spirit mixers run $2-3.50 at most bars, while cocktails vary widely. Casual bars sell them for $1-4, often in bucket format. Miss Wong, the upscale cocktail bar on a side street, charges $5-7 for properly made drinks.

Temple Club and Angkor What? Bar both run competitive happy hours with $0.75 drafts. X Bar offers buy-one-get-one on house cocktails until 10 PM. These promotions are genuine, not bait-and-switch operations.

Food

Street food vendors along Pub Street and in the Old Market area sell dishes for $1-3. Fried noodles, amok (Cambodian fish curry), and grilled skewers are everywhere. Sit-down restaurants on Pub Street charge $3-8 for main courses. The quality varies, but even the tourist-priced places are cheap by international standards.

Other Costs

• Tuk-tuk from hotels to Pub Street: $1-2
• Grab ride within central Siem Reap: $1-2
• Massage shops along surrounding streets: $5-8 per hour
• Night market souvenirs: $1-10 depending on the item
• No cover charges at any Pub Street venues

A full evening out, including dinner, several drinks, and transport, can easily come in under $20. That's not an exaggeration. Budget travelers routinely spend $10-15 for an entire night.

Street-Level Detail

The street has a natural flow from east to west that most visitors follow without thinking about it.

The Red Piano, at the eastern end, is a two-story restaurant and bar that's been a landmark since the early days of Siem Reap's tourist development. Angelina Jolie reportedly drank here while filming Tomb Raider in 2000, and the venue hasn't let anyone forget it. It's a decent place for dinner and a drink before the strip gets rowdy.

Temple Club is one of the anchor venues. The ground floor is a restaurant that hosts a free Apsara dance show every evening from 7:30 to 9:30 PM, which is genuinely worth seeing. After the show, the upstairs transforms into a nightclub with a DJ, strobe lights, fog machines, and dance stages. It's the closest thing to a proper club on the street.

Angkor What? Bar has been open since 1998, making it the original Pub Street establishment. The graffiti-covered walls are part of backpacker history at this point. The bar sells cocktails in chamber pot buckets, which tells you everything about the atmosphere. It's a rite of passage for the backpacker crowd and gets packed after midnight.

Miss Wong sits on a side street just off Pub Street. The 1930s Shanghai-themed cocktail bar is a world away from the chaos outside. It's one of the few places in town where you can hold a conversation at normal volume. Cocktails are $5-7, which counts as expensive by Siem Reap standards.

Between these anchor spots, dozens of smaller bars compete for attention with drink promotions, loud music, and staff positioned at their entrances. The overall feel is more Khao San Road than Patpong. It's a backpacker party strip, and that identity shapes everything about it.

Safety

Pub Street is one of the safer nightlife areas in Southeast Asia. The pedestrian-only setup eliminates vehicle traffic, the street is well-lit, and the sheer number of people creates natural surveillance. That said, it's not risk-free.

Pickpocketing is the primary concern. Crowded conditions, especially around midnight on busy nights, create ideal conditions for thieves. Use a front-facing cross-body bag or keep your phone and wallet in zipped front pockets. Don't keep anything in back pockets.

Drink spiking has been reported on Pub Street. Don't leave drinks unattended, and don't accept beverages from people you don't know. If you suddenly feel far more intoxicated than you should, tell a friend or bar staff immediately.

The streets surrounding Pub Street are less well-lit. Stick to busier routes when walking back to your hotel, or take a tuk-tuk. Grab is available in Siem Reap and often cheaper than negotiating with drivers directly.

Cultural Context

Siem Reap is a temple town first and a nightlife destination second. The proximity of Angkor Wat, one of the most important religious and cultural sites in Southeast Asia, adds a layer of cultural sensitivity that other party destinations don't have. Cambodians take genuine pride in Angkor, and they notice when visitors treat the city as nothing more than a cheap drinking destination.

Basic cultural awareness goes a long way. Don't wear temple-visiting clothes (short shorts, tank tops) straight into the bars; it's more about respect than rules. Return the sampeah greeting when offered. Keep your voice at a reasonable level, even on a loud street. Cambodians are conflict-averse by cultural disposition, and aggressive or confrontational behavior from foreigners is viewed very poorly.

Tip service staff. A dollar or two matters a lot in a city where average monthly wages hover around $200-300. It's not mandatory, but it's the right thing to do.

Scam Warnings

Tuk-tuk overcharging spikes at night around Pub Street. Drivers quote $3-5 for rides that should cost $1-2. Agree on the fare before getting in, or use Grab for a fixed price. The worst overcharging happens after midnight when options thin out.

Currency manipulation is a minor but annoying issue. Some vendors give change in damaged or torn riel notes that other businesses won't accept. Check your change before walking away, and refuse damaged bills.

The "orphanage visit" pitch may come from someone you meet on Pub Street. They'll invite you to visit an orphanage the next day and make a donation. Many of these operations exploit children for profit. If you want to support local causes, donate through verified NGOs like Friends International or Cambodian Children's Trust.

Nearby Areas

The Old Market (Psar Chas) is directly adjacent to Pub Street. By day it's a functioning local market selling produce, meat, and household goods. The outer stalls sell souvenirs and clothing aimed at tourists. The street food around the market is some of the best and cheapest in the city.

Angkor Night Market sits just east of Pub Street. It has handicraft stalls, food vendors, and small bars with live acoustic music. The atmosphere is calmer than Pub Street, and it's a good option if you want to browse and eat without the club music.

Sivatha Boulevard is the main commercial road running through central Siem Reap. It has restaurants, massage shops, and a few bars, with a more local feel than the Pub Street zone.

Meeting People Nearby

Pub Street creates easy, if surface-level, social contact through its open-air format and cheap drinks. For something with more substance, Miss Wong and Laundry Bar (behind the Old Market) attract people who want actual conversation. The cafe scene around the Old Market area, including Sister Srey Cafe and Little Red Fox Espresso, provides daytime social opportunities. Shared temple tours are natural conversation starters, as you'll cross paths with the same travelers at multiple Angkor sites throughout the day. For more detail on Siem Reap's social and dating scene, see the main Siem Reap city guide.

Best Times

• 7 PM - 9 PM: Street goes pedestrian-only, restaurants fill up, early drinks at happy hour prices
• 9 PM - 11 PM: Bars hit their stride, music gets louder, Temple Club's Apsara show wraps up and the nightclub opens
• 11 PM - 1 AM: Peak hours with the biggest crowds and most energy
• 1 AM - 3 AM: The late crowd at Angkor What? and a few other holdouts
• November through February is the cool, dry season and the busiest tourist period
• March through May brings extreme heat (40C+) and thinner crowds
• Rainy season (June-October) means cheaper prices and fewer tourists, though evening downpours can disrupt plans

What Not to Do

• Do not leave drinks unattended at any bar
• Do not keep valuables in back pockets or open bags on crowded nights
• Do not accept offerings or blessings from people dressed as monks on the street
• Do not give money to child beggars; it funds exploitative networks
• Do not carry or use drugs; police operations target tourists and penalties include prison time
• Do not agree to visit orphanages promoted by strangers; many exploit children
• Do not lose your temper or raise your voice in disputes; Cambodians view public anger as a serious loss of face
• Do not buy "antique" temple artifacts; they're either fakes or illegally looted goods