Soria Moria Bistro
Soria Moria is a Scandinavian-owned bistro on the east bank of the Siem Reap River with a riverside terrace, consistent food and drinks, and a regular live music program that runs several nights a week. The name references a Norwegian fairy tale, which gives some indication of the ownership's sensibility. The venue has operated in the Wat Bo area long enough to have become a genuine neighborhood institution for Siem Reap's expat and long-stay traveler population. The riverside terrace is the primary attraction: open-sided seating with a direct water view and whatever river breeze is available. The food covers Scandinavian-influenced European and international dishes, which is a deliberately different offer from the Khmer restaurants that surround it. The cocktail list is good, the beer selection is wider than the average, and the wine list is functional. Live acoustic music typically happens three to four evenings per week; check the chalkboard outside for the current schedule. The crowd skews toward people who've been in Siem Reap for more than a few days and have started to build habits.
Where to stay near Soria Moria Bistro
Hotels close to Wat Bo Area, Siem Reap.
What to Expect
A river-facing terrace with open sides and ceiling fans. Live music on several evenings per week at volume appropriate to conversation. A food menu that's different from the surrounding Khmer restaurants. An expat-heavy crowd with genuine regulars.
Relaxed riverside with genuine neighborhood character. One of the few Siem Reap bars that feels like a local institution rather than a tourist facility.
Live acoustic on music nights: folk, jazz, singer-songwriter. Background ambient on other nights.
Casual. Smart-casual on live music nights when the crowd dresses slightly better.
Expats, long-stay travelers, anyone who wants a river terrace with live music and European food options
USD cash and credit cards accepted
Price Range
Mains $7-13, cocktails $4.50-7, beer $2.50-3.50, wine glass $5-8, live music nights free entry
Mains ~6.30-11.70 EUR, cocktails ~4.05-6.30 EUR, beer ~2.25-3.15 EUR
Hours
16:00-23:00 daily (kitchen from 17:00)
Insider Tip
The live music schedule is posted on a chalkboard outside. Arrive 30 minutes before scheduled music starts to get riverside table positioning. The Scandinavian-influenced brunch on weekends is popular but requires reservations. The house cocktail with aquavit and lime is the most distinctive drink on the menu.
Full Review
Soria Moria has the quality that separates genuine neighborhood bars from tourist-facing venues: a regular customer base that returns not because it's new or fashionable but because it's reliably good.
The riverside position is the venue's structural advantage. The terrace faces the Siem Reap River directly, and on evenings when the wind comes off the water, it's one of the more comfortable outdoor settings in the city. The open-sided design means humidity affects it on still nights in the wet season, but the fans handle it adequately.
The Scandinavian ownership influence is visible in the food. You'll find dishes here that don't exist anywhere else in the Pub Street ecosystem: smoked fish preparations, dark bread, European salad compositions, cheese selections with some thought behind them. It's not a radical menu, but the departure from Asian-Western fusion is refreshing after a week of similar options.
Live music is the evening's draw when it's happening. The performers rotate but maintain quality through whatever booking process Soria Moria uses. The acoustic format keeps volume at conversation level, which is the critical requirement for a riverfront venue where you're presumably there to be somewhere pleasant rather than to be seen at a performance. The chalkboard outside lists the current week's schedule; it's worth checking before you plan your evening around it.
The cocktail program is competent and has one or two distinctive options, particularly the aquavit-based house cocktail that the ownership's background makes relevant. Beer selection includes European imports alongside the standard Cambodian options, which is appreciated by visitors with lager fatigue.
The crowd dynamic creates social opportunities naturally. Regulars make introductions. Long-stay travelers compare notes on visa extensions and local recommendations. It's the kind of bar where an evening starts as a quiet drink and ends several hours later with dinner plans for tomorrow.
The Neighborhood
Soria Moria sits on the east riverbank, a short walk south of the central bridge connecting to the Old Market. The river position gives it a distinct address separate from the inland Wat Bo Road venues. Marum is a few minutes' walk east.
Getting There
From the Old Market, cross the central river bridge to the east bank. Soria Moria is visible on the riverbank to the south. Walking time from the bridge is 5 minutes. Tuk-tuk from Pub Street runs $2-3.
Address
Wat Bo Road, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Other Venues in Wat Bo Area
Marum Restaurant
NGO-affiliated training restaurant operated by Tree Alliance, employing disadvantaged youth in professional hospitality. Excellent Khmer food, a proper cocktail list, and outdoor seating in a converted villa garden. The bar runs well past dinner service.
Embassy Restaurant and Bar
Mid-range restaurant and bar in a colonial-style building with a terrace facing the street. Attracts expats and longer-stay visitors for its consistent food and calm atmosphere. The bar menu is wider than the restaurant suggests.
Tropical Garden Boutique Hotel Bar
Open-air garden bar attached to the Tropical Garden property. Guests and walk-ins mix on rattan furniture under mature trees. Quieter than most of Siem Reap's tourist venues, and the cheapest draft in the area.
The Elephant Bar
Street-front bar with a front patio visible from Wat Bo Road. Cold beer, a short cocktail menu, and regular sports on satellite TV. Draws a mixed crowd of guesthouse guests and expats.
Riverside Bistro
Low-key bar and restaurant on the east bank of the Siem Reap River with open-sided seating and a direct river view. Good for afternoon drinks and early-evening meals before the mosquitoes come out.