Monkey Republic
Monkey Republic is a combined hostel, bar, and restaurant on Serendipity Beach Road. The ground-floor bar functions as a social hub for the backpacker crowd, with pool tables, beer pong, and a kitchen that runs late.
Where to stay near Monkey Republic
Hotels and rentals within walking distance.
What to Expect
A combined hostel-bar-restaurant with backpacker focus, reliable food, and late-night kitchen.
Backpacker hostel-bar with food focus and casual evening energy.
Pop, rock, hip-hop kept moderate, louder during evenings
Fully casual
Backpackers, hostel guests, group dinners, and late-night food.
USD preferred, riel as change, cards accepted
Price Range
Draft Angkor 1.50-2.50 USD, cocktails 3-5 USD, mains 4-8 USD
Beer ~$1.50-2.50/~1.30-2.20 EUR, mains ~$4-8/~3.50-7 EUR
Hours
Daily 8 AM to 2 AM
Insider Tip
The hostel guests provide the regular crowd base; the bar fills around dinner time. Beer pong tournaments run periodically. The kitchen stays open later than most strip venues.
Full Review
Monkey Republic occupies a building on Serendipity Beach Road that combines hostel accommodation with a ground-floor bar and restaurant operation. The setup is similar to Utopia (combined hostel-bar format) but more food-focused, with the kitchen functioning as a serious operation rather than an afterthought.
The food menu handles Western pub fare (burgers, sandwiches, pizza, salads) alongside Khmer dishes at fair prices ($4-8 USD per main). The kitchen runs late, which makes Monkey Republic a useful late-night dinner option after other strip kitchens close. The drinks side runs standard Serendipity pricing: draft Angkor at $1.50-2.50 USD, cocktails at $3-5 USD.
The atmosphere builds through the evening from casual dinner crowd to backpacker-bar energy. Pool tables, beer pong, and the occasional themed event keep the social mixing flowing. The hostel guests upstairs provide the regular crowd base; the bar fills with both hostel residents and walk-ins from the surrounding accommodation.
The crowd is heavily Western backpackers under 30, with the hostel demographic shaping the social dynamic. The atmosphere stays unfiltered backpacker energy without becoming as intense as Utopia's pure party hostel format. Service is friendly and the staff handles English well. The 2 AM closing makes Monkey Republic a useful late-night option alongside Jack & Daniels.
The Neighborhood
Serendipity Beach is the southern tip of Ochheuteal Beach in Sihanoukville, where Serendipity Beach Road runs down to the water and the ferry pier for Koh Rong. The surviving bar cluster sits along Serendipity Beach Road, with the strip walking about 10 minutes from beach to top. Monkey Republic sits on Serendipity Beach Road in the main bar cluster.
Getting There
Tuk-tuk from Otres Beach costs 5-7 USD and takes 15-20 minutes. From Victory Hill, 3-4 USD. Use Grab or PassApp for fixed pricing. The ferry pier for Koh Rong is at the bottom of Serendipity Beach Road.
Address
Serendipity Beach Road, Sihanoukville
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Browse Cambodia eSIM plansOther Venues in Serendipity Beach
Jack & Daniels Bar
Late-night backpacker bar on Serendipity Beach Road that picks up around 10 PM with DJ sets, pool tables, and a young international crowd. One of the few survivors of the 2018-2020 turmoil with consistent operating hours.
The Big Easy
Serendipity Beach Road bar and restaurant with affordable beer, an extensive food menu, and a long-running expat clientele. Opens early and stays open until midnight, useful for an unhurried evening before the late-night spots get going.
Utopia
Late-night party hostel and bar on the corner of Serendipity Beach Road, drawing a young backpacker crowd with cheap drinks, dorm beds upstairs, and DJ nights that run until sunrise. Known for budget happy hour deals.
Angkor Beach Bar 24H
Round-the-clock beachfront bar serving Cambodian, Australian, European, and Thai food alongside Angkor beer. Indoor and outdoor seating with a relaxed daytime atmosphere that builds into late-night drinking.
Sandan
Restaurant and cocktail spot off Serendipity Beach Road with stronger food than most bars in the area. Functions as a calmer pre-drinks venue before moving on to the busier bars on the strip.
Led Zephyr
Long-running expat-favored bar along Serendipity Beach Road with classic rock soundtracks, beer towers, and a casual atmosphere. Quieter than the backpacker bars, popular with older drinkers and longer-term visitors.