Raffles Hotel Le Royal

In Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s frenetic and unvarnished capital, Raffles’ Hotel Le Royal is an oasis of tranquility and old-world elegance. In lieu of a traditional Khmer esthetic, this four-story grand hotel favors French-Colonial architecture. When it opened in 1929, the hotel was both the tallest and largest building in the city. Simply put, Le Royal was born a landmark. By mid-century, the hotel’s Rolodex included legendary guest names like Rudyard Kipling, Charlie Chaplin, Elizabeth Taylor, and Jacqueline Kennedy.  

However, Hotel de Royal did not always wear a patina of prestige. During the bloody reign of the Khmer Rouge, the hotel shuttered its official operations. For decades, the building served various functions, before Raffles oversaw the hotel’s eventual revival in 1996. Today, guests check into any one of 175 rooms dressed in creamy neutrals or premier suites decorated with Khmer and Art Deco accents. And while the rooms retain colonial sensibilities, modern technologies assure comfort and convenience.  

After a day of touring Phnom Penh, retreat to the sanctuary of the iconic Elephant Bar. Take a seat in front of the handsome, brass-and-mirror bar and order a Femme Fatale—a cocktail first mixed for Jacqueline Kennedy during her 1967 tour of Cambodia. Otherwise, let the humidity beckon you to the turquoise pool, where shaded loungers invite a midday nap. And there is no finer place than the Royal Spa to be on the receiving end of a vigorous, firm pressure chad ta shai — therapeutic Khmer massage.  

When you’ve worked up an appetite, take a seat at Restaurant Le Royal for a very special opportunity to sample recipes shared by the Cambodian royal family.  

Hotel Le Royal is the ideal stay in Phnom Penh for travelers who crave storied luxury lodging and the nostalgia of an iconic lobby bar.