Shinta Mani Angkor

Could there be anything more appealing for design lovers than checking into a property owned by Bill Bensley, the design-architect-conservationist dubbed “the Willy Wonka of hotel design”? Allergic to the ordinary, the maximalist, playful, and theatrical aesthetic of Shinta Mani Angkor makes for the most memorable stay in Siem Reap. The most iconic feature? The handsome, 75-foot-long black-and-white stripe Bayon Pool—with matching parasols and loungers. Dive in and then post up at the pool bar where signature cocktails are served in the shade of long-legged palm trees.  

Counting 105 rooms, Shinta Mani Angkor isn’t exactly a boutique hotel, but that doesn’t mean it feels commercial. Rooms are stylishly designed, outfitted with original artworks, whimsical objects, tile, and hand-crafted lamps. Choose a Banyon Wing room overlooking the pool and gardens or an Angkor Wing room with its own pool and proximity to the spa and Kroya restaurant.  

There are also 10 Bensley Pool Villas which overdeliver on privacy. Villas measure a generous 1,679 square feet while offering the exclusivity of private pools, the attention of a dedicated Bensley Butler, and other bespoke guest services. 

On-property, you’ll find Kroya restaurant. Translating to the word “food” in the ancient Khmer language, Chef Chanrith draws on a deep understanding of Cambodian heritage to send diners on a cultural adventure. Expect contemporary spins on Khmer classics. At Baitong, Khmer street food mingles with international fare and an indulgent brunch. Airy and fresh, dine here from breakfast to happy hour. Guests who want to get hands-on can take a cooking class, visiting a market to shop for staple ingredients of Khmer cooking (turmeric, kaffir lime, ginger, lemongrass), then returning to Kroya’s kitchen to prepare four traditional dishes.  

Cornerstone to the Shinta Mani experience, wellness treatments in the Khmer Tonics Spa are a memorable gift to oneself. Organic, chemical-free, house-made oils, masks, and scrubs are incorporated across the spa menu (and smell divine). Sample the Shinta Mani Signature Body Therapy where therapeutic deep tissue massage and acupressure techniques reduce stress and rejuvenate the body. It’s the perfect antidote for a long-haul flight. 

When it’s time to venture out, Angkor Archaeological Park is just a 15-minute tuk-tuk ride away. The river is steps away and it’s just a 13-minute walk to Siem Reap’s buzzy downtown district.  

Before Shinta Mani’s tenure as a hotel, the site was used as a tuition-free hospitality school for underprivileged Cambodians. Founded by Bill Bensley and Sokoun Chanpreda, the school remains a part of the complex and is just one of many projects stewarded by the Shinta Mani Foundation. Guest stays contribute to the Foundation’s operating budget, meaning your stay makes a very real, positive impact on the local community.