Few hotels offer as direct a connection to Phnom Penh’s hospitality history as Raffles Hotel Le Royal. Opened in 1929, the Cambodian landmark brings together Khmer, French colonial, and Art Deco influences, with garden-framed swimming pools, royal Khmer cuisine, and a bar whose signature cocktail has a story of its own.
Now, the hotel has another distinction to add to that history. Raffles Hotel Le Royal placed No. 7 in the Southeast Asia category of the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards 2026, making it the highest-ranked Cambodian hotel on the regional list.
Published by the UK edition of Condé Nast Traveller on October 6, the results gave the Phnom Penh property a score of 96.98. For travelers planning a visit to Cambodia’s capital, the recognition offers a timely introduction to one of the city’s most established luxury addresses.
A Reader-Voted Honor for a Phnom Penh Landmark
The award places Raffles Hotel Le Royal alongside prominent hotels across Southeast Asia. It also leads the three Cambodian properties included in the category’s top 15, ahead of FCC Angkor by Avani and Anantara Angkor Resort in Siem Reap.
“We are truly honoured that the discerning readers of Condé Nast Traveller have recognised Raffles Hotel Le Royal as the finest hotel in Cambodia and among the very best in Southeast Asia,” said General Manager Dagmar Lyons.
“This accolade is a testament to the passion and dedication of our entire team, and we are deeply grateful to our guests whose continued loyalty and appreciation make our historic home in Phnom Penh so special.”
The distinction joins other recent recognition for the property, including a MICHELIN Key and the top city-hotel position in Cambodia at the Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia-Pacific 2026, according to the hotel’s announcement.
Nearly a Century of Cambodian Hospitality
Originally opened as Hotel Le Royal, the property became Raffles Hotel Le Royal in 1997 following an extension and renovation. Its architecture reflects several strands of Phnom Penh’s history, combining Cambodian design references with French colonial and Art Deco elements.
Today, its 175 rooms and suites retain that connection to the past while accommodating contemporary travelers. A subsequent restoration refreshed the interiors, continuing the hotel’s long process of adapting a historic building for modern stays.
The hotel’s associations with notable visitors are reflected in four Personality Suites named for Jacqueline Kennedy, André Malraux, Charles de Gaulle, and Somerset Maugham. For guests interested in heritage hotels, these details give the accommodation a connection to the people who have passed through its doors.
Set on a tree-lined avenue in central Phnom Penh, Raffles Hotel Le Royal also offers space to slow down. Two outdoor swimming pools sit within tropical gardens, providing a relaxed setting between excursions into the capital.
Khmer Cuisine at Restaurant Le Royal
Dining provides another way to experience the hotel’s Cambodian identity. Beneath a hand-painted ceiling, Restaurant Le Royal presents traditional recipes associated with the Cambodian royal family alongside contemporary Khmer cooking.
That combination makes the restaurant an appealing part of a stay for travelers curious about the country’s culinary traditions. The setting is formal, but the focus is firmly on food with a connection to place: historic recipes and modern interpretations sharing the same table.
Elsewhere, Le Phnom 1929 offers French brasserie-style dining, while the Poolside Terrace serves lighter dishes and drinks beside the water. The different settings make it easy to move from a leisurely afternoon to a more considered evening meal without leaving the hotel.
An Evening at the Elephant Bar
The Elephant Bar is one of the hotel’s defining gathering places. Its best-known cocktail, the Femme Fatale, was created for Jacqueline Kennedy’s visit in 1967 and remains on the menu today.
Made with champagne, cognac, and crème à la fraise des bois, it offers a small, tangible link to the hotel’s past. The drinks selection also includes the locally crafted Elephant Bar Gin, while live music adds to the evening atmosphere.
For visitors who enjoy discovering a destination through its hotel bars, an evening here can become part of the Phnom Penh itinerary in its own right. DRIFT has also covered the Elephant Bar’s recognition among the world’s leading hotel bars, offering another look at this longstanding city institution.
Pairing Phnom Penh with Siem Reap
Travelers continuing to Siem Reap can extend the heritage-hotel theme at sister property Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor. The two hotels offer a way to connect a stay in the capital with time in Cambodia’s best-known temple destination.
Both properties received MICHELIN Key recognition in 2026, as detailed in DRIFT’s coverage of the two Raffles hotels in Cambodia awarded MICHELIN Keys.
In Phnom Penh, however, there is good reason to leave time for Le Royal itself. Between a Khmer dinner, an evening at the Elephant Bar, and a quiet afternoon in the gardens, the hotel offers experiences that can become as memorable as the city outings around them.
