Siem Reap Beyond Angkor: The City You Didn't Know You Needed
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More Than a Gateway City
Most travellers come to Siem Reap for one reason: Angkor Wat. And while the ancient temple complex is undeniably one of the world's greatest wonders, stopping there would mean missing everything else this remarkable city has to offer.
Siem Reap has transformed over the past decade into a vibrant, creative hub — a city with world-class restaurants, a thriving arts scene, talented local designers, and a community of artisans preserving centuries-old Cambodian craftsmanship.
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Neighbourhoods Worth Exploring
Pub Street & the Old Market Area
The lively centre of Siem Reap's tourist scene — noisy, colourful, and full of energy. Great for street food, cocktails, and souvenirs, though look carefully to find the genuine handmade products among the mass-produced ones.
Kandal Village
Siem Reap's creative neighbourhood. Quiet streets lined with independent boutiques, art galleries, concept stores, and specialty coffee shops. The best place to discover local Cambodian designers and makers.
French Quarter
Colonial-era buildings now home to restaurants, boutique hotels, and cultural spaces. Beautiful for an evening walk.
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Top Things to Do (Beyond Angkor)
Artisans Angkor workshops — watch master craftspeople carve stone, weave silk, and lacquer furniture using traditional techniques
Phare Circus — an extraordinary performance by Cambodian acrobats and artists, held nightly
Siem Reap Art Centre Night Market — the best night market in the city for authentic local crafts
Tonle Sap Lake — the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, home to floating villages
Cooking classes — learn to make authentic Khmer dishes using local ingredients
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Eat and Drink Well
Fish amok — the Siem Reap version, freshly made with local river fish
Lok lak — stir-fried beef with lime and pepper sauce, a Cambodian classic
Fresh sugar cane juice — sold at every corner, perfectly refreshing in the heat
Khmer barbecue — evening grills where you cook your own meat and seafood at the table
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Find Kabas in Siem Reap
Kabas Concept Store has a second location in Siem Reap, on Pokambor Avenue — right in the heart of the city.
Stop by to discover over 40 Cambodian local brands: handcrafted jewellery, silk scarves, Kampot pepper, artisanal teas, and the Saysabok clothing collection — 100% designed and made in Cambodia, with designs inspired by Khmer culture and the natural beauty of the country.
Kabas Siem Reap — 200 Pokambor Ave, Krong Siem Reap
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Plan Your Visit
Best time to visit: November to March (cool and dry season)
Getting there: Direct flights from Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Ho Chi Minh City
Getting around: Tuk-tuk, bicycle rental, or Grab
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Siem Reap is a city that keeps giving the more time you spend in it. Come for the temples — stay for everything else.
Find us at Kabas Concept Store — 200 Pokambor Ave, Siem Reap | kabasconceptstore.com