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Not Luxe ☼ Travel
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  • WHY “NOT LUXE”
  • Cambodia
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bassac lane

    The 9 best places to go out in Phnom Penh | Phnom Penh nightlife

    Nightlife in Phnom Penh?! The Best 9 Places to Party

    by Nick & Raychel May 6, 2019

    Nightlife in Phnom Penh

    Being the capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh has a lot to offer. The best part about it? The Phnom Penh nightlife is relatively underrated. PP is constantly developing, which means great new bars and events popping up in different areas of the city.

    When we first moved to Phnom Penh, we thought all it really had to offer was the riverside. After one night out on the riverside, we quickly realized it wasn’t really for us. Luckily, we kept trying, and soon we found some really great spots around the city that we would return to again and again. Now, we’re sharing those finds with you.

    Let’s get into it.

    1. Bassac Lane 

    Tucked away into what seems to be a quiet residential neighbourhood is Bassac Lane, a small alley tightly packed with lively bars. Every micro-bar in this narrow alleyway is owned by the same pair of brothers, and believe us when we say they are pretty damn smart. Each bar has its own theme and some really great drinks.

    On Friday nights, you can expect live music which brings a whole new level of liveliness (yes – dancing) into the lane. Bassac Lane is a great alternative to the sometimes-questionable riverside and can offer some great (still inexpensive) cocktails and class any evening of the week.

    Address: St 308, Phnom Penh 12301, Cambodia

    2. Top Banana

    Backpackers, unite. Top Banana is the ultimate backpacker bar in Phnom Penh. Located on Street 278, Top Banana is open late and offers everything a backpacker bar should. Get there early to snag one of the big couches and grab one of their daily drink specials. The staff will be sure to entertain you and you may even make some new friends.

    However, just make sure to not drink too much, as you’ll have to climb down the steep staircase on the way home.

    Address: 9E, St 278, 12302, Cambodia

    3. Club Love

    Once you’re tired of lazing around on the couches at Top Banana, head directly across the street to Club Love for some dancing. Club Love is probably one of the most popular places in Phnom Penh for nightlife, so the cover charge and drink prices will reflect this. That said, if you’re looking for a club vibe in PP, this is certainly the best place to go.

    Address: Street 278 រាជធានី​ភ្នំពេញ, 12302, Cambodia

    4. Sundance Inn & Saloon

    Ok, we know we said we avoid partying on the riverside but we had to slide this one in there. Sundance has two locations and we much prefer the one on Street 172 – just saying. This bar has it all – for instance, $1 beers, cheap eats, good music, a decent pool table and a swimming pool. We love the vibe here and the pool table isn’t *completely* torn to pieces, therefore placing Sundance a level up from other bars in the area. The best part? Cam’s Burrito’s and Thai Me Up are two amazing street food carts, and they’re parked right outside 24/7.

    Address: 61 AB street 172, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

    5. Blue Dog

    Your typical dive bar without the sketchy people that come along with it. If you’re into a young, divey, unpretentious place to dance, smoke & drink, this is your spot. Between the cigarette smoke and the loud music, this bar isn’t exactly family-friendly. However, it sure is a rowdy time if you’re looking for one.

    Address: No. 13, Street 51 (Pasteur), Sangkat Boeung Keng Kang 1, Khan Chamkarmon, Phnom Penh 12302, Cambodia

    6. Score Bar

    If you like to play pool and watch sports, this will be your favourite spot in Phnom Penh. Equipped with a giant projector-style screen (we’re talking HUGE) and theatre-style seats, you can catch almost any live game at Score Bar. In this super American bar, you can grab a beer tower, nachos and wings and play on some of the nicer pool tables in all of Cambodia.

    Address:  #5 street 282, Wat Lanka Phnom Penh, 12302, Cambodia

    7. Showbox

    Music lovers and art buffs gather at Showbox every Wednesday night for the weekly open mic night. This is a true open mic where you will hear everything from slow indie to Khmer pop to punk rock to slam poetry. In this spray painted, grungy, homey space – you can grab a beer for $1 and a glass of wine for $2. If you like music, dancing and mingling with other artists, look no further.

    Address: 11 St 330, Phnom Penh 12151, Cambodia

    8. Zeppelin Cafe

    Tucked at the back of this walk-up old school bar is Jun Rockwell with a quiet demeanour and a badass vinyl collection. We’re telling you – he has everything. This no-frills bar has only what you need. That means retro furniture, cheap cocktails, $1 dumplings, a pool table, and rock n’ roll. Every Sunday night, you can even rock up to this bar to hear it all live.

    Address:  7 St 278, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

     

    9. Jet’s Container

    If you’ve spent some time in southeast Asia, you’ve probably noticed how popular these containers have become in the recent years. Jet’s Container is no different. Our favourite part about this place? It is swimming with locals into the late hours of the evening. That means you can see what real Phnom Penh nightlife is actually about. Food, shopping, music, lots & lots of beer … in conclusion, you’ll surely have a good time at this lively container.

    Address: National Assembly Street, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

    —

     

    Not too hungover for a day trip the next day? Did you know Phnom Chisor is a sister of the Angkor Wat temples? Find our tips on taking a day trip to Phnom Chisor here.

     

    Haven’t booked your accommodation yet? Confused on where to stay? Find out what our favourite areas are here.

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  • 15 Things To Do in Phnom Penh: A Visitor’s Guide

    by Nick & Raychel March 29, 2019

    Wondering what to do in Phnom Penh? We’ve been lucky to call this place home, and we believe it is WAY more than a layover city. Want to know why? Here’s our list of activities that will get your heart pumping for PP.

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Nick & Raychel
Nick & Raychel

In 2018, we sold everything we owned and moved to Cambodia to teach English.

Let’s make this clear: this journey didn’t start with money. This journey started with a desire to see the world and to do something different for a change.

We’re not going to fool you with photos of floating breakfasts and private jets. We know what it’s like to be on a budget. Although we like to take pretty pictures, we aren’t going to wake up at an ungodly hour to give you unachievable travel jealousy. We aren’t going to censor ourselves or lie to you.

What we are going to do is stay in cheap hostels, find ways to make money, give the advice that we would want to hear, and share our experiences with you honestly.

Are you in?

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ABOUT NICK & RAYCHEL

About Us Hi! We’re Nick & Raychel, the Canadian travel couple behind the brand ‘Not Luxe’. Far before we were married (and on a mission to see the world), we were working…

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  • We’ve lived nomadically as full-time travellers for 5 years. This is how we save money & afford to travel.

•Travel slowly - spending 6+ months in many of our travel destinations 
•We don’t have a stationary home - we travel in our self-converted ambulance
•We fly on a budget (budget airfare guide in our story highlights)
•Offering our services as house/petsitters (also in our story highlights) 

Any questions? ⬇️ 

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➟ follow @nickandraychel // full-time van life & budget travel 

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  • What it’s like stealth parking in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
(Spoiler: it’s like stealth parking just like anywhere else.)

Nick and I spent our first 1.5 years of van life stealth parking in British Columbia. We got really used to finding parking spots where we wouldn’t be disturbed & given that we used to live in the city, we’re used to the sound of cars, sirens, and people passing by.

To us, stealth camping is just a part of van life & we absolutely love staying in an otherwise expensive area (like Cabo) for free.

Any questions about van life in Mexico? 

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  • TWO MONTHS IN MEXICO >>> 

The other day we celebrated our two month anniversary in Baja and we honestly feel like it’s just beginning.

Nick and I have always been advocates for travelling slow, taking it in, and calling (almost) every place we travel home. I can say that after two months, we’re starting to get the hang of things.

Now that we’re planning our travels for the rest of the year, we have decided that we have more of Mexico to see (hello Mainland? 👀) before we gear up for our next international adventure.

What are your travel plans this year? And where would you like to see us go? ⬇️

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  • Remember how in the last video our 3 day total was $0? Well, it’s looking a little different this time as this was a very expensive day while travelling in our van in Baja California Sur.

Would this be more or less than you’d expect for a pricey van life day?

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  • What we ate in a day as a couple living in an ambulance in Mexico. 

Some days we cook all of our meals in the van, but on days where we’re in a bigger city (or an even bigger one like Cabo San Lucas), we like to switch it up. 

What looks the best to you? 🌱 

➟ follow @nickandraychel // full-time van life & budget travel 
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  • This is what an evening is like sleeping for free on a beach in Mexico.

Evenings usually consist of a few things:
✨ Finding a place to park using iOverlander
✨ Cleaning up our van to make it as cozy as possible
✨ Stretching our legs one last time before heading to bed
✨ Drinking wine & watching Survivor 

Evenings in a van aren’t that different than evenings in our old apartment, just a few adjustments help us feel right at home.

➟ follow @nickandraychel // full-time van life & budget travel 

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