Location
Siem Reap, Cambodia

This elegant 5-star hotel built in French Art Deco style was the first luxury hotel in Siem Reap, opening in 1932 to serve high-society guests from around the globe who wanted to see the marvels of Angkor Wat. Redolent with history and a destination in its own right, the hotel artfully blends period architectural details and colonial-era décor with Cambodian influences and every contemporary comfort. With heritage buildings restored to their original splendor and lavish garden landscaping, the hotel offers guests a refined stay in the heart of Siem Reap’s historic French Quarter. Just steps from the Siem Reap River and leafy city parks, Grand Hotel d’Angkor features gorgeous rooms with high ceilings, crown molding, rich dark wood, period furnishings, fabulous linens, marble bathrooms and pool-view balconies. Cambodian art and photography, both old and contemporary, adorns the walls. The original timber elevator in the lobby—the oldest lift in Indochina—is still in service, having taken movie stars, prime ministers, sultans and iconic first ladies, including Jackie Kennedy in 1967, to their spacious guest rooms.

Public spaces include The Conservatory, an airy space where afternoon tea and aperitifs are served to the accompaniment of a grand piano, and the Elephant Bar, one of the most famous gathering places in Siem Reap, paying homage to the dominant mode of transportation well into the mid-20^th century when motorized vehicles weren’t yet suited to reach the hotel on the rugged terrain surrounding it. Steeped in old-world elegance and sophistication, the bar features a sipping cabinet holding the largest collection of whiskies and bourbons in Cambodia, to be enjoyed while contemplating the lithographic prints of ancient Angkor on the walls. 1932 is the hotel’s fine-dining restaurant, with prix-fixe, multi-course menus showcasing Cambodia’s rich culinary heritage, while Café d’Angkor is the signature brasserie, where a traditional champagne breakfast is served each morning, along with pan-Asian and continental cuisine during lunch and dinner—when temperatures are comfortable, dine al fresco on the terrace overlooking the gardens and pool.

The massive swimming pool is an impressive feature in itself, a huge rectangle modeled on an ancient Khmer Empire royal bathing baray. Raffles Spa is adjacent, offering an indulgent slate of body treatments, massage and facials, while the tennis courts and fitness center round out the wellness and exercise options.