If you’ve been to Phnom Penh, you’ll know that its food game is on point. From street food to fine dining, this busy little city has an abundance of options for every craving. One staple we all need in our lives is a go-to cafe. Whether you want a quick bite, a place to work, or a spot to meet up with friends, the local coffee shop is a necessity. With all the NGO and humanitarian efforts in Cambodia, it’s no surprise that there’s a plethora of equally awesome cafes that go towards a great cause. We’ve rounded up some of the best ethical, environmentally friendly, and socially responsible cafes in Phnom Penh so you can feel good about yourself while brunching. Win-win, amigos.

 
 

Phnom Penh Cafes Key

To help you find your ideal eatery and differentiate what these cafes advocate, we’ve created a key:

: Socially responsible cafe

: Environmentally friendly cafe

: Artist hub

: Workspace friendly cafe (sufficient WIFI + table room)

: Vegan/Vegetarian-friendly

Phnom Penh Cafes With a Conscience:

Lot 369 Cafe & Bar

Just a few blocks from the bustling Russian Market, Lot 369 is a hip cafe with a delectable menu. Eat outside on the upcycled furniture surrounded by plants, or chill out upstairs in the aircon. There are plenty of vegan and vegetarian options (along with meat for the carnivores), all served on second-hand plates and bowls. This environmentally friendly cafe even has a happy hour on Tuesdays from 4pm-9pm where you can enjoy cheap tapas. They pay fair wages to their all-Khmer staff, along with providing benefits and additional training like financial and literacy training.
 

Justice Cafe

If you need a place to work, Justice Cafe is the perfect spot. This spacious cafe has plenty of desk space and beautiful, broad windows that let in an abundance of natural light. Justice Cafe is also a production studio that produces various types of media, such as internet shows, documentaries, and podcasts. Their goal is to change the way people think about various topics – LGBTQ issues, in particular. Justice Cafe also offers their space and resources for free to allow others to create meaningful projects as well.
 

ARTillery Arts Cafe

ARTillery is both a cafe and gallery, showcasing community art projects. They emphasize healthy, clean eating and always work with local farms in Cambodia to get chemical-free, organic ingredients. Along with having a variety of vegan and vegetarian options, they create meals that target different goals for every type of diet. Whether you’re having gastrointestinal issues, eating gluten-free or wanting to bulk up, ARTillery has an array of options for you. They are also environmentally conscious, working with different organizations to keep Cambodia clean and making sure they reduce plastic, buy locally, compost and recycle.
 

Backyard Cafe

If you’re on a health kick, Backyard Cafe is your best bet for scrumptious, yet highly nutritious food. All of their food is locally sourced and organically grown and they’ve got a vast selection of vegan, vegetarian, sugar-free, and gluten-free options. Their meal plans and juice cleanses make detoxing and eating healthy super easy and they’ll even deliver to your work or school. This minimalistic spot is perfect for freelancers who want to work on their laptops. Along with their sister cafe, the all-vegan Vibe Cafe, 10% of their profits go towards The Good Vibe Foundation, which aims to feed 10,000 school children in Cambodia.
 

Jars of Clay

Coming from various backgrounds of hardship, the women behind Jars of Clay have created a family-oriented business that employs disadvantaged and at-risk Cambodian women. Their aim is to create sustainable employment for young women to support their families. To learn more about their individual stories, go here. This modest cafe offers both Khmer and Western food and an assortment of cakes and other desserts. To further help the community, 10% of their profits are donated to local NGOs.
 

Tini

This trendy spot was formerly an old, wooden shophouse, but was converted into a cafe and bar that showcases Cambodian art. Check out the cinema, design and other art exhibitions while sipping on one of their amazing coffees. Tini offers a wide selection of coffee including drip, espresso, and cold brew. They also have specialty drinks and a Happy Hour every day from 5-7pm, offering buy 1 get 1 free house wines and cocktails.
 

Java Creative Café

Probably the largest on the list, Java is a two-story cafe with a breezy, plant-filled terrace on the second floor. This cafe is also an art gallery and is ideal for those wanting to work on their laptops for a few hours and eat a delicious panini or bagel. They recently opened their third location in the Russian Market neighborhood, which is doubling as a theater to bring meaningful and diverse art to the local community. Their current resident dance troop, Prumsodun Ok & NATYARASA, performs classical Khmer dances with a fresh new take. As Cambodia’s first gay dance company, they are activists for the LGBTQ community.
 

Connecting Hands

This not-for-profit cafe supports women and children in multiple ways. Every week, they cook and deliver nutritious meals to young women coming from human trafficking, sex slavery, poverty or other vulnerable backgrounds. This feeding program is a way to support other women and introduce them to Connecting Hands where they are given an opportunity to work. First, they undergo a year and a half training program to eventually earn a hospitality certificate. After their training, they either remain at Connecting Hands as cooks, baristas or service staff, or are assisted with finding jobs elsewhere. Their goal is to empower women to create sustainable lives for themselves and fully lift them out of poverty or any other unfortunate situation they are in.
 

Sugar ‘n Spice Cafe at Daughters of Cambodia

Sugar ‘n Spice sits above the Daughters of Cambodia Visitor Centre at the riverside. The aim of this inspiring establishment is to help women out of sex trafficking, an industry that is still very prevalent in Cambodia. Not only does Daughters of Cambodia give them work opportunities with fair wages, but they provide recovery programs, medical treatment, and life skills classes. Women that join Daughters and choose to leave the sex industry are given another chance at education to further improve their lives. They have a cafe, Sugar ‘n Spice, with views overlooking the river, along with a spa and a shop below where they sell hand-made products.
 

More Articles on Cafes in Phnom Penh

If you’re a cafe connoisseur and need more options in your life, check out these other articles about Phnom Penh cafes!

• 10 Great Cafes to Visit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia by Marissa Carruthers from The Culture Trip
• Chasing Hipster Cafes & Clean Food in Phnom Penh, Cambodia by Laura Pounds from Medium
• The Backstreet Guide to 6 of the Best Coffee in Phnom Penh from The Backstreet Academy Blog

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