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It has, however, been said to have a bit of a ‘Marmite’ nightlife culture by those backpackers that aren’t gagging to have shots of Sambuca gracefully sucked off their stomachs and dance their socks off like there’s no tomorrow.
Those bummed out backpackers just didn’t know where the right atmosphere was.
But don’t you chill pill seekers worry one little bit…
There are also loads of hidden beach bars that are perfect for you backpackers looking to casually let your hair down and unwind with a refreshing cocktail, just as the sun dreamily disappears beyond the horizon.
Sihanoukville Nightlife: Best Bars, Clubs & Events 2017
Our Sihanoukville party squad has recently returned from an investigatory booze cruise around all the destination’s watering holes.
In this article we are going to give you the full run down of the best bars, nightclubs, and Sihanoukville nightlife options that you simply cannot miss out on during your backpacking adventure here, for obvious reasons we are not going to cover hostess bars in sihanoukville,sihanoukville girlie bars or any other shadiness.
Inside scoop…
The one to watch out for is Sihanoukville’s super secret weekly jungle party. That experience was the one that truly took our minds, bodies and souls out of this world and into a dreamily drunk land. Nothing better than a euphoric curveball on a night out, but we’ll guide you towards that later on.
Right then, for all you beer lovers, cocktail canoodlers, and fiesta fiends.
Here is the inside scoop on the best bars, clubs, and Sihanoukville nightlife antics that you should really be saving some space to sip on throughout your Sihanoukville nightlife itinerary.
Bottoms up…
Sihanoukville Nightlife: Best Chilled Spots
For those of you that are down for chilling like a villain in Sihanoukville town. Take it easy. Oh so easy.
Sessions Bar
Shack vibes…
Any of you looking to escape the raucous party vibes of Serendipity Beach, it’s about time you came for a session at Sessions.
A Sihanoukville legacy…
This thatched roof beach shack has been a part of the Sihanoukville furniture for many a relaxing escapade. It’s one of Ochheuteal Beach’s longest standing bars. With lanterns stretching out to the shoreline and those bucket cushion chairs that’ll swallow your bum right up, this is the perfect place for a sundowner.
Sessions stays open till the wee hours, but make sure to stop by for their 4pm to 9pm Happy Hour.
Our favourite thing about this tropical watering hole…
This bar is the only one that plays some truly classic indie rock tracks, dating all the way back to the 60s. Pink Floyd. Led Zeppelin. The Beatles. The show does go on.
Location: Occheuteal Beach, Sihanoukville, Cambodia
Contact: Facebook
Wish You Were Here – Sihanoukville Nightlife Chill Zone
Wooden wonderland…
This little Narnia-esq gem is also one of the coolest hostels in Sihanoukville. However, if you haven’t managed to ride the lion, fight the witch, and walk through the wardrobe to book yourself in for an overnight stay, we’d highly recommend dropping by the bar for an evening session.
Hands down…
Wish You Were Here is one of the hippest hang-outs on Otres Beach.
How is this magical atmosphere conjured…
Firstly, arriving on the bar’s doorstep is like walking through the wardrobe into a Cambodian forest. The wooden structure has been beautifully crafted and is a prime spot for all kinds of herbal and alcoholic sloth-like behaviour.
Cheap and cheerful…
The bar has some major Sunday sessions with live music, 75c beers, and specials on cocktails all day.
And oh my golly gosh…
These cocktails are killer! It’s like there’s a party in your mouth, and all your tastebuds and favourite flavours have been invited.
Check it out, otherwise you will wish you were here.
Location: Otres Beach, Sihanoukville, Cambodia –
Contact : +855 97 241 5884 | Facebook
Hours: Temporarily Closed
Sihanoukville Nightlife: Best Pre Drinking Spots
The party spells of the witching hour have almost been cast; it’s time to get pre drinking ladies and gents.
Five Men Fresh Beer
Craft beer is a very new wave thing in Cambodia. It’s a drinking phenomena that’s gradually blossoming and Five Men Fresh Beer are certainly pioneering this revolution.
The micro brewery’s Brewmaster, Ket (what a name!), has spent over 20 years in the brewing game and even had a stint of sculpting his beer craftsmanship in Germany.
The result…
An intriguingly cavernous beer hall that is reminiscent of an alcohol-fueled air hanger. The space can seat over 100 thirsty beer fanatics and has several giant copper brew tanks alongside it.
These beer tanks are filled with some lovely German style lagers and stouts which are elegantly served in iced glasses awaiting your approval.
Five Men Fresh Beer is located slightly back from Independence Beach and a very short tuk-tuk journey from Serendipity Beach.
If you’re looking for some atmosphere away from the hectic hostel, bar, and club scene, Five Men Fresh Beer is right up your street. Prost!
Location: 19 Mithona Street, Kâmpóng Saôm, Cambodia – VIEW MAP
Contact: +855 12 913 346
Monkey Republic Hostel Bar
Juice palace…
The Monkey Republic Hostel Bar is a mecca for all travelers looking to get geared up for the evening’s festivities. The bar is a great spot to flirt your way around the different backpacking nationalities and has a lovely outdoor terrace.
Happy Hour runs smoothly from 6pm to 9pm and the hostel swimming pool is also open until 9pm, catch our drift…
The bar is also home to Sihanoukville’s only Jaegerbomb World Cup, so do your ancestors proud and put your country on that leaderboard!
Why not get yourself a nice cosy bed here as well? Check out why this hostel should definitely be on your napping list while in Sihanoukville.
But don’t leave quite yet, we’ve still have got the inside scoop on Sihanoukville nightlife’s super secret jungle party coming up. You’d barely be able to call yourself a grooving god or goddess if you missed out on it.
Location: Serendipity Rd, Kâmpóng Saôm, Cambodia
Big Easy Hostel Bar
Easy victory…
Another pre-drinking favourite that rivals Monkey Republic in Sihanoukville. Inevitably there will be a whole rabble of other travelers drinking here before heading out on the the town.
Why would you choose here over Monkey Republic?
It’s a close one…
And a decision you may well not have to make because most of the bar crawls in Sihanoukville tend to stop off at both of these hostel bars anyway.
Big Easy is, however, the home of live sport in Sihanoukville. The bar has five big flat screen TVs and a huge ass projector that shows pretty much all the big sporting fixtures from around the world. Ask the lovely bar staff and they will sort you out.
Happy Hour runs from 7pm to 9pm (so Monkey Republic takes the crown on that one) and both of the hostel bars have pool tables.
As fate would have it…
You’re probably going to be in Sihanoukville for a couple of nights and they are only a short stroll way from each other, so we’d definitely recommend going to sip on a cold one at both these bars.
Now you’re nicely juiced, it’s approaching midnight and time to head for the late night action…
Location: Serendipity Rd, Kâmpóng Saôm, Cambodia
Sihanoukville Nightlife: Best All Night Spots & Nightclubs
Do as Shaggy would and… Let’s get in on till the early morn!
Dolphin Shack
Virak’s house of fun…
As with most of the beach front clubs, Dolphin Shack hasn’t put much effort into the bells and whistles, but you can guarantee it will be pumping the tunes and will be fuelled by a flock of young and fun-loving party animals.
The owner Virak takes the party into his own hands and makes sure all his guests end up stumbling out the door with a smile on their face. Keep your eyes peeled for promoters handing out flyers on Serendipity Beach Road, they usually will get you a free drink or two.
The bar staff are then usually more than happy to give you a shot of something special as you clamber onto the bar to throw some eurythmic shapes around during the night.
Looking to keep the festivities going through into the next day…
Dolphin Shack also runs regular booze cruises during the days which always pop off!
Location: Occheuteal Beach, Sihanoukville, Cambodia –
Utopia
25 cent beers…
Yes, you heard us right.
No need to double take or reach for your reading glasses…
Utopia is the bar famous for its Happy Hour where they gift beers to backpackers for only 25c. This deal lasts between just 8pm and 9pm, so clear those stomachs and loosen those gullets. It’s going to be a stormy ride.
The bar isn’t located right on the beach, but only a 3-minute stroll to the sandy action.
The allure of Utopia bar isn’t just the cheap beers, the bar also has a swimming pool and hot tub in which they host pool parties on most Saturdays.
And for all you lovely ladies out there…
Every Friday is Ladies Night and you’ll be getting 2 for 1 on all cocktails from 8pm and 11pm. Woooooo.
It’s not all bad news gents…
Fridays means it’s time to shave those beards and make sure those ‘moobs’ are looking extra voluptuous, there could be some free cocktails on the line for you. Worst case scenario, there are going to be plenty of lovely ladies with their cocktail goggles on…
Stay classy.
Location: Krong Preah Sihanouk, Cambodia
JJ’s Playground
Plenty of travelers will herald this as the go-to bar in Sihanoukville. JJ’s is an adult’s playground by name and nature, full of late night debauchery. The essence of this place is embodied in the bar’s tag line, ‘Let’s get wasted’.
And get wasted you certainly will…
Grab a flyer on your way to claim your free shot and there seems to be endless happy hours in rotation.
If you’re lucky they will be dazzling you with some of their famous fire shows out on the beachfront as well.
A word of warning (as with Dolphin Shack, Utopia, and most cheap drinking establishments in Cambodia) – the toilets are a horror show. There’s always the ocean on your doorstep… Just saying. But do watch out for those floaters.
Inside scoop – keep your eyes peeled and ears to the ground in case JJ’s is hosting one of their famous pool parties at the Victory Castle Villa Hotel & Spa. You’d be a fool to miss it…
Right, with those 3 late night bars out of the way it’s time to roll out the red carpet for, without a doubt, what is Sihanoukville’s most awesome night out.
It only happens once a week, in a secret jungle location, and this is how you can find the pathway to party heaven…
Location: Occheuteal Beach, Sihanoukville, Cambodia
Kerfuffle Jungle Party
This rave phenomenon is located in the middle of nowhere, amidst the heart of the Otres Jungle.
It’s not only the party that took my breathe away, the journey there was an adventure in itself…
We took a tuk-tuk about 20 minutes outside of Sihanoukville. The driver then dropped us in the middle of the jungle; nothing but us, mother nature, and the quiet murmur of a bassline in the distance.
Kerfuffle is gloriously located on the middle of an island in the middle of the river running through Otres Jungle.
It gets better…
A courteous Cambodian man than hauled us across the river on a pontoon. The lights and the beats immediately hit all our senses as we pulled up to a clearing on the island.
The site feels like its own miniature Glastonbury arena.
There is a bar made of bamboo that readily dishes out the drinks, a two-tiered dancing platform that overlooks the jungle canopy, a DJ Booth on top of a van, and even a ferris wheel (that looked and felt extremely rickety!).
Natural. Simple. Beautiful. Memorable.
Some of the experiences, indulgences, and activities that took place on that island are not for the internet’s eyes, but we will leave it up to you to live the dream for yourself.
The only catch…
Kerfuffle is only in play during the dry season (December – June), and tends to be held once a week on a Wednesday.
Location: Secret Jungle Location, Sihanoukville, Cambodia
Sihanoukville Nightlife: No Come Downs Whatsoever…
Hopefully all of these extra spicy hints and tips will lead you to some night time revelations during your time backpacking through Sihanoukville. Watch Yourself, though. We never experienced it personally, but there are stories of robberies in town and there are certainly prostitutes lingering around the beachfront.
Most importantly – be sure to stay safe, know your limits, look out for your backpacker buddies, and as always, spread the love!
More Articles On Sihanoukville Nightlife To Groove To
If our list has whet your appetite and you’re hungry for more, check out these pieces on the best Sihanoukville nightlife options! We only recommend bloggers we read often and love:
- Where To Party In Sihanoukville by the Pommie Travels
- The Ultimate Backpacker Party Paradise by Adventurous Kate
- Sihanoukville: A Party Hard Beach Haven With Secluded Hippie Stoner Lounge Bars by Little Brook Road
- Pub street sihanoukville by Candy Publication by canbypublications.com
Ready to seize the next day? Be sure to check out our ‘Things To Do In Sihanoukville’ piece to make sure you don’t miss out on the best experiences in town!
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